The underwater world of Tegal Island, Lampung...

Well, frankly speaking, I have posted several articles on diving sites in Lampung.

For me who doesn't have the luxury of traveling around the country anytime I want (PNS oooh PNS :(( ), going back home to Lampung and have a day or two diving with my club here is heaven! Especially since I got that 'red notice' instructing me and my family to move to the Big Apple for the next assignment. Always, the clock is ticking at the very last moments...

Anyway...I managed to dive just with my dive master near Tegal Island, Lampung. 

Check out more infos on Tegal Island in my previous posts , Reef Check at Tegal Island, Lampung, and  My Unforgettable Journey: Take My Breath Away. 
Well, apparently, not that many :) as most of them are in Tanjung Putus or Pahawang Islands, also in Lampung.

To reach Tegal Island, there are several choices that you can take. All the starting points stretched out along Hanura and Ketapang area in Pesawaran, Lampung. It takes around 40 minutes to go to this place from Bandar Lampung, the city center. It's not because it's far but mostly because there is only one road with two lanes for everything, trucks, public angkot or minivans, tons of motorcycles and cars. Here are the choices you have:

1. From Ringgung beach. You can rent the boat here and chances are you won't have any problems as many fishermen live in this area and they offer you the service to take a-day tour to Tegal island, back and forth :D. They will usually wait for you until you finish.

2. From Balai Benih Lampung. This is not really a public area but if you can contact the boat man beforehand and ask them to come and pick you up here, then it will be closer to go to Tegal island. I usually go to Tegal island with my diving group from here.

3. From Mutun beach. Mutun beach is a popular place, especially during weekends and holidays. The good thing is, you will always find a water taxi or a boat to rent from here. But then it will be a bit further from Tegal island and the boat ride will be slightly longer. Moreover, you will have to pay the entrance ticket and the parking for your car here. But it's still not that much. So, in case you change your mind and you just wanna stay on the beach instead of going to the island, then Mutun will be a good place.

The boat ride will take approximately 30 - 40 minutes from the three starting points I've mentioned above. Make sure you got your logistics ready yaaa...Do not expect to have cafes or restaurant to cater your appetite, so better bring your delicious lunch boxes, chips and munchies as well as plenty of water and fruits :).

So nooooow.....lemme now put some lovely (but now living me with the agony of missing diving in Lampung more and more terribly) photos I got from my last trip there. Oh ya, we did have 2 dives that day, approximately 1 hourish on each dive. Tell you what...it's not enough, hiks :)). As an amateur  underwater photographer, I really like to stay longer down there, if the oxygen permits of course :).

Now, now....Enjoooy...and don't forget to breath :)

Let me start with this crowded spot :)...where I found this cute skunk anemone fish trying to run away from me and my camera :D... 

Clear blue water...so peaceful..

And can you guess what it is? 

And lion fish...you'll find them abundant here...

isn't she pretty :)...but still dangerous yooo...

Another interesting creature you'll find here is nudi branch :)...let me introduce you to them...

so tiny tiny....

this one is bright orange....cute!

Nemo nemo nemo.....I guess, everybody is familiar with this cute yet territorial fish thanks to finding Nemo movies :D. Just like a kid, I can't hide my excitement meeting this cute striped creatures down there..

Meeting Mr. Turtle was indeed a bonus....although I have met them once on my maiden underwater voyage here in Tegal island as well :D... and believe me, they are really a swimmer! So fast ... dude, wait for meeee....

he's running away from meeee :D...

Then who like starfish? I do....there are plenty of them down here..with different colors, sizes and models :)

I always call it ikan batik :D...she's cute as well :D..

it' kima...the giant clam :D....

And purple is indeeeed everywhere....including down hereee :D...

They call it bintang seribu or thousand stars, literally...it's extremely dangerous..so touche pas! 

Cheeeers from me to you :)...

Well, don't blame me if I can't get enough of diving...wherever it is...
hope to see you all again soon :D...

WW: Dancing with Nemo :)

Just love to see and watch these beautiful creatures...
Nemo, the clown fish :)

Recorded during my diving trip in Tegal Island, Lampung, Indonesia, May 2014...

Join me on Wordless Wednesday...check the link down hereee

Sabtu merindu: haru biru dari dasar laut Indonesiaku....

Saya rindu diviiiiiing...

Alias menyelam...

Right to the point ya :D..

Sebenarnya banyaaaaak sekali yang saya rindukan....bukan hanya di hari Sabtu, tapi di hari-hari lainnya! Namun sesuai dengan tema yang digelar Pakdhe Abdul Cholik kali ini, Sabtu merindu (romantis bangeeet :) ), maka rasa rindu pada olahraga favorit saya tiba-tiba membuncah.

Kenapa? karena biasanya saya menyelam di hari Sabtu...

