Mosaic Octopus (Abdopus Abaculus)- Anilao (June 11-15, 2013)

Mayumi Dive Resort House Reef

Photography Critter Hunt trip-June 11-15, We started the first dive finding Bumblebee shrimps, a dirty version Boxer crab, a Marionia nudi & a Pygmy Squid egg almost ready to hatch. It seemed like a good start... then Farouk had to end the dives early as he had to troubleshoot something at work, it didn't seem much of a waste for him since on that jinxed second dive day, we spent 2- 90 minute dives shooting the most common nudibranch's. A few days prior doing this trip, Veteran spotter Berting mentioned half of Anilao's critter stock disappeared due to warmer waters. As the only guide this trip, it was kind of a let down initially and was admittedly stressed out, remembering when I was starting out uw photography, I expected much from every trip I made... not seeing anything slightly special in 90 minutes was quite embarrassing. I offered my friend guests the option to get another spotter, but they kindly told me to carry on. 

Ooi's shot of a RARE
Mosaic Octopus (Abdopus Abaculus)

The major request at the start of the trip was a Blue Ring Octopus by first time 'Anilaoer' Ching and Double O One (aka Ooi). As always, when there's nothing to see elsewhere, Matu point has been a reliable spot to find loads of critters. Sadly, the Habagat Season (Southwest monsoon) has arrived & made it difficult to dive Matu, bad visibility and sweeping surges made the shallow area close to undoable. Our first target was Coleman Shrimps, where a few months ago were abundant... but now, there remained sadly but one pair. Moving back to the low vis wall area, finally, a Blue Ring like octopus was gingerly exploring the wall, was most probably hunting.... so I thought. While I was banging my tank to sound off everyone of the find, instead of flashing Blue Rings, it gave out hexagon like blue patterns and at times yellowish dots and noticed had little hairs on its head. This was something definitely new and special. The photo to the left I took from Ooi's camera which I posted immediately on ID Please (Critter ID) page on Facebook for identification and trip guru Albert Kang/Aquaman in a few minutes shared it was a Mosaic Octopus. This was the first time all of us saw this Octopus. This find definitely made our trip and put big smiles on all our faces.

Abdopus Abaculus Octopus- Shot by Ching

The succeeding dives were devoted to finding 'signature bag' shrimps LV (Saron Sp. 2) and Channel (Saron Sp) where both were luckily found. We made a pass at Secret Bay for a night dive, but sadly, it was empty, save for skeleton shrimps (Secret Bay was once Anilao's site to go to for macro subjects). Our final dive was at Daryl Laut where we went for some Mandarin fishes and the last dip did not disappoint and yielded several opportunities for all. Collectively, it was a prolific trip for everyone despite the lack of critters due to warmer waters... but that Abdopus Abaculus encounter definitely made diving Anilao extra special for all of us. Thanks also to Ernest of Mayumi Resorts for making our topside moments special... the accommodation, diving logistics & especially the food were simply fantastic.

Day 1 (guide Jun) 

Balanoy x2- Bumblebee shrimps, Boxer Crab, Pygmy Squid Egg (others hatched) Marionia Sp., Marionia Aborcens, various nudis

Day 2- worst day (guide- Jun)

Bethlehem- zero, commensal shrimps, wire coral shrimps

Caban Cove- commensal shrimps, various nudis

Day 3 (guide Jun)

Matu Pt- Mosaic Octopus (3M), Seahorse- Hippocampus Kuda (12m), Painted frogfish black yellow (15m), Oliviar Squat lobster (10m) Coleman Shrimps (21m), Firedart goby, (23m), etc

Basura- Popcorn shrimp, unidentified eggs, clownfish eggs, gorrila crab with eggs

Balanoy/Secret Garden- Channel Shrimp (saron sp. 1), partner shrimps, twin morays, 

Secret Bay night dive- zero/empty, skeleton shrimps

Day 4- (guide Jun)

