Retno, Miko, Andy and I joined Komodo Dive Center today, while the rest of the team stayed on shore to finish preparing materials for our school visits and to learn about data mapping.
As we joined the boat at 7.30 am, we met four guests and the divemasters, Sardy, Jess, and Sam. Our plan was to survey Manta Point, Batu Bolong, and Siaba Besar. The interns were nervous, because today they had to deliver their first manta briefing to the guests.
After sailing for about one hour, it was time to give the briefing. We all gathered on the top deck, and Retno and Miko explained what they have been learning. Retno shared information about manta ray ecology and behaviour, while Miko introduced everyone to the manta code of conduct. The guests all seemed very interested, and the interns soon forgot their nervousness as the guests began asking many questions. Their first manta briefing was a success!
Vidlia meets a turtle
Our first site was Manta Point and I hoped that today we would see many mantas. But we entered the water at slack tide, and the current was very slow. This is not the best conditions to find manta rays, and unfortunately I did not see any. Divemaster Sardy did see one, lucky him!
Next we went to Batu Bolong, one of my favourite divesites in Komodo National Park. At Batu Bolong, we recorded a Napoleon wrasse, and also saw lots of antheas and giant trevally. If you are lucky at this site, you can see sharks and hawksbill turtles, but not today. In my opinion, this site has the best safety stop, floating in the water next to a vertical wall where we can still enjoy the coral and fish.
Our last dive was Siaba Besar. I could see bright turquoise water caused by the shallow, sandy seafloor. During our survey we recorded a blacktip reef shark, and more than five turtles! The corals were amazing, their big structure looking like cabbages. This dive site is surrounded by coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass. No wonder fish and turtles like to play around here!
Even though we had completed three tiring survey dives, our day was still not over. As we sailed back to Labuan Bajo, we sat on the deck to discuss sustainable fisheries and to learn about the concepts of Maximum Suitable Yield and Maximum Economic Yield.
