Super Cool Under Boat Adventures: Tenggol Island, 13th-15th July 2012

My maiden trip to Tenggol Island and the last trip before 2 dry months on land.

Day 1 - Meet-up, journey and diving!

Met up with the rest of the Monkees at their office in Cheras before a rather uneventful but 'relatively' speedy drive to Dungun. As some of us were not prepared for the very exciting and wet boat ride, we arrived at Tenggol Island Beach Resort soaked! But heck it was fun! Not fun was the fact that all our clothes got soaked too. After getting to our rooms and hanging out all the clothes to dry, it was gear set-up time! Just a pity that I didn't think to take many land pictures, was too excited to get under water pictures.

Dive #1 :-
Site: Turtle Point
Depth : 15.5m
Dive Time: 43mins
Temp: 26°C

Spent most of this dive playing around with camera settings and test shots. There was a huge jelly at the end of the dive and everyone was crowding to get a picture, so I figured I would stay out of the fray. We kinda bumped into another group of divers, so you can imagine the rave party down there. =D

Dive #2:-
Site: Teluk Raja Wali
Depth: 17.5m
Dive Time: 50mins
Temp: 25°C

Another rather uneventful but relaxing dive. Was trying my luck at adjusting some settings on the camera, but I gave up and just put it on underwater mode for now.

(Pssst! I say uneventful only cos I can't really remember what went on during those dives....shhhh!)

That night, we had a special appearance from Rocker Boy, who was playing us music and teaching us some dance moves. As usual, there were drinks involved.

Day 2 - More diving and special appearances.

Waking up early on the island is never a problem as compared to having to wake up for work back on land. First dive of the day was at 9am!

Dive #3:-
Site: Tokong Timur(Lighthouse)
Depth: 27.1m
Dive Time: 48mins
Temp: 26°C

Due to strong currents on the southern side of the site, we were dropped off on the north side of the lighthouse island. Saw a 1.5m long Cornetfish early in the dive, Narrowstripe Fusiliers and another school of fishies I can't seem to identify. Had a bit of a down current just before making our safety stop, first experience for me.

Cornetfish

Narrowstripe Fusiliers

Can someone tell me what these are?
I can't find them in the book

Lind and Eugene

After lunch, we went for our second deep dive of the day

Dive #4:-
Site: 5 Sisters
Depth: 28.6m
Dive Time: 40mins
Temp : 23°C

5 Vietnamese refugee ships lying peacefully 30m and beyond just on the outskirts of the lagoon where the resorts are. Imagine boarding one of these ships with all your belongings to flee a war torn country, arrive on a 4 x 2km stretch of island and then forced to sink the very ships you arrive on, to make sure you are not towed out and left drifting around.

After the 5 Sisters, and a longer surface interval because one of our girls went on a dive computer breaking in ceremony with one of the leaders while the rest of us continued on with another group, we get to our final dive of the trip...

Dive #5:-
Site: Tanjung Gemuk
Depth: 15.4m
Dive Time: 56mins
Temp: 24°C

In my opinion, the most enjoyable dive of the whole trip. Better viz than the previous dives and more critters to see. We kinda combined 2 groups together so, yes it was another rave party under water. I, personally, was happy with this dive, only because I managed to get some pictures that didn't need much, or any, editing. That is, until my battery decided to die on me halfway through the dive. Boohoo! But still, it was a relaxing easy dive.

Random shot

Peek-a-boo Pink Anemonefish

More Pink Anemonefish

False Clown Anemonefish

Giant Hypselodoris

Nudibranch eggs!

Bullock's Hypselodoris

2 Giant Hypselodoris(es)!

And yet again, the nights on the island are filled with graduations, music, dancing and drinking. This time, we had another special appearance from Mat Rocker, dancing and singing to P.Ramlee's 'Bila Larut Malam' and also Dancin' Boy, dancing to The Village Peoples 'YMCA'.

Thank you Marine Monkees for yet another fun filled and memorable trip!!!