The Last Dive…(June 22)

Black finned snake eel

collared razorfish

I’m excited, I’m wide awake, the sun is shining brightly in a happy blue sky. In one hour I will be suiting up for the 700th dive, the last of this trip, which I must say, has been a good success despite the usual little challenges (of life). My number one concern at the moment, is the friggin’ camera. If the camera is working properly, all should be well.

Ambon lionfish

This excavating couple has me completely befuddled

I think Rhio has set Montani aside for the morning. It takes a certain kind of diver to get into Montani. One, the diver needs a camera, and two, if he does not have a camera, he’s got to be into finding unique critters, like Willy is. My migraine and all the side effects has finally, more or less, vanished. When I get a bad migraine (usually not pain, but auras, a miserable, debilitating plight I have suffered my entire life), I feel like an empty surreal replica of life just drifting about and sometimes it takes the better part of a day or two to put it behind me. Being underwater in more extreme conditions is a bit challenging. Not fun. I don’t want to make mistakes that can be costly and I can become really stupid when a migraine sets in. But fortunately, those more serious episodes are far and few between and I have had enough experience with them that I am good at keeping my poise under pressure.

A fingered dragonet, another one very difficult to photograph

filefish, a strange sort

(7 hours later). I am back and I have to say the dive was a success. We did go out to Montani and managed to get in almost 70 minutes underwater and we saw the usual unique oddities of a good muck dive. Thank god, Monette accompanied me to the dive shop and monitored everything with the camera. I am not sure I could have fannagled the camera into working order, but she seems to have the touch (plus good karma, a nice addition to my team).

Suspiciously similar to a dragon sea moth, a very odd fish and tough to photograph

Cinnabar goatfish—note the long “whiskers” on the chin

Now it is just about sorting through photos, none of which are exceptional, but at least the subject matter was there. We are going into Sabong in another hour, having a few beers—I am doubling up on the occasion tonight—being that this dive episode in Sabang, April through most of June was successfully concluded with around 50 dives and we have a lot of people to acknowledge. It should be fun.

One of a half dozen similar species of pipefish, maybe a reeftop pipefish

The mysterious and intelligent cuttlefish