The last time I blogged was in May 2014 after my Komodo trip... how time flies....
Actually after I dived in Komodo in May 2014... I went to dive in Moalboal and Oslob in Cebu Philippines in August 2014 .... That was immediately after I joined a new Company.... there I saw sardines run in Moalboal and whale sharks in Oslob.... [May be one day I will upload some videos when I was there] ... Honestly that was one trip that I will remember for quite a long time.... just imagine if your are diving below millions of sardines.... and a few whale sharks that are as big as school bus.....
But now I would like to write about my experience diving in Lembeh Strait....
Lembeh is an island off Sulawesi. I first heard about Lembeh from Man BD and Linn a few years back but was not quite keen to join the trip then... However since I have been to Komodo and Oslob, then why not Lembeh next....
I was rather busy at the new work place.... I hardly have much time for anything else and with the mounting work pressure....I can't think of anything else.... However after six months at the new work place, told my wife that I need to take a break.... I called up Man BD and told that I want to join his Lembeh trip during the next Chinese New Year break....
As usual, I wasn't quite sure if I can join the trip after all, even though I have paid for all the bookings and the flight tickets... work commitment always come first... I must be ready to sacrifice the trip if there is any urgent matters crop up.... like my trip to Oslob, the trip was planned for six days but I can only joined for four days.... I have to change my flight but can still join the trip although with lesser number of dives.... One good thing is Man BD is always ready to accommodate all these last minute thingy from me...
This time around I planned to go for only four days instead of six days.... The rest of the team will do 12-13 dives but I will be happy if I can complete 7 dives.... at least I got to dive.... But life is not that straight forward.... Even though everything about the trip is going as planned...then suddenly I received an email from silk Air that it cancelled the flight back from Manado to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday and rebooked me on Friday...
That means I can only do maximum four dives.... If I have to go back by Friday, then it is not worth my time and money to travel so far just to do four dives...not worth the all efforts!!! I quickly called Man BD to see if he can cancel my reservation at YOS Dive Resort in Lembeh.... Unlucky for me...the reservation cannot be cancelled since I have made full payment....
I quickly called Silk Air reservation to ask them to find me an alternative route to fly back on Saturday.... Silk Air obliged and I was rebooked to fly back on Garuda.... Good....now I can do seven dives....as planned....
I knew that Lembeh Strait is best for macro photography.... that means I need to upgrade my underwater photographic equipment.... I asked Linn to find me a reasonable priced good strobe....one must have good lighting underwater for the colours to come out.... She recommended Inon Z240...so without much hesitance I bought the strobe....
Now lets see at the photos I took around Lembeh straits....
Photos below are taken using my old Canon G1X and with new Inon Z240 strobe on manual setting and auto white balance....
Mind you it is not an easy task after all.... with the very fine black sands and strong surge....requiring strong arm [to hold a very heavy camera and strobe] and lots of patience with many other divers kicking up the sands....
If I got another chance to do muck diving, I will get myself a macro lens.... then I can take all the small creatures that can hardly be seen with the naked eyes....mind you they are really colourful...aaahhh may be next time....if Allah permits....
Best regards,
Shahar
Bitung, Sulawesi
Note: YOS Dive Resort in Lembeh is a very good place to stay. Apart from a good service at the resort...the dive masters are very helpful....
Thanks to Jendri, Hiros and James....
