Misool - February 2013
Misool Eco Resort is located in the Raja Ampat region of eastern Indonesia. It is accessed by flying into Sorong on the western tip of New Guinea, followed by a five hour boat ride. The resort itself is located on the small island of Batbitim, which is on the southeast side of Misool Island. Surrounded by a 460 square mile No-Take Fishing Zone, the reefs are very healthy and the larger-fish population is rebounding nicely.
- anchovies
Chad took this one.
- anchovies1
Difficult to see the divers through the massive school of anchovies.
- anchovies2
- anchovies3
- anemonefish1-false_clown
- anemonefish2-spinecheek
- anemonefish3-false_clown
- barramundi
- blennies
Couple of blennies peeking out of the coral. A goby keeping company, too.
- blenny
- blue_ringed1
The venemous Blue-Ringed Octopus.
- blue_ringed2
- crinoid_shrimp
Nicely camouflaged Crinoid Shrimp.
- crocodilefish
Crocodilefish - note the lappet on the eye which helps to hide it.
- dragonet
- egg_cowrie1
- egg_cowrie2
- giant_frogfish
Giant Frogfish - so-called, even though it's still pretty small.
- leaf_scorpionfish
- manta1
Second of two Giant Mantas we saw. The first one didn't stick around for a picture.
- manta3
- manta4
- mantis2
- nudi1
Several Nudibranchs to follow of various colors and patterns.
- nudi3
- nudi4
- nudi5
- nudi6
- nudi8
- orangutan
- pipefish1-ringed
- pipefish2
- pygmy1
Some Pygmy Seahorses to follow - actual size is about 1/2 inch tall.
- pygmy2
- pygmy3
- pygmy4
- pygmy6
- raja_epaulette_shark2
- reef_stonefish
- ribbon_sweetlips
- shrimp1
- shrimp2-mushroom_coral
- shrimp3-spiny_tiger
- shrimp4
- shrimp6-marbled
- spadefish1-longfin
- spadefish2-cleaning
- surgeonfish
- tasselled_wobbegong
- titan_trigger
- trevally
Trevally, Whitetip and Napoleon Wrasse all hunting together.
- turtle
Hawksbill Turtle chowing down on some soft coral.
- whip_goby
- window2
Boo Window arches.
- boo_window
- tony1
- dive_boat
Some Topside Pictures
- misool_map
Misool Resort inside the blue circle at bottom of map.
- misool_sign
- cottages
- dive_center
- dive_sites
- dock1
- dock2
- nudi_rock
Nudi Rock - a favorite dive site that is only a five minute boat ride away.
- islands
The dive resort is located on the left side of the sloping island in the distance.
- sorong
- elevator_sign
Sign in Sorong hotel elevator - at least their English is better than my Indonesian.
- ipads
I think I was the only one on the trip without an iPad.