We will board the liveaboard in Saumlaki, one of the easternmost islands in Indonesia. We'll then sail north through the Banda Sea through a chain of islands and atolls known as the Forgotten Islands. One of the attractions of the Banda Sea, besides us most likely being the only boat in the area, are the reefs. They are absolutely mind-blowing. The coral is so dense that you will be hard-pressed to see any patches of the reef's limestone foundation. Many of the reefs consist of expansive fringing hard coral plateaus that extend from the island or atoll and then eventually drop off into the deep blue. These walls or slopes are covered in sponges, colorful soft corals, and sea fans. Additionally, there will be plenty of reef dwellers like dazzling schools of tropical fish, larger pelagic species like tunas, jacks, and batfish passing in the blue, and juvenile reef sharks patrolling the shallows. It's also the time of the year when the blue whales start their migration south to Australia. Thus, it may be possible to spot one or several from the boat.

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Visiting the Šolta, we stayed at the sheltered ‘Mojito Bay’. The name attracted us, that's why ;). The next day we noticed tourist boats in this bay stopped at a specific spot and people started looking at the water, sometimes swimming, but most of the time leaving again. It turned out that there was a shipwreck called ‘Kontesa’ which sank here and could easily be seen just below the crystal clear water! The ship was built in 1943 and served as a cargo vessel during World War II. After the war, it was sold and converted into a passenger ship, carrying tourists along the Croatian coast. Its sinking in the 1980s was due to a storm, and fortunately, all passengers and crew members were rescued safely. Today, the Shipwreck of Kontesa serves as a reminder of the island’s rich maritime history and provides a unique opportunity for visitors to explore and learn about underwater ecosystems. Over the years, the sunken ship has become a habitat for a wide range of marine life, including colorful fish, octopuses, crabs, and sea anemones. So I got my snorkeling gear and getting closer to the area you could see the top of the ship, it was only 1 or 2 meter under the waterline! Gilles filmed me with our waterproof Go Pro camera, while I was swimming towards the shipwreck.

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First Sailboat Race Tips for New Skipper #sailing #boat #shorts

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Después de su destacada participación en los Juegos Paralímpicos de París, donde obtuvo dos medallas de oro, Sherman sigue cosechando merecidos reconocimientos.

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A few clips from the "Derecho" thunderstorm that hit Texas on May 18, 2024 before I went inside.

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