Page 108 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Misool Misool

Dive Site and Marine Boo Island and Boo Windows are probably Snorkeling
Conditions Life Highlights of one of the most photographed sites in and Freediving
Misool Misool. From the surface you’ll see two
You can expect to dive a diverse separate rocks, but just below the surface Highlights
selection of sites, including a busy they are connected with a swim through –
manta cleaning station, coral covered Many of Misool’s dive sites have become which is known as the window, off to one Off the grid, totally tropical, the
walls, reef flats, swim throughs, iconic sites around the world – Boo side. The topography here is mesmerizing ultimate paradise, and pristine could
gentle sea mounts, drift dives, vast Windows, Magic Mountain, Fiabacet and but the marine life and corals are still all be used to describe the snorkeling
hard-coral gardens, placid lagoons, Yillet are among the multitude of sites the highlight – vibrant colours and an in the Misool region of Raja Ampat.
and current-raked pinnacles. that are frequently reported and pictured abundance of fish everywhere you look. Breathtaking, mesmerizing and simply
Schools of unicornfish, surgeonfish
in global diving media. And these sites and blue dash fusiliers swarm in large incredible could equally be added – as
Due to the wide variety of dive sites really do live up to their reputations – the could any number of superlatives.
and conditions, diving in Misool truth is, you will struggle to find any dive numbers, octopus lurk cracks in the reef, Misool rugged yet stunningly beautiful
is suitable for all levels of divers. site in the Misool region which does not green turtles rest on the reef and the blue topside scenery is only enhanced
Visibility is variable but generally 25+ deliver and leave you in awe. is an action movie playing out before your even more by the beauty beneath the
meters, with temperatures around eyes. surface.
26-28 degrees Celsius. Magic Mountain is a sea mount site which Every diver should make at least one dive Manta rays and sharks are highlights of
is patrolled by sharks and has a busy at Fiabacet while visiting Misool. This snorkeling and freediving here but the
Most liveaboard operators supply manta ray cleaning station which attracts real wow factor is the sheer abundance
nitrox tank fills and a nitrox both reef manta rays and the larger series of pinnacles demonstrate prolific of marine life and reefs which really do
certification is required OR the Nitroc oceanic manta ray. The underwater ridge fish life as prolific as nature intended. Dive appear untouched by mankind.
course may be taken on board. Due which leads to the cleaning station is into the clear waters (visibility here can be
to the remote location of Misool, exposed to currents and you can expect to up to 40 meters) and you’ll be surrounded Snorkeling is accessible by all
diving with Nitrox, longer safety see large schools of pelagics in the blue. by fish. Great hammerheads are often levels with a range of underwater
stops and staying well within no Other highlights here are huge Napoleon spotted around Fiabacet, as are schooling topographies from tranquil bays
decompression limit is recommended wrasse and a myriad of smaller reef fish barracuda, reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, through to walls such as Gorgonian
for all divers. which appear to be constantly on the bumphead parrotfish, scholis of mackerel, Passage – which provides equally good
fusiliers, bannerfish and surgeons – you
move as they try to gain purchase against name it, you will find it at Fiabacet in snorkeling as it does scuba diving.
the current. droves. You’ll find yourself immersed in an
The huge island of Yillet stretches east to Diving here is a display of Mother underwater world bursting with colour
and time becomes irrelevant as you
west and used to be home to a traveling Nature’s handiwork in one dive site, green lose yourself in myriads of jewel like
shark finning camp prior to the creation sea turtles can be seen munching on the reef fish. Freedivers have a broad range
of the Misool MPA and no-take zone. sponges, and black and white striped of options which are suitable for longer
Off the main Yillet island lay numerous angelfish are common here, redtooth and deeper dives.
small pinnacles and islets and the location triggerfish and butterflyfish school off the
of Yillet dive site. Yillet is a sloping reef in their hundreds. Midnight snappers
underwater plateau which is packed and whitefin surgeonfish occupy the
with overhangs, ledges and small caves. channel, and thousands of small yellow
The ledges and crevices are home to an and green sea cucumbers crawl across
astonishing array of critters and reef life the limestone surface of the pinnacle. Big
including barramundi cod, nudibranch, groupers, tuna and great barracuda circle
bottom dwellers and turtles are often in the outer regions or overhead. There is
spotted here too. The blue is also action always something to look at and never a
packed and schooling barracuda are a dull moment at Fiabacet!
highlight.

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