Today is our fourth day living on the boat. We begin our activities so early nowadays!
We’re exploring around Padar Island, right in the center of Komodo National Park. Andy told us that sometimes Manta birostris and Manta alfredi can be seen swimming around here, and that it’s a secret place to find mantas! Our first site is called The Arch, and we started the dive at 07:00 in the morning! We went down with Negative Descent Technique, one of the techniques to use when deep diving in strong currents. Then, in the deep at about 22 meters, I understood why The Arch is famous for many colourful corals and fish! I enjoyed the diving, but then the current became very strong and the temperature was really cold, about 21oÂC. Maintaining buddy contact is the most important for this situation. Finally we’re on top of The Arch but suddenly the unpredictable direction of the strong currents pulled me to the surface and I was like a balloon, dragged by the currents! Luckily I regained control after a few seconds, and we all regrouped for a safety stop and went to the surface together.
The next dive was at Karang Makasar, but I decided to stay on the boat and make a slide show about mantas for presentation to the crew. I felt so envious when the others surfaced from their dive and said they had met more than 10 mantas! It must have been so exciting to meet so many mantas and of course get their ID photos.
Before the third dive, I worked with the other interns to practice giving a presentation about mantas to the crew. Then it was time to dive again, at the same location on Karang Makasar. But this time there were no mantas to be found!
Giving a presentation about manta rays
I felt so sad until I gave our presentation to the crew. They were so interested to learn about mantas and the work we are doing. We made a small discussion and shared a lot about what they’ve seen during they work for tourism industry in Labuan Bajo. I hope I can share more if I had time and new information to give them.
And the closing of the day is our second night dive, this time at Gili Lawa. The water was warm, and this is the best night dive so far, even though we only met few creatures underwater. Another day goes past so fast, I hope I’ll meet more mantas tomorrow!
After our night dive
