| Site Type: | Muck Dive |
| Depth: | Top: 5M Bottom: 20M |
| Location: | Black Rock is a dive site in Manado Bay about 10 minutes north of Thalassa Resort |
The area around Manado is best known for the Marine Parks of Bunaken. However, if you want a muck dive, Black Rock, which at first appears to be just a barren stretch of sandy sea bed delivers, once you look closely enough.
A short video of what you can expect to see Muck Diving Black Rock in Manado Bay, North Sulawesi – 13 completely different critters in one little dive.
But I have to start this dive write up with the facts: I’m no muck diver! I’m getting old, my eyes are getting tired, and the thought of looking for, and at stuff that’s smaller than a pinkie fingernail does not fill me with glee. That said, I was intrigued by all of what we saw on what at first sight appears to be a barren stretch of volcanic sand within sight of the Thalassa Dive Resort.
We start with something easy – and these horned sea stars look like pastries or kid’s cookies.
Next a blotch founder makes a rather disguised appearance.
Our guide discovers a tiny octopus on this isolated coral clump.
Out on it’s own on the sand is a tube anemone.
The area seems home to a number of juveniles, including this particularly small – but common – lionfish.
Another find, before he sees me and disappears as fast as he arrived, is this trigger – I suspect a juvenile too.
This fish has to be a juvenile too. I have no idea what, but yes that Mohican haircut is his dorsal fin
Lastly a number of dwarf lionfish – distinguishable by the fact that the pectoral fin is a single filament, not separated as in the common lionfish.
And finally, the dive guide points out these two red critters on the end of featherstar fronds. They are so tiny I fail to understand what I am to get excited about … hopefully someone, somewhere reading this will appreciate the image. (I just hope I never find the little buggars inside my wetsuit;)