Batok Sombrero- Saron Sp 2 LV

Layag Layag- Boxer Crab, Marionia, host of nudis

Kirby's- various nudis, Dragon shrimp on holiday

Daryl Laut- Mandarin Fish, flatworms

LV by Ching

Channel by Gerry

The only critter in Secret Bay, shot by Gerry

Gerry shoots some Mandarins at Sunset

Common nudibranch's can still make great subjects

Great composition of Razor fish by Ching

Peekaboo by Ching

Elysia Ornata by Gerry

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Twelve days of critters- Anilao

on tour

This was my longest trip as a guide/aide with Penn in Anilao since birth. The twelve day 'critter hunt' marathon was with award winning macro photographers Alan, Sherry.. Andy & Ming spent a week while Acacia Resort shared veteran spotters Berting and Edgar to find the extra special goodies for the duration of the hunt. We missed the Hairy frogfish & Harlequin shrimps (the hairy died just two weeks before, poisoned..eating a conch shell while harlequins were on holiday) but in exchange, we were blessed with Jawfish with eggs, lots of Mantis Shrimps with eggs, witnessed Flamboyant cuttlefish eggs hatching, feeding, Berting shared an adult sized Ceratosoma Alleni, we spotted consistently Bumblebee shrimps, Boxer crabs, Dragon shrimps, Tiger shrimps, Xenia mimic nudibranchs, Hairy Shrimps, loads of Marionia nudibranchs, extra special finds is a yellow Aegeris sponge like nudibranch and Xenia pipehorse found by Edgar, did some wide angle with Batfish and Jacks on the last day and finally ending the trip with Sherry capturing her wish... LV shrimp (Saron sp 2). This trip for me was definitely one for the books. Great food, awesome accommodation, warm hosts, loads of special critters, it felt more like a holiday rather than work. Also stole some poolshots during surface interval times. Cutting it short, Anilao never ceases to amaze & Acacia resort is simply dive resort heaven.

**Topside photos with Tim, Pao, Games with Bora & Sherry's birthday treat by Sol at Italiani's also at end of blog

Only brought my camera for one diving day for macro...

Surface Interval fun under the Acacia tree with Bora

Last day fun with Jackfish

Alan shoots some jacks

Fall deep down the rabbit hole

Critter log highlights: 

Sherry with Edgar Atienza

May 26 (Macro-Penn, Jun)

Balanoy- Tiger Shrimp (9m), various nudis

Kirby’s Rock- Dragon/Rhino shrimp (8m), Jawfish with eggs (21m), firedart goby

Matu Point- Blue Ring octopus (5m), Warty Frogfish pregnant (4m) Coleman Shrimps (12m) Oliviar Squat lobster (8M), yellow banded goby (20m) stick pipefish, nudibranches

May 27 (Macro- Penn Jun Oliver)

Bethlehem (Macro) Flamboyant Cuttlefish, host of nudibranches

Daryl Laut- Mandarin Fish mating, various nudibranches

May 28 (Macro- Jun, Penn, Berting)

Mainit- Candy Crab (8m) Damselfish eggs (12+5m)

Batok/Sombrero- Saron Sp 2 (18m)

May 29 (Macro- Jun, Penn, Berting)

Caban Cove- Mantis Shrimp with Eggs (16M/3M) Dragon shrimp (12m) various nudibranches

  www.alanlo.com.hk

                

Layag Layag- Jawfish with eggs (8M) Ceratosoma Alleni nudi (8M)

Matu Point- same Critters May 26

May 30 (Macro- Penn, Jun, Berting)

Secret Bay- Warty frogfish (16M), nduibranches, hairy shrimp (8M), skeleton shrimps (12M)

Balanoy-  Bumblebee Shrimp (3M), Saron Sp 1 Shrimp (3M) Pygmy squid eggs (5M) Bxer Crabs (3M)

Anilao Pier- Squids,

May 31 (Macro- Penn, Jun, Berting)

Bethlehem- Flamboyant Cuttlefish eggs, flamboyant cuttlefish feeding, various nudibranches, yellow warty frogfish

Layag Layag- most common nudi, 

June 1/2 (No record- guides Edgar/Berting)

June 3 (Macro- Penn, Jun, Edgar)

Balanoy x2 – Various Mariona nudis, Xenia Nudi Saron Sp 1 Channel, Tiger shrimp Pair, Pygmy Squid

June 4 (Macro- Penn, Jun, Edgar)

Arthurs Rock- Aegeris Nudi Yellow (20m)

Twin Rocks- Xenia Pipefish (9M)

June 5 (Macro- Jun, Penn, Edgar)

Bethlehem- Flamboyant Cuttlefish (8M) Hatching Flamboyant Cuttlefish eggs (18m)

Balanoy- Saron Sp 2  Channel, Decorator Crab, Hydatina Zonata Nudi (5M)

Anilao Pier- Bob Tail Squid (5M), Network Pipefish (5M)

June 6 (Wide Angle/Macro- Jun, Penn)

Bethlehem- Barrel Sponge/ Batfish Twin Rocks- Jackfish/ Yellowfin Barracuda/ Big Mouth Mackarel                                                                    Batok/Sombrero- Saron Sp2 LV Shrimp (18M), Hairy Shrimp (4M)

Wide Angle Fun

Topside Photos

Italianis bday blowout by Sol- with Penn Sol Sherry Joey Bebot Alan

First day meet- Cheryl, Alan, Tim, Pao, Alyssa 

s.i.

