Travel Account: Komodo Island Expedition
In the heart of Indonesia's Komodo National Park, an underwater photography adventure unfolded aboard the SMY Ondina. This vessel, renowned for its macro diving explorations, was the setting for a unique journey into the world of critter life at Lembeh and beyond.
Ella and Abraham, the friendly and knowledgeable dive guides onboard, led the way through a series of dive sites that offered a mix of muck dives, sites with strong current, and those without. The first dive at East Maumere took place at Gosung Puluhari, an interesting macro dive site that revealed a wealth of marine life.
The film watched onboard showcased the special Lembeh pigmy seadragon, a creature of intrigue. During the dive at Gosung Puluhari, Abraham discovered a pigmy seadragon hiding in a small coral cave at the end of the dive. While it was not a seadragon, but a needle pipe seahorse that was spotted, the excitement was palpable among the divers.
Ricard, a researcher, was also onboard, studying the needle pipe seahorse. The underwater photography adventure provided him with a unique opportunity to document this fascinating creature.
Seven different kinds of ghost pipefishes were found at the seagrass area in Maumere. The boat's spacious prep area at the back, equipped with a large desk to assemble and disassemble cameras, proved invaluable for the photographers. The crew, well-experienced and educated, were able to repair some of the reporter's broken accessory parts.
The boat also had a storage area for electronic equipment and three charging slots for batteries, ensuring that equipment was always ready for use. The dingy drivers handled each diver's equipment effectively and efficiently.
Maumere, a typically muck diving area, also offered a spot with a wreck at 17m (55ft). Close to the beach, many upside-down jellyfish could be found. Further west, at Karang Makasser, manta rays were sighted, adding another layer of wonder to the underwater journey.
Though specific reviews for the SMY Ondina underwater photography expedition in Komodo National Park are not readily available, related liveaboard experiences in the park are highly praised for their diving quality, crew, and marine life. The outstanding marine life and dive sites, knowledgeable and friendly crew, and high-quality experiences are traits that one might reasonably infer the SMY Ondina's photography expedition shares.
For those seeking a more detailed review of the SMY Ondina, specialist dive photography forums or the vessel’s official channels may provide valuable insights. Until then, the allure of Komodo National Park's underwater world, as explored aboard the SMY Ondina, continues to entice and captivate.
[1] Top 10 Liveaboards in Komodo National Park
[2] Komodo Liveaboard Reviews
[3] Komodo Liveaboard: Amalia Komodo Review
[4] Komodo National Park: Dive Sites Guide
- The underwater photography adventure at the Komodo National Park, onboard the SMY Ondina, was a journey into the world of critter life, especially at Lembeh.
- Ella and Abraham, the dive guides onboard the SMY Ondina, expertly led the divers through various dive sites, including muck dives, current sites, and those without.
- East Maumere's Gosung Puluhari was the first dive site, offering a wealth of marine life, including the special Lembeh pigmy seadragon.
- Abraham discovered a pigmy seadragon hiding in a coral cave at Gosung Puluhari, though it was actually a needle pipe seahorse that was spotted.
- Ricard, the researcher onboard, was studying the needle pipe seahorse, leveraging the underwater photography adventure to document this fascinating creature.
- Seven different kinds of ghost pipefishes were found at the seagrass area in Maumere, making the boat's prep area and crew's camera repair skills very valuable to the photographers.
- The SMY Ondina boasts a storage area for electronic equipment and three charging slots for batteries, ensuring equipment readiness during the expedition.
- Maumere offered a unique spot with a wreck at 17m (55ft), and many upside-down jellyfish were found close to the beach.
- Further west, at Karang Makasser, the dive adventure was enriched by the sighting of manta rays.
- Komodo National Park's underwater world, as explored aboard the SMY Ondina, continues to entice and captivate, with highly praised diving quality, crew, and marine life, though specific reviews for the SMY Ondina's underwater photography expedition may be found on specialist dive photography forums or the vessel’s official channels.
