Pamilacan Island , Post Retirement Dives 861-862 June 27, 2025

Below are some photos from these two dives, to see more, please go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MPndoSmmWA3wVU5Z6 Cian draws meticulous, beautiful sketches of the dive site before giving us our briefing for the dive. Below:

Above: Chocolate Chip Sea Star Below: Beautiful sea life

Above: Phillip with a Zebra Pufferfish Below: Beautiful tbd Triggerfish followed by a rampaging school of Coral Catfish. These dives are very easy and relaxing...

Below: Beautiful 4 inch Hawkfish followed by Cian giving a sea turtle swimming lessons as Barbara looks on.

A large Peacock Mantis Shrimp (maybe 8 inches long) out hunting in the open in broad daylight. I don't think this reef had any predatory fish capable of taking on this fierce Mantis Shrimp. Below:

A strange nudibranch, new to me, about 4 inches long:

Cian explained how this large sponge has been shaped by it being a preferred resting spot for sea turtles. Below:

Below: A large barrel sponge covered in small sea cucumbers.

Cian sends up his smb to show our launch where we are for pickup after our 3 minute safety stop. Next, Cian demonstrating how to make bubble rings, a key safety stop anti boredom skill. Below:

As I finish this blog entry, it's before dawn on July 2 here, about to do our second morning of diving with Thresher Sharks. We have 3 days of diving to go on our trip, then a day to decompress before flying to Manila and then home. I'm still having a great time but I'm ready to get home.