Memang, baru dua tahun terakhir saya mendalami olahraga yang penuh tantangan ini. Dan menyesalnya luar biasaaa. Kenapa baru sekarang divingnya? Padahal sejak kecil, saya lahir dan besar di Lampung yang dikelilingi pulau-pulau cantik dengan alam bawah laut yang indah. Kalau berenang, saya memang sudah melakoninya sejak kecil. Tapi menyelam, lain lagi cerita.

Long story short, akhirnya saya mendapat license tahun 2012 lalu. 

resmi sudaaah...walaupun baru one star :D...

Senangnyaaa minta ampun....setelah itu, semaksimal mungkin saya 'nyemplung' dengan klub saya tercinta, Corona Lampung maupun teman-teman diver lainnya yang satu DM alias Dive Master alias guru. Apalagi jika ada libur panjang atau weekend yang longgar. 

Nemo, nemo, nemo..Lelangga Island, Lampung

Biasanya, saya berangkat dari Jakarta Jumat malam, tiba di Lampung Sabtu subuh, istirahat sebentar, lalu bergabung dengan grup. Nyelam seharian, sore pulang dan Minggu siap kembali ke Jakarta. Niat banget yaah :D...Kalau ke daerah lain, harus libur lebih panjang, karena ada jeda yang harus saya jaga antara menyelam dengan terbang memakai pesawat. 

say hi to Mr. T..Bunaken, N. Sulawesi

Sungguh...saya tidak tau bagaimana mengungkapkannya...alam bawah laut itu indaaaah luar biasa...A totally new world, but as beautiful as, or even more, than the surface. 


Tak henti-hentinya saya mengucapkan takbir dan juga syukur kepada Sang Maha Pencipta, atas keindahan di depan mata saya dan kesempatan yang diberikan kepada saya untuk menikmatinya. Subhanallah...

Mimic Octopus yang jago ganti-ganti rupa..Lembeh, North Sulawesi

La Rascasse...alias lion fish @Bunaken, Manado

Terus terang, masih banyaaaak sekali tempat-tempat yang terkenal dengan keindahan bawah lautnya yang ingin saya kunjungi. Rasanya berpacu dengan waktu, karena begitu banyak tempat, namun waktu dan faktor lain seperti biaya perlu dipertimbangkan masak-masak. 





Memang olahraga ini tidak murah dan tempat-tempat yang tersebar di seantero Indonesia lumayan sulit dijangkau.


Tapi saya sudah niatkan, untuk bisa terus menyaksikan indahnya negeriku tercinta dan mengenalkannya kepada dunia!






Namun beberapa Sabtu terakhir, karena faktor cuaca dan load pekerjaan, saya harus menyimpan dulu perlengkapan menyelam ini.

Makanya, Sabtu merindu cocok banget dengan hatiku saat ini. Semoga Sabtu-sabtu mendatang, saya bisa kembali bercengkerama dengan para penghuni dasar laut Indonesiaku...

Tulisan ini diikutkan pada GA Sabtu Merindu dari the one and only Pakdhe Cholik :D

Amazing Indonesia: Underwater paradise, Bunaken #1...

In times of writing, I am desperately missing my underwater adventure...

So, while waiting for my next trip, I just remembered I haven't fully shared my joy of strolling around the beautiful and serene wold-famous underwater world of Bunaken...

Coined as one of the most beautiful Underwater Natural Park in the world, Bunaken National Park covers an extensive area of 89,095 hectares..featuring 200 - 1.840m deep sea depth between the islands and comfy homes for  thousands of different species of fish, coral, endangered marine mammals and reptiles, birds, molluscs and mangrove species, Bunaken certainly has its world-class reputation...Stretching from Manado Tua, Bunaken, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen to Sangihe, I can never get enough of its beauty...From enchanting walls, cracks and caves full of marvelous fish species to its chart-of-rainbow corals and many more...

I love the blue of Indonesia....

Despite the fact that I am relatively new to this heart-wrecking sport, I am already addicted to diving...No words can express my feeling while adventuring down there...

with the giant triton in Bunaken :D...

Bunaken, with its sparkling, crystal-clear water, has stolen my heart...

As amateur as can be, I try to enjoy every single dive I made in Bunaken while trying to capture its heart-stopping beauty..I managed to get 6 dives, which are a far-cry from enough...For me, every dive is like the first time...with the same excitement, the same anticipation :D...

Under water tree ...so full of life :D>..

Wherever you go, Bunaken will warmly welcome you with its colorful seabed and its cheerful residents :D..

 


Like this puffer fish, which seems to be eager (naaah, they are actually sy and afraid, sorry....) to greet us :D..

such huge beautful eyes...hope we don't bother you...

Fuschia, bright purple, shocking blue ...rainbows are laying beautiful everywhere....a lifetime guarantee to cheer you up...

one of the many fuschia corals....

We also visit the giant clamps...too bad not so many are left ...

One of my favorites is the huge blue starfish..they are sooo cute, at least to me :D...I also see red or pink one if I'm not mistaken, but I didn't get the chance to take picture of them...

I still got more photos and stories to tell....be right baaack :D.....

come swimming.....come swimming.....