"Nuts about nudibranch" Manado Travelogue by Restless-in-kl

If you have a love affair for nudibranch or fondly known as nudis, Lembeh is the right place to be. These butterflies of the sea are found everywhere and in the most unimaginable shapes, size, colours and designs.

They are also a lot easier to shoot with a point and shoot camera, you don't have to be a super photographer :-) This beautiful nudi was captured in Kuda Laut 2, Lembeh.

Jorunna rubescens

When I first saw this nudi, my eyes popped open wide and I uttered "Wow!". This baby was huge, bigger than the palm of my hand. Compared to most nudis, this specimen would be considered as a giant.

I wonder what's in its diet?!

Hypselodoris infucata

The antics of a nudi are sometimes very amusing. I was watching this lovely Hyselodoris sniffing the sand, lengthening its body, waving in the currents and still cound not decide to get off its perch or stay on.

Shot at Teluk Kembahu 3 in Lembeh which is one of my favourite dive sites for diversity of the marine life that can be found here. Night diving here is something that you would not want to miss though the waters are really cold and dark.

Aplysia oculifera

This is the first time I've encountered this particular nudi. Braving the cold, still waters and pitch dark surroundings, I dived into Teluk Kembahu 3 and came across this beauty.

Looks like my efforts have paid off. It's fun to watch divers on anight dive. You will either see flash lights popping up underwater occasionally at different spots or the permanently lighted strobes of videographers which look like alien spaceship lights illuminating in the water.

Euselenops luniceps

And here's another weird and wonderful nudi who greeted me in the night at Teluk Kembahu 3.

Hypselodoris maridadilus

Not only do you see more types of nudibranch in Lembeh, you see more than one of them just cosying up to each other .

Shot in Teluk Kembahu 2.

Ceratosoma trilobatum

I love the way they have posed with the white Ceratosoma in the middle. Shot at Police Pier.

Risbecia tryoni

Captured at Teluk Kembahu 2. Told you this dive site rocks!