Manta Rays!!!

Once we arrived on Flores we had one major objective, go diving! Diving off Komodo Island is world renowned since the ocean around Komodo is National Park. No fishing, no bombing, just pristine coral and thousands of fish. Only one problem. Diving in this part of Indonesia is for experienced divers, which we were not. Luckily we found a shop that had a small group going out and we were allowed to join. Usually they like divers to have 50 plus dives under their belt before they dive in these waters. 

Our first dive was off a small rock barely above the ocean. Fortunately for us this small rock turned into a large rock under the surface. Easily our most fantastic dive to date, the coral was beaming with all colors of the rainbow and endless amounts of textures and patterns. A few highlights were the huge green turtle we watched for a while and a snake slithering throughout the coral.

Photo Courtesy of Hani Amir

On our second dive we were venturing into what's called a current dive. You jump in the water and off you go. Hot damn is this fun, and scary. By the time you can process what you just saw your already 10 feet past it and dodging oncoming coral. While this was very fantastic the real excitement was yet to come. We dove in the current for one thing, and when we came upon the glorious mantra ray all I could say into my mask was (Cassie will be mad at me for cussing) holy shit… 

Dragons, oh my!

On our final days we finally reached the famed Komodo Island. The heat was scorching as we walked the barren island in search of this deadly animal. Every sound from the bush would have heads turning in excitement and/or fear. With one guide in front of our pack, and one near the end we didn't feel very safe considering all they have to fight off a hungry dragon is a long stick that looks like a serpents tongue at the end. Luckily for us and most visitors, these dragons are as lazy as you or I would be if we lived on an hot island. Almost every dragon we encountered spent his day avoiding the sun flopped down in a haphazard position or near a watering hole trying to cool off.

We all had a good laugh on the second island when one of our guides asked if any of the women were having their period, since blood attracts a hungry dragon. Once all the girls assured our guide it was fine we commented on how that could have been important information to have on Komodo Island the day before.