Belongas, South Lombok this week once again we have been blessed with company of Scalloped Hammerheads, 15 has been spotted whilst diving “The Magnet”. Corinne an Journalised from France who takes 3 months out a year to do underwater photography for her website was ecstatic seeing the Hammerheads as she had waited all year. While coming and diving with us in the Indian Ocean it is never guaranteed that we will spot what we have come for but when we do it is a feeling beyond explanation.
“The Magnet” is a pinnacle that peaks out the surface with a light house on it. It drops down to 66 meters, full of colourful soft corals and an abundance of Red toothed triggerfish. It also attracts massive schools of Barracuda, Trevally, White tip reef Sharks, Eagle ray and both the Scalloped Hammerheads and Great Hammerheads. In Peak season we have spotted all in a dive plus more!!!
Down here in South Lombok we have also had the luxury of Bigfin reef Squid, groups of around 20. Bigfin reef Squid are characterised by a large oval fin that extends throughout the margins of its mantle, giving them a superficial similarity to the cuttlefish. They usually spawn in May but that can change depending on location and they have a short life span of around 365 days. Squid are usually hard to really look at as they tend to shoot of pretty fast when around divers unlike the cuttlefish, but we had a good few minutes with them embracing their colourful beauty. Corinne has decided to do another 4 days of Belongas trips with us as there is too much to photograph in just the two dives!
I haven’t been to the Magnet yet, and haven’t seen them yet. Tomorrow, hopefully ?… 🙂
Knock knock the wood, corrine….
I was diving the Magnet saturday : 2 hammerhead sharks spotted !!! 🙂