Tulamben, Indonesia: 2016 Birthday Dive

posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2016

I marked my 31st by diving in Bali, Indonesia---our second out of the country trip after yet another birthday dive in Sipadan, Malaysia in 2013.

So, why Tulamben in Bali? Aside from the fact that it’s easily more accessible from Denpasar (2 ½-3 hours away by land travel), I think it’s also worth exploring especially in terms of macro photography. The Doto species also known as the Donut nudibranch and the Stiliger ornatus has long been in my dive bucket list. I’m always in awe every time I see underwater pictures of these critters, so I think it’s just about time I see them up close.

Ling and I booked our dive package with Tulamben Wreck Divers Resort. Our 3-day accommodation and 6-dive package cost $265 or P12,720/pax. If not for the airfare, diving in Tulamben is fairly cheaper than diving in Anilao, Batangas. We also brought our own dive equipment so there’s no added cost. BCD and regulator rental is $5/per item/per person/per day.

Explored several dive sites in Tulamben: Drop off, Liberty Shipwreck, Malasti and Coral Garden. Apart from seeing the Donut nudi and the Stiliger, I was beyond amazed to see different tiny species of Trapania. In my 6 years of diving, this is also the first time I saw a jaw fish and a mantis shrimp with eggs! Really couldn’t believe my eyes. Oh and those juvenile frogfishes which I haven’t seen in a while were just popping here and there in Tulamben. Was lucky enough to chance upon one yawning! Talk about birthday luck!;P

After 6 dives, we concluded our trip with another dive in the Coral Garden. I needed to return because my camera got low bat when it was my turn to photograph the two huge Harlequin shrimps. I couldn't miss the opportunity because these shrimps are quite hard to find in Anilao. Enjoy viewing!

Tulamben Blenny 1

Tulamben Blenny 2

Tulamben Blenny

Tulamben Cleaning Station 1

Tulamben Cleaning Station 2

Tulamben Cleaning Station 3

Tulamben Cleaning Station

Tulamben Costasiella Kuroshimae 1

Tulamben Costasiella Kuroshimae 2

Tulamben Costasiella Kuroshimae 3

Tulamben Costasiella Kuroshimae

Tulamben Cowrie 1

Tulamben Cowrie 2

Tulamben Cowrie 3

Tulamben Cowrie

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 1

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 2

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 3

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 4

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 5

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 6

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 7

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 8

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch 9

Tulamben Donut Nudibranch

Tulamben Frogfish 1

Tulamben Frogfish 10

Tulamben Frogfish 11

Tulamben Frogfish 12

Tulamben Frogfish 2

Tulamben Frogfish 3

Tulamben Frogfish 4

Tulamben Frogfish 5

Tulamben Frogfish 6

Tulamben Frogfish 7

Tulamben Frogfish 8

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 1

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 10

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 11

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 12

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 13

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 2

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 3

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 4

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 5

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 6

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 7

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 8

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp 9

Tulamben Harlequin Shrimp

Tulamben Jawfish with Eggs 1

Tulamben Jawfish with Eggs

Tulamben Jawfish

Tulamben Juvenile File Fish

Tulamben Juvenile Wasp Fish 1

Tulamben Juvenile Wasp Fish

Tulamben Mantis Shrimp with Eggs 1

Tulamben Mantis Shrimp with Eggs 2

Tulamben Mantis Shrimp with Eggs 3

Tulamben Mantis Shrimp with Eggs 4

Tulamben Mantis Shrimp with Eggs 5

Tulamben Mantis Shrimp with Eggs 6

Tulamben Mantis Shrimp with Eggs 7

Tulamben Mantis Shrimp with Eggs

Tulamben Mating Nudibranchs 1

Tulamben Mating Nudibranchs 2

Tulamben Mating Nudibranchs 3

Tulamben Mating Nudibranchs 4

Tulamben Mating Nudibranchs

Tulamben Nudibranch 1

Tulamben Nudibranch 10

Tulamben Nudibranch 11

Tulamben Nudibranch 12

Tulamben Nudibranch 13

Tulamben Nudibranch 14

Tulamben Nudibranch 15

Tulamben Nudibranch 16

Tulamben Nudibranch 17

Tulamben Nudibranch 18

Tulamben Nudibranch 19

Tulamben Nudibranch 2

Tulamben Nudibranch 20

Tulamben Nudibranch 21

Tulamben Nudibranch 22

Tulamben Nudibranch 23

Tulamben Nudibranch 3

Tulamben Nudibranch 4

Tulamben Nudibranch 5

Tulamben Nudibranch 6

Tulamben Nudibranch 7

Tulamben Nudibranch 8

Tulamben Nudibranch 9

Tulamben Nudibranch with Eggs

Tulamben Nudibranch

Tulamben Oliver Squat Lobster 1

Tulamben Oliver Squat Lobster

Tulamben Pregnant Shrimp 1

Tulamben Pregnant Shrimp

Tulamben Pruvotfolia Rhodopos 1

Tulamben Pruvotfolia Rhodopos

Tulamben Skeleton Shrimp 1

Tulamben Skeleton Shrimp 2

Tulamben Skeleton Shrimp

Tulamben Sponge Shrimp

Tulamben Stiliger 1

Tulamben Stiliger 2

Tulamben Stiliger

Tulamben Trapania 1

Tulamben Trapania 10

Tulamben Trapania 11

Tulamben Trapania 12

Tulamben Trapania 13

Tulamben Trapania 14

Tulamben Trapania 2

Tulamben Trapania 3

Tulamben Trapania 4

Tulamben Trapania 5

Tulamben Trapania 6

Tulamben Trapania 7

Tulamben Trapania 8

Tulamben Trapania 9

Tulamben Trapania

Tulamben Wasp Fish 1

Tulamben Wasp Fish 2

Tulamben Wasp Fish

Tulamben Whip Coral Shrimp

Tulamben Yawning Frogfish

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About Mona

Certified as a PADI rescue diver. Got my first compact camera in 2011. I was simply content then to just capture a glimpse of what I see during my dives. It was only last February 2014 that I fully maximized the use of manual macro settings.

My camera skills and knowledge are still a work in progress. Enjoy browsin’!

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