DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

Razor Fish school

Undescribed Medusa

juvenile Sweetlips, Banded Pipe Fish, Flounder (Sole), an Eagle Ray, a Wobbegong Shark and the wreck of a small boat. Then it was back to The Baths for an early afternoon and a night dive where we encountered amongst other species the illusive Coconut Octopus, Ornate and Common Cuttlefish, a False Mombosa Lionfish, Batfish and a school of Razor Fish. Our last day of diving came far too fast and given some of the divers had flights the next day, we had scheduled only too early dives. So it was back to Manta Ray hunting at ‘Gona Bara Bara’ and ‘Kei Island’ but this time with no luck. Nevertheless, both dives were full of wonderful encounters with the local marine life including beautiful gardens of Yellow soft corals, Blue Spotted Rays, Sweetlip and a large Cod. By now Oceania had fully circumnavigated Milne Bay and we were heading back to reach the wharf at the Driftwood Hotel by late afternoon and take another day’s rest to de-gas before heading back home. Again we cannot speak more highly of the entire Oceania experience and the wonderful old and new friends we had the pleasure of diving with. Next, we are planning to take the trip on Oceania from Rabaul to her home port at Walindi Plantation Resort in Kimbe Bay.

parasites on his back and around his mouth. Remaining still, we spent over 5 minutes with this majestic creature and experienced one of the most exciting dives any diver would give up significant body parts to personally witness. All captured on GoPro (Terry) and stills (Cathie) which you can see on Dive Queensland’s Facebook page. Later that morning with such a big act to follow, we continued diving the ‘Gona Bara Bara Island’ area. A portrait photographer’s dream as we encountered amongst other marine life Peacock Mantas Shrimp, puffer fish, Banded Pipefish, Hermit Crabs and had a rare encounter with a Flying Gurnard. Again Nemos, nudibranchs and Lionfish were also plentiful. Since there were several divers onboard very interested in small critters, Dan decided to have us do another muck dive at a site called ‘The Baths” (i.e. including a wharf) on Samarai Island, the former Capital of the Milne Bay Provance. Here we found Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Stonefish, Scorpionfish, Pipe Fish, Lionfish and numerous species of nudibranchs and Nemos amongst the decades of garbage thrown from the wharf. The next day, there was more muck diving with an open deck at a site called ‘Bottle Shop’ also on Samarai Island. Here we found more Flamboyant Cuttlefish amongst the rubbish. We also found

Manta Ray on a cleaner station

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DIVE LOG Australasia #412 - June 25

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