This week in Lembongan… The waves have picked up in the south, so the manta sites have been unreachable but this means we have spent the week drifting over the colourful soft corals of the slopping reefs on the north coast of Nusa Penida. Although the south coast does bask in the glory of the manta rays, the south is mainly covered with sponge coral that does not hold the bright colours like soft coral does. This is due to the changing wave conditions that effect the coral spore moment, meaning soft coral find it hard to grow. This is quite different on the north coast, it seems with the magic of nature, the slopping fringing reefs provide the perfect environment for coral spores to settle and process the beautiful colours that cover these slopes.
Among the reef this week, our dive guides have been lucky to spot; orangutan crab trucked away in the soft coral, our guides use their well trained eyes to catch one or two of this crabs bright orange hairy legs sticking out. Porcelain crabs also take shelter in the reef, normally under the corners of anemone. As the gentle water movement, lifts up the edges of the anemone, it is possible to catch a glimpse of these crabs.
Yes, our dive guides do have a special talent to find the little hidden creatures, but they have also pointed out some larger creatures this week as well. Yesterday, while diving at Sental, the group descended slow down the slopping reef. The conditions were perfect, warm water (which has been nice compared to the cold waters of last week) and almost no current. Not long into the dive, the guide had taken a break from searching for the little creatures through the reef and was staring into the blue. His tank banger got all the divers in the areas attention as he pointed out into the blue. From the depth a mola mola swam up to the same level as the divers and took the position for cleaning. It was clear to see that all the divers where happy after this dive.
