Wetpixel South Komodo part 1
The Wetpixel 2014 South Komodo Expedition’s first group, led by Wetpixel Publisher Eric Cheng and Editor Adam Hanlon joined The Seven Seas liveaboard at Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on 5 February. The trip then took in the following reefs around South Komodo: Wainilu, Karang Makassar, Baleh, Sowalu, Eagle Rock, Pelekan Head, Three Sisters, Cannibal Rock (a lot!), Dragon Creek and Yellow Wall. There is an active thread about the trip, with many images, on the Wetpixel forum.
The advantage of diving in the area during the wet season in significantly improved visibility, combined with warmer water temperatures. Although this was less in evidence at the beginning of the trip, there was no doubt that the warmer, clearer water was improving the conditions towards the end. The trip returned to Labuan Bajo on 16 February. The second group, led by Jason Bradley is, as I write, still enjoying and photographing the area.
Successful trips are always down to a combination of factors, and ours had great diving and photographic opportunities, a comfortable vessel with a marvelous crew and a fantastic group of people. These images show that they are talented photographers, but don’t show how much fun they were to hang out with. Many thanks to you all and I can’t wait for the next time….
Eric Cheng: Reef scene.
Brian Lam: Day octopus (Octopus cyanea) and raggy scorpion fish (Scorpaenopsis venosa).
Jennifer Chadwick: Bubble coral shrimp (Vir philippinensis) in its bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) host.
Eric Cheng: Tongue-eating isopod on Clarks' anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii).
Dan Kitchens: Glassfish on the reef.
Katie Fraser: Clarks' anemonefishes (Amphiprion clarkii) around their host anemone.
Lucien Schmidlin: Giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus) showing its teeth.
Mark Goyen: Yellow sea cucumber (Colochirus robustu) feeding.
Phoebe Chadwick: Wire coral and crinoid abstract.
Sue Chen: Magnificent anemone shrimp (Ancylomenes magnificus) on a sea pen at night.
Adam Hanlon: Colored criniods and soft corals.
Brian Lam: Lionfish (Pterois volitans) cruising the reef.
Jennifer Chadwick: Crinoid (feather star) abstract.
Dan Kitchens: Bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois) with prey.
Katie Fraser: Coleman shrimps (Periclemens colemanii) on a fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium).
Lucien Schmidlin: Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessonia) at night.
Mark Goyen: Long exposure reef scene.
Phoebe Chadwick: Hairy squat lobster (Lauriea siagiani.)
Robin Reynolds: Reef scene teeming with life
Sue Chen: Giant frogfish (Antennmius commersoni.) sits on the reef.
Adam Hanlon: Reef scene.