What Happen Recently?

Sorry about the failure to update our blog frequently. I always try my best to make it when the line getting better. Most of you must be very keen to know what happen here and what we have seen recently.

As your information, now is December. The water here getting a bit cold. Last year and before we have saw devil ray almost everyday during January to February. Anyway, these kind of stuff we are unable to promise you.

These past few day and a week ago, we have saw many stuff. Manta ray, hammerhead shark and devil ray.

Yesterday, one group have play with devil ray at Sipadan Island for almost 25minute. The devil ray not so shy and we get to get closer to it. Let see the photo!

Devil ray.......Wow!

Jack fish.....

Sorry For Waiting! Bad New and Sad New!

Sorry for all our guest...! We haven meet for long time. I cannot update the blog because of the internet problem here. Hope you all don't get angry...hehehe...

I have kept this picture for few week already, but i just can upload it now.

The sad news I want to share with you is.....these orange pygmy already gone. Some bad dive guide have move the seafan to other place. They want to make as theirs. Very bad. As a dive master or instructor, they even don't know how to respect marine life. They should be band to be dive guide.

We promise we will find more fish to show you all.

Congratulations! Yuki's 100 dives

Today I bring you these two photos. First, congratulations to Sasaki Yuki for reached her 100 dives. Please continue diving and reach more higher in the future. (Yuki san ganbatte ne).


photo taken by Chizuru Kubodera

Yuki's 100s dive underwater photo.

Photo taken by Chizuru Kubodera

Spike Fin Goby

Mantis Shrimp

Many of us do not think that mantis shrimp is a very special fish in the sea. Most of time, we just try to ignore it. Even sometime we pretended did not to see it. Really? did we? No! That wrong. For us, every creature in the sea is special.

Every creature have their own life style. How do they eat? How do they hunt for food? How do they avoid themselves from predator? Every movement can be very interesting for us. Try to spend more time to observe fish behavior.



Peacock Mantis Shrimp

This mantis shrimp is the famous mantis shrimp among divers. They have colorful body and sometime will come out from their hole.


Giant Mantis Shrimp

This mantis shrimp quite common here. They do not have colorful body and seldom can see them come out from their hole.

We Can Find These....!Believe or Not?

As a fish watching guide, we are trained to find small stuff as well. The question is how far our eyes can reach to these "Small Stuff". 5 centimeter or 3 centimeter? Maybe? But the stuffs below are even less than 1.5 centimeter. Believe its or not?

Macro lover always like to search for very small fish. It is one of the challenge. Challenge your own eyes. Once you get to find very small fish, you will feel satisfy. And sometime you will feel proud of yourself.


Juvenile velvetfish

Juvenile cockatoo waspfish


Unidentify nudibranch (if you have name of this nudibranch please share with us)


Juvenile clown frogfish

Do Not Think They Are Not Exist!

I think some of u might see these stuff before. But for those like big stuff, maybe they did not realize actually these kind of stuff are exist in our seas. They are small and some of them can camouflage very well until we unable to spot them even they are just in front of your eyes. Need good macro eyes then can find them. We have this kind of service. Believe it or not?



Robust Ghost Pipefish


Juvenile Sea Moth

Still In Weak Internet Coverage

Here still have problem uploading photos. So, I still unable to complete my work many days. Anyways, here just pass you some information about Mabul, Kapalai and Sipadan Island.

These a few day, the weather is good. No rain no wind. So, the sea is very calm. But, the underwater visibility is not good even in Sipadan Island. Don't worry we still able to see big school of barracuda, big school bumphead parrotfish, jack fish......

Mabul and Kapalai still the same. A lot of nudibranchs, shrimps and crab, pipefish...... Now we also can see flamboyant cuttlefish.

Spike Fin Goby

Sorry for everybody! It have been very long time i cannot update the blog. I have difficulty to update the blog according to the server problem. Hope everybody do not get angry waiting so long.

The weather here is good with sunshine. Not so much wind so that the sea is very calm. That good.


