Where in the World is Pat?

I got to do 14 dives and 5 snorkel trips over our two weeks at Eco Cove Resort. I feel much more confident and comfortable diving, practice does truly help! Eco has these t-shirts that list all their Resort excursions - we made a nice dent in all of them and it's hard to pick a favorite!

Friday nights at Eco Cove Resort are sunset excursion time. All the guest are taken over to tiny Yeben Rock Island. This time the tde ws coming in quickly and alot of the island was already covered by water but that didn't dampen our party! We had a cooler of beer this time too! We also have become feriendly with the 2 families that were there sharing with us.

Eco Cove Resort in Raja Ampat - Oh what a wonderful place! I have truly loved my time here! Sharing it all with wonderful friends, made it even better. Here's some highlights above and below the water.

If you have been following along, you know I really hoped to see an active Octopus here, swimming through the water. What I didn't specify is what size the Octopus would be in that wish! Here in Raja Ampat we have noticed that our dive masters and guides are really focused on the tinest creatures, in these huge oceans. They carrying writing boards to tell us what we are looking at, because we are talking things the size of a finger tip! So I did technically get my dream of seeing an Octopus in flight! Meet the rare and deadly (their sting can kill you in 3 minutes) Blue Ringed Octopus ! He is the small purple and yellow dotted piece cling to the corals below (on the bottom right). You would think just another coral - until you see him move in videos below. Enjoy!

I was so excited to do my first night dive at Eco Cove Resort . It was a gorgeous night and we went into the water off the Resort jetty around 7pm. Each diver has a flash light / torch. It is a whole new experience in the water after dark, tons of activity from things that are generally hidden or sleeping during the day. I had no idea that lobsters dart / swim quickly thru the water, like an octopus - I thought they only crawled like a crab! We saw a two foot lobster, fly by right away. Lion fish were plentiful, floating in from all directions!

Raja Ampat is amazing - everytime I dive or even snorkel I see so many new fish or coral. The landscapes below water is so varied - walls, reefs, ridges, rims or plateaus and teaming with wildlife - it makes the Great Barrier Reef of Australia just so-so! Before each dive we get a briefing on the boat of the landscape, best approach and highlights typically seen in area.

Meal time is social time too! Our group occupies one long 10 seater - our 8 plus other Resort guest we have bonded with over the days. Drinks usually are a precusor to dinner, right after our daily dive / snorkel briefing 6:30 pm. Very few meals have been duplicated over our 2 week stay. The staff loves to make things fun, they always have big smiles and music for all to enjoy!

We woke up to thunder & lighting and pouring rain, but the afternoon turned gorgeous! We had a lovely sunset and a relaxing day. Played some games, sang some tunes with the staff and chilled! Also got a chance to do some blog work. More daily highlights below.

Raja Ampat is truly a diver and snorkeler paradise! Soooo many fish and corals everywhere you look!