Slugs…. Not everyone’s favourite word or animal. Most discussions involving slugs probably involve gardeners trying to figure out the best way to get rid of them. For the dive team at Two Fish South Lombok however, sea slugs hold a special place in our hearts. Whereas their land-based cousins are dark and slimy and well…. boring, sea slugs are the exact opposite, colourful, flamboyant, sometimes deadly! Sea slugs, marine life circles, are even known as the “jewels of the sea”! With thousands of different species out there, you stand a good chance of seeing one you’ve never seen before on almost all dives and if you look hard enough you might even find one that’s never been catalogued before… And maybe even name it. I already know what I’m calling mine when I find it, you really can’t have enough creatures named after David Attenborough (although Sluggy McSlug face is a very close second).

I had the pleasure of seeing the stunning butterfly sap-sucking sea slug (Cyerce elegans) for the first time on a night dive here this week. Cyerce elegans is like the fairy tale Princess of the sea slugs… Pink cerata extruding from the body like luminous leaves on a tree, each one “pops” out at you under the torchlight as they have a spot in the middle that glints with iridescence. It topped off another excellent night dive on our unspoilt reefs.

In other news, whilst our Belongas hammerhead shark season is coming to an end we still have busy boats of fun divers wanting to experience the incredible “Secret Gilis” as well as Nick (UK) and Hirman (Indonesia) completing their PADI Advanced Open Water with Kate. Nick is well on his way to perfecting his skills as a buoyancy master and we’re very much looking forward to helping Hirman progress as a dive guide and PADI Divemaster. Next stop Rescue Diver – and hopefully more beautiful sea slugs along the way!!