Spike Fin Goby ( Discordipinna Griessingeri)

This goby i haven see before. I hope to see its once. This goby is very small and very shy. That why we are hard to spot them. They live in rubble area and quite shallow. We have spot them at 4 meter.

Sorry....Server Problem

Sorry for all Paradise Log reader! Internet server have problem. Cannot upload photo to the blog. I hope the server will be fixed soon. And hope we can bring more photos and information to you.

Shouto Fujiko's 1000 dives

Today bring to you this photo. Our dearest guest Shouto Fujiko has reached her 1000 dives yesterday. There is a cake presented to her by her friends. Congratulations to Shouto
Fujiko. Keep diving. When is you 2000 dives?

Japanese: Konbanwa....kyou no shashin ha ichi mai dake ne. Shouto Fujiko san no 1000 bon desu. cake ha arimasu yo. Shouto Fujiko san, omedetou gozaimasu. Ganbatte ne. Itsu 2000 bon?

Nudibranchs ( Umi Ushi Desu!)

Today bring to you nudibranchs photos. Not many diver realize that nudibranch is existing in the world especially those who like big stuff. Maybe for them, nudibranchs is just a pieces of coral or something like sponge coral. If you not really look at its, solar nudibranch is just like a soft coral.

Depend on what divers like to see. If they like nudibranchs, Mabul and Kapalai Island are the best place for them to hunt for nudibranch best shoot.


Solar Nudibranch ( Phyllodesmium longicirrum)


Reticulidia halgerda


Chromodoris willani


Phyllidia ocellata

Hanaika Desu! Flamboyant Cuttlefish!

We have looking for this cuttlefish for long time. Finally they come out also. How hard we look for them. Many guest request for this cuttlefish. Very lucky we found them during this time because we have a lot of Japanese guest now. They keep requesting this kind of cuttlefish. Thank to Saito Toyoko san for sharing her best shoot with us.


Flamboyant Cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi)

M. pfefferi is a robust-looking species, having a very broad, oval mantle. Arms are broad and blade-like, with arm pair I being shorter than the rest. The protective membranes are narrow in both sexes. Arm suckers are arranged in four rows. The modified arm used for fertilisation, called the hectocotylus, is borne on the left ventral arm. The oral surface of the modified region of the hectocotylus is wide, swollen, and fleshy. It bears transversely grooved ridges and a deep furrow running along the middle. The sucker-bearing surface of the tentacular clubs is flattened, with 5 or 6 suckers arranged in transverse rows. These suckers differ greatly in size, with the largest located near the centre of the club. Three to four median suckers are especially large, occupying most of middle portion of the club. The swimming keel of the club extends considerably near to the carpus. The dorsal and ventral protective membranes are not joined at the base of the club, but fused to the tentacular stalk. Dorsal and ventral membranes differ in length and extend near to the carpus along the stalk. The dorsal membrane forms a shallow cleft at the junction with the stalk. This particular species of cuttlefish is the only one known to walk upon the sea floor. Due to the small size of its cuttlebone, it can float only for a very limited time.

Most sources agree that M. pfefferi grows to 8 cm in mantle length, although others give a maximum mantle length of 6 cm.The dorsal surface of the mantle bears three pairs of large, flat, flap-like papillae. Papillae are also present over the eyes.

The cuttlebone of this species is small, two thirds to three quarters the length of the mantle, and positioned in its anterior. Characteristically of the genus Metasepia, the cuttlebone is rhomboidal in outline. Both the anterior and posterior of the cuttlebone taper gradually to an acute point. The dorsal surface of the cuttlebone is yellowish and evenly convex. The texture throughout is smooth, lacking bumps or pustules. The dorsal median rib is absent. A thin film of chitin covers the entire dorsal surface of the cuttlebone. The cuttlebone lacks a pronounced spine; if present, it is small and chitinous. The striated zone of the cuttlebone is concave, with the last loculus being strongly convex and thick in the front third. The sulcus is deep, wide, and extends along the striated zone only. Striae (furrows) on the anterior surface form an inverted V-shape. The limbs of the inner cone are very short, narrow, uniform in width, with the U-shape thickened slightly towards the back. The cuttlebone of M. pfefferi does not possess an outer cone, unlike that of most other cuttlefish species.

