Snorkeling Bira, Sulawesi: A Photo Essay

January 27, 2013 in Asia, Indonesia, Snorkeling, Travelogue

Family Travel Indonesia

I know I said it in Borneo, but I have to say it again, because it just keeps getting better:

This is the best reef we’ve ever snorkeled!

We took a boat ride over to the island facing Bara Beach to snorkel on the protected side. Our friend Stefan went with us, with his new fancy camera in it’s waterproof case; some of these pictures are his.

It has a fantastic selection of soft coral, as well as gorgeous forests of hard corals, which was something we hadn’t seen in great quantities before here.

The fish life is flourishing.

I think my favourite was swimming in a school of tiny silver fish, not more than an inch long, that were moving so fast that they looked like air bubbles under water, and seeing, at the cloudy edge of my field of vision, ghostly tunas, working the edge of the school.

I saw the BIGGEST pufferfish I have ever seen, almost a meter long and at least 18″ in diameter. It’s big beak made me a little nervous, even though I know they’re not biters!

Huge lobster, fantastic starfish, unlike any I’ve ever seen before, a bright blue pufferfish, and the cherry on top: Sea turtles. Hannah and Gabe swam with sea turtles years ago in Hawaii, and saw one on a SCUBA dive in Belize, but for Ez and Elisha this was a big first and they were delighted.

Here are some pictures for you; most were taken by Hannah and Gabe!

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia

Family Travel Indonesia