Critters wonderlands – LEMBEH

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The word “critter” evokes in me a particular way to experience the underwater world. A way made by hours and hours of diving in murky and green waters, keeping eyes on sand, on mud or on small patches of coral. All of this hoping to find “the Subject”.
For a long time talking about muck dives or critters it has only been synonym of Lembeh strait. A crowded channel between the North Sulawesi and the island of Lembeh.

The channel (click on pics to start, click on White background to close)

La via per l’imbarcadero – Bitung

Imbarcadero per Lembeh – Bitung

Veduta del canale – Stretto di Lembeh

Divers Lodge Lembeh – Isola di Lembeh

Veduta del canale – Stretto di Lembeh

Villaggio di pescatori – Isola di Lembeh

Costa del Sulawesi – Stretto di Lembeh

Lembeh strait is just in the middle of the Coral Triangle, the area where thanks to the rich upwelling currents, there’s an explosion of life. In my experience Lembeh is exactly this: an explosion of life. Small benthonic life everywhere, along the coasts, on the vulcanic sand, all around the pillars of jetties or in the garbage.
Often the first approach is not the best, expecially if diver is used to big walls in crystal clear water. Anyway really soon, thanks to guides, the diver learns to change horizons concentrating eyes on smaller areas of reef or sand. This change of vision marks the beginning of the show.
Usually the first characters are organisms a bit bigger then the typical critter and they could also have a shape quite familiar. The good guides know that the beginner needs to approach this world slowly.

The larger sizes (click on pics to start, click on White background to close)

Octopus marginatus – Hairball

Antennarius commersoni – Jahir

Dendrochirus zebra – Jahir

Scorpaenopsis oxycephala – Nudi Falls

Pterois volitans – Pulau Amandi

Scorpaenopsis papuensis – Nudi Falls

Scorpaenopsis diabolus – Jahir

Ablabys macracanthus – Jahir

Rhinopias eschmeyeri – Air Prang

Odontodactylus latirostris – Air Prang

Hippocampus histrix – Tanjung Kubur

Synchiropus splendidus – DLL House Reef

Lactoria fornasini – Nudi Falls

Upeneus tragula – Air Prang

Rhopalaea sp. – Jahir

The nudibranchs arrive in the same moment or immediately after. They are everywhere in Lembeh, but in some dive spots the concentration of this snails is really particular.

The nudibranchs (click on pics to start, click on White background to close)

Chromodoris strigata – Nudi Retreat

Chromodoris magnifica – Lattuce Surpriz

Chromodoris dianae – Nudi Falls

Chromodoris annae – Pulau Amandi

Miamira sinuata – Hairball

Hypselodoris tryoni – Nudi Falls

Gymnodoris impudica – Air Prang

Nembrotha cristata – Nudi Falls

Hexabranchus sanguineus – Jahir

Phyllidia ocellata – Jahir

Flabellina exoptata – Air Prang

Phyllodesmium hyalinum – Angel Window

Flabellina rubrolineata – Nudi Falls

The interest in small and cryptic things gradually grows in diver. Things hidden by corals, between tentacles of anemones, inside crinoids, behind algae and under sand.
The awareness that the guide’s stick is pointing a critter, it is a big step ahed for the biginner.

Tiny and cryptic (click on pics to start, click on White background to close)