Due to our lack of time, more amazing pictures will follow.

On our first and last day of the PADI Open Water diver training with the Dive Komodo crew we joined the day-boat for once more and were transported right into the heart of the Komodo underwater park, a place that could not be more fascinating. For our diver certificate we had to perform two more open water dives at a depth of 18 meters and improve our buoyancy controll while diving through very diverse and really wonderful underwater landscapes. Additionally we had to perform several skills such as fully removing and replacing the mask under water or orally inflating our BCD under water which we both managed without any problem.

The first dive brougth us to Sebayur Kecil which had a beautiful reef with hundreds of different animals such as leaf scorpionfish, broadclub cuttlefish, angle fish, false clown anemone fish, ribbon eels, giant clams, stingrays and so on to just mention some of them. For the first time we had to fight with a current although it was only a mild one. But it was important for us to learn how to handle our buoyancy in this new situation.

After a break and regaining our strength through some tea and cookies prepared by the crew of the day boat we went on to the last dive site for our PADI open water training. Siaba Besar was a beautiful small island with an even more beautiful underwater world. Contrary to the first site of the day we first descended into an endless region of white sand. It is highly underrated to visite such an area since there can be found so many fascinating creatures such as the spearing mantis shrimp, spiny devilfish and many others we saw. After diving for about 30 minutes we reached a never ending reef. It was full of any possible color and uncountable kinds of fish and other sealife was swimming against the existing current such as upside-down jellyfish, striped catfish, dwarf limfish, white spotted pufferfish and so on. We even saw several green turtles swimming around or sitting on corals and getting cleaned by smaller fish. But for me, the most fascinating creature was a Juvenile cuttlefish, floating motionless in front of us on a coral and waiting for us to pass by. It just felt like it was from another world.

After finishing our really tough PADI open water (we are now officially certified divers) we were able to join a third dive during that day. After having delicious fresh cooked lunch on our day-boat we were brougth to Mawan, a place well know for having a chance to see mantas. So we descended into the deep blue with a pretty strong current and kept our eyes open. The first thing we saw, except of hunderts of small fish, was a blacktip reefshark leaving the area we were heading to. It did not take us long until the first manta appeared and was swimming around us. I think there is nothing more relaxing than seeing these peaceful giants floating through the water without any effort or sound. You actually have to remained yourself to keep breathing during these moments. And as if that was not already enough we saw up to 5 different mantas during our short dive, one even stopping at a coral and getting itself cleaned by many small fishes. And when for a short time no manta was close to us, a Hawksbill turtle was passing by or we had to time look at some special creatures such as the mushroom cord pipefish or the morbled shrimp.

After ending our diver training we can just say that we are more than happy that we had the possibility to make it at such a wonderful place and were trained and supported that great by Stu and J.T. who were both only there for us during that time. And of course thanks to the crews on our dive boats supporting us with setting up the equipment, driving us around or just cooking really really great. And last but not least, thanks to Dive Komodo, the full staff, Greg and Steffi for all the made to make this dream come true.