These paragraph were taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pfeffer's_Flamboyant_Cuttlefish

Do You Know Pikachu?

The Crocodile fish, Cymbacephalus beauforti (Knapp, 1973), aka Crocodilefish, De Beaufort's flathead ... is a mottled brownish gray species of flatfish with fluorescent green markings criss-crossing its body. It often camouflages itself on sheltered or semi-exposed reefs. It may reach 50 centimeters in length and has 9 or 10 dorsal spines, 11 dorsal soft rays, no anal spines, 11 anal soft rays, and large pelvic fins. Juveniles are entirely black, though as they age they gradually take on the blotched pattern of the adult. The rear edge of the maxilla ends well in front of eye, and near the eye there is a prominent pit, a smooth infraorbital ridge, and a smooth suborbital ridge bearing 2 spines. The interopercular flap is usually broader than long, with several subdivisions. The eyes of the Crocodilefish have frilly iris lappets, which help break up the black pupil of the fish, and thus improve its camouflage.

This paragraph was taken from
http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=466


Thecacera sp or we normally called it Pikachu. One of the special nudibranch in Mabul and Kapalai. Sometime also can find it in Sipadan. But, to find them in this post is not that easy. You know what they doing? Meeting? No... Mating. Hahahaha...

I Am Back!

Finally Jay is coming back. Today i am bringing u with these a few stuffs. Hope u enjoy its. Maybe in the future Jay cannot update the blog everyday. Because the internet line here have problem and Jay's time getting less and less.


Snakey Bornella (Bornella anguilla)

Correct me if i am wrong. I found there are few type (almost the same like this) share the same name. And according to Mr. Hirotaka Takagi, he asked somebody who expert in nudibranches. They still dun have the specific name for this nudibranch.


We are not sure with this nudibranch as well. We couldn't find the name in the book. Maybe you can help us. U can share your information to us if u have the updated book. We found in one book, its look almost the same. The name is Gymnodoris citrina. Correct me if i am wrong.

Phyllodesmium briareum

Gorgonian Horned Shrimp ( Periclemenes sp).

This amazingly camouflaged shrimp was observed in several occasions at Sipadan in the Sulawesi, always perfectly mimicking the gorgonians on which it is exclusively found. ( This paragraph was taken from – A diver’s guide to Underwater Malaysia: Macrolife written by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari)

Sorry......

I am having one friend with me now! "His" name is "High Fever" He don't want to leave me. So i cannot finish my work. Sorry for waiting my blog. I will bring you photo and information as soon as possible.

Leopard Shark Mating

Today bring to you these picture. What is this? Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata)! Yes, i know is Leopard Shark. But, do you know what are they doing? They just playing? Biting for fun? You thought they have many free time for that! No No No totally wrong. They are doing something more meaningful for themselves and for us. For themselves is to increase their population. For us is .......not need to explain.... if they getting more and more, then....what? You can always see them in Sipadan.

This group is very lucky! We are hard to see leopard shark in Sipadan Island. But this group even can see them mating. I never see it. I want to see.

These photos a bit dark because its were taken around 30meter. Thanks Mr. Daniele Etro for sharing his photos with us.

We Are Cute?

Sometime we didn't realize they are so cute even we always see them. Maybe this is the point make us feel that they are so common. We just ignore them sometime. Mr. Clown Triggerfish and Mr. Long Nose Hawkfish please forgive me..! hehehehe.

Actually, we realize that different diver love different stuff. Western diver love big stuff more. Beside, most of the Japanese love macro stuff. Hahaha....To be a very good dive master is not that easy as u imagine. We need to take care what they want? What they need? We will do our best.....!


clown triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)

This fish can reach up to about 50 cm (20 in) in length. It has strong jaws which can be used to crush and eat sea urchins, crustaceans and hard-shelled mollusks.

