Hi Everyone,

Not my fault,this time,that I haven't written for a while---all phone lines were down in Tulamben,so no Internet.I'm now in PadangBai(Bali) recovering from a minor ear infection---what can you expect--52 dives since I started on this trip!!

I'll probably be here for perhaps a week,so I expect to do a few dives here,once the ear is sorted.Then,I'm hoping to head for Salawesi,--Bunaken,to be accurate--I've heard that the water is crystal clear,which will make a change from the poor to medium visibilty,so far(not complaining--just commenting!!).

The viz. wasn't too good for most dives at Tulamben,but still very enjoyable.The poor visibility makes you concentrate on the small interesting critters that live on unexciting bits of the ocean floor---I'll try and add some piccies of them later,but outstanding ones were the harlequin shrimps,ghostpipe fish,various crabs and some very odd fish---anyway,hopefully the pictures will tell the story,better than me.

I did do one trip to Lombangon Island,to see the Giant SunFish,but didn't get to see them(I think that's about the 7th try I've made,and never been successful!!)---but all was saved by a close encounter with a Manta Ray.The water was murky,but you could see the silhouettes of a couple swimming(flying?)past.Then I spotted one heading out of the gloom in my direction--I took a deep breath,floated up slightly,and hovered in the water--to be rewarded by the Manta gently swimming past,only a metre or so away---I had tears well up,they are just so beautiful and graceful---a real privilege.

Blimey,listen to me waxing lyrical!!!---all I can say is "you had to be there!".

Tulamben turned out a bit more expensive than I thought,unfortunately.I dived with Tulamben Wreck Divers---a very well run outfit,with terrific accommodation--well worth the little extra to what I'm used to---but this time they were full,so I was given alternative lodgings----A VILLA !!! and I mean VILLA!!it was magnificent---but over three times more than I usually pay!!! Still,they compromised and split the difference,so I can't complain,it was a fabulous place---but has put a dent in my travel fund--another reason for a week,staying in comparatively cheap lodgings in Padang Bai---the Kembar Inn.I've stayed here several times,and it has everything I need---inexpensively!!

Well,I've been on this ruddy computer for over an hour(emails etc.) so will say cheerio for now.Hopefully adding some critter piccies later(when my typing finger recovers!!)

Bye for now,

Alec.