This week in Belongas, South Lombokā¦.Once again the full moon has come and gone. Usually this affects the currents down here but this week we have had fairly calm conditions and still seen the magnificent Hammerheads and schools of Barracuda.
But what else has been interesting is the common Octopus displaying its beauty on several occasions. They have been extremely active this week roaming around the sites, exploring the cracks and caves as though they were hunting which is odd as they hunt at dusk. The common Octopus can grow up to 25cm in mantle length and have arms at a whopping 1 m in length. It is able to change colour to blend in with its surroundings, and is able to jump upon any unwary prey that strays across its path. The prey is paralyzed by a nerve poison, which the octopus secretes in its saliva, and the octopus is able to grasp its prey using its powerful arms with their two rows of suckers. A magnificent creature indeed.
We have been busy still all week here in Belongas with day trips every day, divers from around the world to come and see what Belongas has to offer and are pleasantly surprised.
We have had the luck of 2 Whale Sharks beginning of the week, babies 4-5 meters long.
They were spotted after the first dive at the Magnet on the way to Pangang beach for the surface interval, boat stops and all divers grab their mask and fins and jump in the water swimming along with them for 10 minutes.
There have been a lot of surprises down here in South Lombok this season with Dolphins, Whale Sharks, Oceanic Manta and Mola Mola (Sunfish), not just our usual Great Hammerheads, Scalloped Hammerheads, Barracuda, Mobula Rays, Bigeye Trevally, White Tip reef Sharks and Eagle rays.
A lucky year so far!!