This fish has unique coloration. The ventral surface has large, white spots on a dark background, and its dorsal surface has black spots on yellow. There is a vertical, white (slightly yellow) stripe on the caudal fin. The brightly painted yellow mouth may be used to deter potential predators.This fish has a form of camouflage that is, or is similar to, countershading. From below, the white spots look like the surface of the water above it. From above, the fish will blend in more with the coral reef environment.

These paragraphs were taken from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clown_triggerfish

Long Nose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)

The Longnose Hawkfish is one of the most popular of the hawkfish. They are a very interesting fish to watch and have very intricate and colorful markings. They have tufts (typical of hawkfish) on the dorsal fin rays and the nostrils, and there coloration is to mimic the Gorgonian Color that they live in. They do this almost perfectly.

This paragraph was taken from
http://members.tripod.com/mark26/lhawkfish.html

Can You Find Me?

Mabul and Kapalai dive are famous with macro stuff. For those who like macro, they will love to dive here. Today i am going to introduce you these 2 very small stuff. To spot them are still a big problem for many diver. Don't be sad! Don't upset! By the moment we know where they are hiding. Just come here....Let's us guide u for this super macro stuff.


Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti)

Pygmy seahorse seem to live exclusively on soft coral colonies in deep water (around 20 meter +) and in current-swept areas. It small size and extremely cryptic body shape, coloration and skin texture make it hard to spot. Full range of distribution is still under dispute: reliable sources have recorded it in the vicinity of Mabul and Kapalai. ( This paragraph was taken from – A diver’s guide to Underwater Malaysia: Macrolife written by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari)

Dwarf Pipehorse (Acentronura tentaculata)

An exceptionally well camouflaged little species which looks like a cross between a seahorse and a pipefish proper. A stationary bottom dweller, not uncommon but exceedingly difficult to locate due to its cryptic habits (it stays anchored to small sea grasses by it tail, swaying in the current) and its hairy appendages, which make it look like rotting vegetation. ( This paragraph was taken from – A diver’s guide to Underwater Malaysia: Macrolife written by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari)

Special thank to Mr. Yasuda Yasuhiro for sharing his best picture. ( Arigaju...hehehe...oyaji gyagu (Japanese Language))

Yellow Lined Dartfish

Yellow Lined Dartfish

These fishes belong in the "Order Perciformes" and "Suborder Percoidei" as members of the "Family Microdesmidae" (Dartfishes & Wormfishes) consisting of 2 subfamilies, 10 genera, and 73 species.

Often thought of as "Gobies" however, they are members of the Dartfish Family Microdesmidae. These fish are zooplankton feeders, and generally hover in open water, yet near the safety of an area where they can quickly retreat if threatened. They like the security of wedging themselves into tight places for a restful night's sleep. Unfortunately, nighttime predators such as crabs may make them an evening snack.

These paragraph are taken from http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/dartfishes.htm

Ring Eye Jawfish (Opistognathus sp) Picture taken by: Mihara Naomi

Jawfish are aptly named with their huge mouths that seem to take up their entire head. These unique little fish also have large eyes, elongated bodies and unusual lifestyles.

Jawfish spend most of their time in their burrows, which they dig in the sand using their powerful jaws. They rarely venture far from their holes and will quickly disappear into their underground homes if they sense the slightest bit of danger.

Jawfish are found near coral reefs throughout the world where they mainly feed on plankton and other tiny creatures. Most species usually grow to between 4 to 6 inches, though some types can grow to 18 inches.
( These paragraph are taken from http://www.tropicalfish.at/saltwater/jawfish/jawfish.html)

Mid Blue Ringed Octopus

Mid Blue-Ringed Octopus is another one of the smaller, but more deadly marine animals that inhabit shallow coastal. They normally found at reefs and rubble areas.

Mid Blue-Ringed Octopus is small, and rarely is larger than about 20 centimeters from the tip of one tentacle across to the tip of the opposite tentacle. The blue-ringed octopus is normally light in color, with dark brown bands over its eight arms and body, with blue circles superimposed on these dark brown bands. When the octopus is disturbed or taken out of the water, the colors darken and the rings turn a brilliant electric-blue color, and it is this color change that gives the animal its name.

