Cybercaptain

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Diving Kuda Haa

Looking at divesites Tim Godfrey have mapped out in his good book I settled to go to the Kuda Haa "thila" as it was the only one we had not yet visited. It was as far as Lion's Head at Thilafushi but a bit more north inside the atoll, just next to the Giraavaru Island. The reef is actually 8m underwater so finding it without a positioning system is not the easiest task. Actually we found it by seeing fish jumping out of water, it was a bit windy and waves were abt 50cm high so one could see the reef only when you were next to it.

BA chart 3323

Well, as we had arrived we ascertained the current direction that was slightly to the East and we plunged in at the Western point of the "thila". I descended to 15m off the top and started going East with the current, the reef was actually like 2 hillock with a saddle in between so at one point there was no current. Fish was aplenty and I could see preying Barracuda and Jackfish patrolling the waters around us, no wonder the fish was a bit jumpy.

Saddled sharpnose puffer

I think at the Western end I found a cave and inside I was chasing a big Emperor who ran away without me getting a good potshot of it and when I turned around I almost shat myself as I was looking at a monstrous grouper that was huddled in the back and gaping at me gaping at him. I managed to squeeze of a a few shots and then he swam away.

Yellowmargin moray

Giant moray

Undulated moray

As another curiosity I saw probably the biggest pufferfish I ever seen in my life, it must have been more than 50cm in length. There was also plenty of Emperor and Sleek unicornfish around including the usual pelagic small fish. I think we managed to circle the "thila" about two times before we ran out of air and had to abandon Neptunes Kingdom.

Double-saddled butterflyfish

Madagascar butterflyfish

Neon damselfish

Maldives anemonefish

Pardeepfish

Damselfish hiding behind corals

Black-spotted pufferfish

Two-lined monocle bream

Orange anthia

Bluebarred parrotfish

Midnight emperor

Huge Starry pufferfish

Pearl clams on a tree

Vermilion rock cod

Masked bannerfish

The usual aspect of fish I see

Brown-marbled grouper

Bluefin jack (Trevally)

Bluefin Jack (Trevally)

Sleek unicornfish

Butterflyfish

Threespot angelfish

Orange-stripe Emperor (?)

Great barracuda

Imperial angelfish

Orange-fin Emperor

Kashmir snapper

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Diving Lion's head

BA chart 3323

The day was calm and sunny so we ventured South again towards Thilafushi Island where all the rubbish handling in Maldives is done. There is also a number of industries there such as 3 shipyards a cement factory, fuel storage and other various workshops.

Thilafushi

Mushroom leather coral

As we were passing South of Thilafushi and going West along the shoreline we passed several open fires where rubbish was burnt. I guess the same style was in force since I was first time in Maldives in 2007, no incentive to burn in an incinerator when the smoke disperses so fast.

Black-spotted pufferfish

Sleek unicornfish

Anyway, we stopped short of passing Thilafushi and geared up to go explore Lions Head dive site. It is also a designated fish protection area. The current was slightly flowing East and off we went. We came to the first overhang at 12m depth and after that we encountered several at 15-22m. Can't say which one was the Lion's Head but the scenery was nice. I saw a shark far away but he was quick to disappear once he sensed humans about. Met also 2-3 turtles of which one was entangled in rope and we successfully freed him. The more East we went the more there was particles in the water and on the corals.

Black-and-white snapper

Spotfin squirrelfish

Gorgonian fan coral

Dubey at Lions head

Two-tone dartfish

Clark's anemonefosh

Indian bannerfish

Madagascar butterflyfish

Giant clam

Black Pyramid butterflyfish

School of Captain parrotfish (?)

Blue-faced angelfish

Blotched porcupine fish

Masked bannerfish

Varicose wart slug

Yellowmargin moray

Solander's sharpnose puffer

Black-spotted pufferfish

Trumpetfish

Entangled turtle that we freed

Turtle

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Diving Club Med corner

My deckhand Pardeep had not been here and we decided to revisit this site. This time though we swam South instead of inside the atoll so we started near the corner. We weren't disappointed, met with Napoleon Wrasse & turtles plus the host of the small fish in the coral garden. I must have seen the biggest grouper ever in my life when I peeked under a rock formation, it sat there for awhile until it noticed it was observed and then it hid better out of sight. I managed to get a picture but it is obscured by the soldierfish, if you look closely you can see the eyes and mouth in the dark background...