2006-03 Banda Sea, Indonesia #6

Pulao Batanta

Our first scuba diving location.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 11, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Misool

Day 2 scuba diving around this very pretty island.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Misool

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Adventure Komodo

An Australian scuba diving boat, very stable and fast, but proved to be very uncomfortable during the approaching Typhoon Larry and rough passages.

Pulao Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Misool

Nice tree and coastline.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Misool

Between dives, we zodiac-cruised some lagoon areas.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Misool

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Philippine Ground Orchid

Spathoglottis plicata

Pulao Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Misool

Frequent rain allows vegetation to grow on rock.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Misool

I guess you could call this a sea stack, seen at the start of a second zodiac cruise.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Philippine Ground Orchid

Spathoglottis plicata

Pulao Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Slender Pitcher-plant

Nepenthes gracilis - this is a very old plant, obvious from all the old stems.

Pulao Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Zodiac Cruise Snacks

Snacks at the end of the second zodiac cruise.

Pulao Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 12, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Sorong

WE had to return to Sorong when one of our group developed a persistent nose bleed.

West Papua, Indonesia, March 13, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Freighter

Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia, March 13, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Harbor Monument

Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia, March 13, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Longboat

This boat came out to evacuate our friend with the nose bleed to the local hospital.

Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia, March 13, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Big Night Fishing Boat

Big lights and nets deploy to catch fish and squid at night.

Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia, March 13, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Walid

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 14, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Walid

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 14, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Walid

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 14, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Walid

Pretty little beach.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, March 14, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Banda Api

The last eruption was in 1988 with a very large lava flow.

Banda Island, Banda Islands, Indonesia, March 16, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Arriving

Dock, Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 16, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Local People

Local people came to see us and our boat.

Dock, Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 16, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Dock

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 16, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Child

Local people and children came by to have a look at us during the day.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Local Men

Very serious guys.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Ali, Made & James

Ali and Made are the two scuba diving guides on the trip.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Larry Smith

I processed this photo long after the trip.  Larry Smith is often recognized as one of the best underwater guides of all time. Sadly, he died of pneumonia complications in the Sorong hospital about one year after our trip.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Girl

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Red Snapper

Lutjanus bohar - local fisherman selling a fish to the chef.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Children

Children found the foreign visitors very interesting.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Mosque

Some of our crew went to the mosque for Friday prayers.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Souvenir Shop

After a day of diving, we toured the town.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Shop

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Dutch Architecture

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Local Man

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

1852 Dutch Church

A wooden church was built in the early 1600s but was destroyed by an earthquake.  The church was rebuilt in 1852 in brick and plaster.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Golden Orb Spider

Nephila species

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Bicycle Taxi

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Shop

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

New Bicycle

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Shop

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Old Woman

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Produce Vendor

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Shop

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Dive Shop

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Maulana Hotel

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Maulana Hotel

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Gate

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Children

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Children

Swimming

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Derelict Boats & Trash

Many countries have no organized trash disposal and the ocean is the unfortunate recipient of a lot.

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Children

Bandaneira, Banda Neira Island, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Old Wine Bottle

Hand blown bottle that I cleaned and have on a shelf in my office.

Bandaneira, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 17, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Run

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 18, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Dive Deck & Aja

Adventure Komodo, Pulao Run, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 18, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Camera Table

Adventure Komodo, Pulao Run, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 18, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Nailaka

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 18, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Run

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 18, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Ai & Banda Islands

The Banda Api volcano and other islands in the background.

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 18, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Run

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 18, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Ai

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 19, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Exploring Pulao Ai

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 19, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Screw Palm

Pandanus spiralis

Pulao Ai, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 19, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Screw Palm

Pandanus spiralis

Pulao Ai, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 19, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Nautilus Shell

Nautilus pompilius

Pulao Ai, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 19, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Blacktip Reef Shark juvenile

Carcharhinus melanopterus - it was surprising to see these juveniles in the shallows, near shore.

Pulao Ai, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 19, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Blacktip Reef Shark juveniles

Carcharhinus melanopterus - there are about 10 of the sharks swimming around in shallow water near the shore where we waded around.

Pulao Ai, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 19, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Ai

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 19, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Gunung Api

This is the top of a stratovolcano rising from over 3 miles below the surface.

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 20, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Cliff Vegetation

Gunung Api, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 20, 2006

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Masked Bobby

Sula dactylatra - some nests visible.

Gunung Api, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 20, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Great Frigatebird

Fregata minor

Gunung Api, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 20, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Cliff Vegetation

Amazing that these plants grow in such a low nutrient, rock location.

Gunung Api, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 20, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Aju & Ali

The outer zodiacs is an odd aluminum construct.

Gunung Api, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 20, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Reong

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 21, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Pulao Reong

Reong is a relatively small, low lying island with the much larger Wetar Island in the background.

Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 21, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Chef Jamie, Tuna & Made

We had very fresh tuna for dinner.

Pulao Reong, Banda Sea, Indonesia, March 21, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Fisherman

The fisherman has a woven fish trap he is preparing to place on the bottom.

Pulao Pura, Alor Regency, Indonesia, March 22, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Church

Some islands have christian churches.

Pulao Pura, Alor Regency, Indonesia, March 22, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Local Men

People will paddle out to see the tourists.

Pulao Pura, Alor Regency, Indonesia, March 22, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Local Men

The canoe is riding very low in the water, probably meant to carry only one under normal circumstances.

Pulao Pura, Alor Regency, Indonesia, March 22, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

South Pulao Pura

Alor Regency, Indonesia, March 22, 2006

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Village

Beang Abang, Alor Regency, Indonesia, March 23, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Sunset

Last sunset of the trip as we head to Kupang.

near Alor, Indonesia, March 23, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Crew

All but the chef wearing Adventure H2O shirts of Larry Smith's company.

Adventure Komodo, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, March 24, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson

Group Photo

The sort of thing we do while waiting for our dive gear to dry and leave the boat.

Adventure Komodo, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, March 24, 2006

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Larry L. Jackson