The three dives I made with UberScuba from Labuanbajo, Flores were the highlight of Indonesia for me (if I was forced to choose). We made all three in one day- the first was a “muck dive”to about 20-40 feet at Siaba Besar, the second was a drift dive at Karang Makassar at about 35 feet and the third was an epic pinnacle dive at Batu Bolong to about 60 feet.

A muck dive is all about the little, weird things that inhabit loose, relatively shallow sediments in protected coves. I was told we got very lucky with what we found that day, which included specimens such as thorny seahorse, robust ghost pipefish and the crowning jewel: a flamboyant cuttlefish. Near the end of the muck dive we made our way to some spectacular coral outcrops where green turtles and small reef sharks love to hang out. (Note that I miscorrectly titled the second video as Second Dive, when it is actually from the second part of the first dive. Sorry.)

The second dive was a drift dive, which is just what it sounds like. You jump into a current and literally go with the flow. If you see something exciting, you better try to get low and find something to hold onto! The purpose of this dive was to see mantas. We did see a few more, and it was neat to see them from underneath, but in my opinion it had nothing on the snorkeling session from a few days before.

The third dive was along a pinnacle, which is basically just a tall, thin underwater mountain. Batu Balong is located in a place where strong currents flow through, bringing just about everything with it. Fish get pushed along, then take refuge behind the pinnacle and hang out for awhile. Bigger things like it because of all the fish. And the greatest diversity of coral and plants I’ve ever seen like it because of all the nutrient-rich water supply.