As a marine biologist, diving in the South Pacific and especially Papua New Guinea is the Holy Grail. Filled with an amazing diversity of fishes and corals, diving and snorkeling here is an endless discovery of new and exciting things. Every time I put on a mask here, I am seeing new things and meeting old friends. The rainbow of colors of fish and coral make for incredible photography. Today, we got to explore a spot filled with abundant critters in a very interesting setting.
Before World War II, Samurai Island was a thriving place. During the war, it was mostly evacuated and much of the infrastructure was destroyed. The main jetty is in a state of ruin, which is bad for boats, but great for divers. Providing substrate for many corals and filter feeding invertebrates, the old pilings are a mecca for wildlife. Swarms of fish surround the pilings, creating incredible photography.
Today, I spent about 80 minutes underwater, all within a 25 yard radius, in a depth of 30 feet or less. Some exciting discoveries included many nudibranchs, a crocodile flathead, a brilliant lionfish, and a massive map puffer. Anemonefish were all over the place, including some large, vibrant spine-cheek anemonefish. Clouds of small fish hovered amongst the pier pilings, trying to evade the predatory barracuda, scorpionfish, and groupers. After more than an hour and some amazing video and photos, it was time to return to reality and the surface.