Ming & Andy

Cool Boss 

                                                                                    Good fun in room 9

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Dive Trip Report- Malapascua May 2013

It was unfortunate I felt weak the whole trip doing too many dives early part this year (burnout from diving is something I never realized will come), but the whole Scubaholics Anonymous divers had loads of fun and all have finally experienced their first thresher shark encounter.

Malapascua is a paradise for divers of all skill levels and needs. Beyond the obvious star of the show, the thresher shark, the white tip sharks and underwater landscape of Gato Island adds to making you fall deeply..madly in love with it. Kimod shoal offers opportunities to see hammerhead sharks at 150ft, not as prolific as thresher shark sightings but this summer, they have been seen occasionally and personally saw a small school of ten gingerly swimming below us. Macro photographers will be delighted with the abundance of subjects like close to guaranteed mating mandarin fishes at the lighthouse, interesting nudibranchs species around all dive sites, occasional blue ring octopus appearances, seahorses and frogfishes of all colors, just to name a few of what you will see.

Our Trip video

Beyond diving, the island is very suitable
for none diving friends and topside photographers, just to chill around, get a tan, go on a food trip, capture sunrise, sunsets, do group jump shots amidst powder fine white sand, go for yourself and be inspired. Food is quite pricey on white men row (foreigner owned resorts, around P300/usd7-8 up for a decent meal) but there are enough local stores in the middle of the island where you can buy anything for cheap while the most popular local restaurant 'Ging Ging' serves omelettes, pasta and rice meals starting at P65/usd1.50. Backpackers will be delighted there are fan rooms available for as low as P500 but the aircon rooms start at P1,500/usd50 to as high as P5,000/usd120+/-. Globe & Smart (local telcos) have good coverage but 3g connections can get torpid during primetime (11am-130pm/ 5pm-10pm)

In summary, Malapascua has very good diving and caters to everyone, none divers, budget or luxury accommodations are available. It is one place you must do in your lifetime and as shared, you will fall in love with this little slice of paradise north of Cebu City.

Getting there:
Private Transfer van from airport roundtrip P10,000/usd250 good for 6 pax divers full gear, 8 none divers to Maya point (3-4 hours)
Taxi- P3500/usd87 one way to maya point
Vhire public minivans- P200/usd5 from southern terminal (taxi from airport to southern terminal=P200)
Public Bus- P180/usd4.50 from southern terminal (taxi from airport to southern terminal=P200)

Diving Costs:
P1500/usd38 per dive, minimum 4 pax to go to far flung islands.

Exchange rate as of May 21- Php40.5= USD1

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Costales-Paulino prenuptials

May 13, 2013, post election day. Out of ten of us on that prenuptial shoot, only Dior's mom & awesome make up artist Faye Young's niece Medinna showed signs of casting their ballots the previous day (index finger as telltale). While the contenders were keeping tab of the circus which is politics, we were having our own little fun in Anilao.

The Costales-Paulino underwater prenupt was postponed for several months since we have planned to do this at sea in Batangas, whose waters were close to ice cold since January till early April of this year, we decided to move it mid May during Coy Costales' birthday and the couples anniversary. On the day of the shoot though, I shared to Coy & Dior a pool session will be more fruitful since the day will be devoted to both topside and underwater scenes and those who have undergone prenuptial sessions know it can be quite draining, compounded further by the scorching summer heat.

It maybe one hot hot hot day but met some cool peeps, Ralph & Al of Ralph Alejandrino Photography who were the principal topside photographers & awesome Faye Young, whose make up art will blow you away...all of us throwing ideas to one another the whole day. Much kudos to Coy and Dior for being awesome... it was like they were doing underwater modeling for a living, it was such a delight to play with the soon to be newlyweds while Faye's fantastic underwater mermaid Keisha kept me pre-occupied while topside photos were being done. Here was yesterdays fun fun shoot. If this were an election, I wont mind voting over...and over... and over.... also, Happy birthday to the groom and happy anniversary guys :D

inquiries- +63917468-6573 / paparazsea@gmail.com

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