The octopus secretes a very deadly venom, either by biting with its parrot-like beak, or by squirting the poison into the water surrounding its prey (usually small crustaceans like crabs). The poison is so strong that it causes immediate respiratory paralysis and death can occur within an hour and a half. The direct bite from the blue-ringed octopus is usually painless, and may not be noticed immediately by the victim, who may have mistakenly picked up an interesting looking octopus while searching through a tide pool. However, the deadly effects of the poison will be noticed immediately. The poison apparently interferes with the body's nervous system. The victim will immediately experience numbness of the mouth and tongue, blurring of vision, loss of touch, difficulty with speech and swallowing, and paralysis of the legs and nausea. If the victim does not receive medical treatment immmediately, full paralysis may occur within minutes, followed by unconsciousness and death due to heart failure and lack of oxygen. There is no antivenom for the poison from a blue-ringed octopus. It is usually necessary to perform continuous CPR on a victim until the effects of the venom have subsided. This may take several hours, but it may mean the difference between life or death for the victim. ( these paragraph are taken from http://longwood.cs.ucf.edu/~MidLink/seawasps.html)

Hope u all be careful when u are diving. Underwater world is beautiful and can be dangerous as well.

Congratulation!

Hi guy....Today only have these 2 photos. And maybe in the future we don't have funny photo to show u. There are some complaint said that our blog getting childish and bad in writing. That why i need u guy to give me some idea. For my understanding is we are doing paradise log not paradise fish book. That why i am try to make it funny instead of too serious. To show u what happen here not only underwater but at the surface. Something between dive masters and our dearest guest.

I am trying not to make it like a book. Otherwise u all going to sleep when u read it.

I am knowing that my writing is not so good as u expecting. I am not novel writer. This is what i can do. Sorry for my writing problem. Hope u still can understand what i am trying to say out.


Anita Abel with her 100 dives.


Marijie Wesseling with her 50 dives

Keep diving and hope u will reach more higher in the future...See ya.

Your Smile Can Change The World!

Ya...How are u guy? Already have your meal? Don't forget to brush your teeth! Otherwise u will get problem with your teeth! Believe it or not? SWV resort dive masters have white teeth compare to other! Don't believe? Just look at the picture below. Our Mr. Alan! Yeah...Clap your hand....! Even he no need to brush his teeth everyday, but still have good and white teeth. Why? Why? Why? Check it out.....



Mr. Alan with his lovely giant frogfish. His pet name Along....hahaha

White Banded Cleaner Shrimp is our dentist. Say hi to our dentist. Make an appointment if u need their service..... Telephone number... +60101007007


Our guest from South Africa Folker Ausdemkhamen also come here for this special treatment. He said he will come back again. He is totally enjoy!


Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!........ Do visit us!

Congratulation...! Hagiwara Yumiko's 500 dive

wow.....! Again we have guest who reach her 500 dives yesterday. Congratulation...Yumiko san ! (Yumiko san....omedeto gozaimasu!). Please keep diving and reach more higher in the future. And for other diver also, don't give up...ok? Do your best...and enjoy diving.

Again, special thank to those who share your photo to everybody. Please take more good photo and share with us. We are waiting for u....hehehehe...!

Shall We Dance?

Hi....Today i am going to show u our dances photo for last night. We are performed some of the dances as a appreciation to our dearest guest for coming and supporting Sipadan Water Village Resort. These dances are maxing of Bajau and Philipine cultural. We also perform some dances for certain function.



Our MC for last night, Miss Belma.

Wow....! This is Hawaii dance....They can also dance this...don't play play....! No need to go Hawaii, just come here...!



Mengalai dance....one of the Bajau cultural dance! It is a Bajau wedding ceremony dance.


" I like U" song dance. Performed by bar, front office and mini mart staff.


" Chopeta" song dance......! Have u watch before?


How? did u enjoy the dances?


See.....They are so enjoy! Don't u?


Allan: Don't hold me! Let me die!

Eva: don't be like that! Don't know how to dance is not your fault.....! Even u want to die, just go other place, don't make dirty our restaurant....hahahaha

Jimmy: ya ya...! That right!