MANSUAR & KRI ISLANDS
We are returning to Sarong as the journey ends. The weather improves, and reef life becomes even more magnificently abundant and colorful, with easy snorkeling conditions.
How magnificent the sea fans are - how deeply I perceive now how all culture mimics nature: bold ceramic sculptures, Vegas fan dancers, slow-motion film revealing lyric movement in a wind-blown paper bag.
How the colors look like historic palettes for artificial, chemical, and modern color theory - acid pinks and greens, dark blues
How the folds are intricate and stymie the eye that dares follow their secret patterns
The short clip below is of the wriggling baby sweet-lips, warding off predators with a comical "dance". Ron sent me into gales of laughter imitating this; his sense of humor made for lots of laughs - made me wish I'd gone to high school with him. I could just imagine him entertaining the class with outbursts of glee and annoying the teacher but delighting his classmates.
Another camouflage - I have photoshopped this so we can see it. The texture of the fish's skin is so webbed, dusty, and sandy that it's almost impossible to see it hiding. I found one myself, but the diver guides also pointed out a couple I missed, to my foolishly intense chagrin.
This is a fabulous fish - a Picasso clownfish. I only saw a few, but I sinned in envying the vision of his creator, giving him that vibrant, daring skin to wear daily.
Parrotfish - saw so many of these in Tahiti, not so many here. They are mostly responsible for the lovely white fine sand on the beaches, as they nibble, digest, and excrete the coral.
Trevally - no testament could ever live to tell the blue excitement of a school of these passing in the sunlight.
We saw several turtles. Below, my photo, followed by RL*'s professionally-lit camera shot.
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| RL* |
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| nudibranch? RL* |
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| RL* |
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| RL* - grouper |
This is a grouper - a favorite class of fish, because they are secretive and clever,concealing themselves amidst coral branches, and one gets quick glimpses of their beautiful colorations as they emerge to feed, then move back, all with great dignity of movement.
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| RL* - grouper? |
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| RL* titan triggerfish |
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| RL* |
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| RL* |
This is a fabulous fish - a Picasso clownfish. I only saw a few, but I sinned in envying the vision of his creator, giving him that vibrant, daring skin to wear daily.
Parrotfish - saw so many of these in Tahiti, not so many here. They are mostly responsible for the lovely white fine sand on the beaches, as they nibble, digest, and excrete the coral.
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