{"id":8740,"date":"2017-05-17T11:34:05","date_gmt":"2017-05-17T10:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=8740"},"modified":"2021-06-18T14:54:16","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T13:54:16","slug":"diving-timor-leste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/diving-timor-leste\/","title":{"rendered":"Diving into Timor-Leste"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThree, two, one, GO!\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All nine of us roll off the boat in perfect unison. As I hit the water, my fins fall to one side. I feel them collide with my neighbour, and all I can think is: \u201cI hope that wasn\u2019t his head\u201d. The first thing I do is signal to James, the boat marshal, that I\u2019m okay, before then checking on my neighbour. My fins hit his tank, so thankfully he\u2019s not hurt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking landwards through my water-speckled mask, I can easily make out the distant peaks of Atauro Island, Timor-Leste, though <a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/timor-leste\/#base\">our basecamp on the seafront<\/a> is out of sight. I turn back as we start to drift away from the boat, looking for my dive buddy, Simone, as the surface marker buoys are being passed down to the dive leaders. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once everyone has joined up into buddy pairs, Blue Ventures\u2019 Field Scientist, <a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/team\/jenny-house\/\">Jenny<\/a>, gives the \u2018okay\u2019 sign and I reply with the same gesture. We orientate, put in our regulators and deflate our BCDs (buoyancy control devices) to begin our descent. I feel the pressure in my ears increase as I sink beneath the waves, coupled with a sense of freedom that grows by the second. This is why I fell in love with scuba diving.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8741\" style=\"width: 910px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8741\" class=\"wp-image-8741 size-paperback-full-width lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/20170306_085304-2000x1125.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/20170306_085304-2000x1125.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/20170306_085304-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/20170306_085304-635x357.jpg 635w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/20170306_085304-745x419.jpg 745w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/20170306_085304-1300x731.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/20170306_085304-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/20170306_085304.jpg 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900\/506;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8741\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The group orientate themselves before descending onto the reef.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we descend further, we notice a change in the current and it\u2019s driving us off course. We had planned to go to a nearby wreck, but the current is against us: there\u2019s no point in fighting it, we won\u2019t see the wreck today. Jenny alters our course and we start to go with the flow. Once we reach our desired depth, my buddy and I take out our dive slates. Today\u2019s goal is to practice identifying all the corals we learned in Jenny\u2019s lecture \u2013 I really hope we do well on this practice test so that we can begin collecting data for Blue Ventures\u2019 ongoing coral reef monitoring programme.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jenny points at the first coral we meet, which I recognise immediately. It resembles a stack of little balloons, so it must be bubble coral. I write it down and show Jenny, who does a little dance and signals \u2018okay\u2019, which means I got it right. Yes! One down, 29 to go. The second coral is smaller. I \u2018waft\u2019 it with my hand and note that it has a hard skeleton, but the top part moves a little. It looks like a cluster of green stars. Galaxea? Yes! I\u2019d got it right again, and the proud look on Jenny\u2019s face is priceless.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/diving-timor-leste\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 272px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 408px; height: 276px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/diving-timor-leste\/image016\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8742\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image016.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1140,768\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Bubble coral (top right)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image016-530x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image016-717x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image016-404x272.jpg\" width=\"404\" height=\"272\" align=\"left\" title=\"Bubble coral (top right)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 404px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 404\/272;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Bubble coral (top right)<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 487px; height: 276px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/diving-timor-leste\/image013\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8743\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image013.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1298,730\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Simone wafts coral to determine its identity\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image013-635x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image013-745x419.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image013-483x272.jpg\" width=\"483\" height=\"272\" align=\"left\" title=\"Simone wafts coral to determine its identity\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 483px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 483\/272;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Simone wafts coral to determine its identity<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8745\" style=\"width: 654px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8745\" class=\"wp-image-8745 size-large lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/North-of-RKT-House-reef-644x483.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"644\" height=\"483\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/North-of-RKT-House-reef-644x483.jpg 644w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/North-of-RKT-House-reef-87x65.jpg 87w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/North-of-RKT-House-reef-476x357.jpg 476w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/North-of-RKT-House-reef-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/North-of-RKT-House-reef-1300x975.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/North-of-RKT-House-reef-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/North-of-RKT-House-reef.jpg 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 644px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 644\/483;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8745\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jenny points out different coral species<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along the way, we spot more than just corals. There\u2019s a huge variety of fish from different families, including an impressive lionfish. It\u2019s so big everybody spreads their arms to show each other how big they think it is. In my head I\u2019m shouting: \u201coh my God, it\u2019s huge!\u201d as I share amazed looks with Simone. The current carries us away from the lionfish, and Jenny tests us on a few more corals. We have covered the easier ones, and now it\u2019s getting tough. I really want to prove that we know what we\u2019re talking about.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have just correctly identified number 23 when Jenny suddenly points at something else. I\u2019m just too far away to see it properly, but I can tell it\u2019s not a fish, and definitely not a coral. Jenny picks it up and brings it closer. It\u2019s a television remote. How on Earth did it get here, on the bottom of the ocean? I\u2019m flabbergasted and confused. I write \u201chow?\u201d on my slate and show both Jenny and Simone. They look just as astonished as I feel. Before Jenny puts it in her pocket, Simone and I take five seconds to take a mandatory selfie, and we drift onwards.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/diving-timor-leste\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 333px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 448px; height: 337px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/diving-timor-leste\/reefscape-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8748\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8888.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G16&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Reefscape&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1464693002&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;6.1&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;80&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Reefscape&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Reefscape\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8888-476x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8888-644x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8888-444x333.jpg\" width=\"444\" height=\"333\" align=\"left\" title=\"Reefscape\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/333;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Timor-Leste Reefscape | Photo: Jen Craighill<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 447px; height: 337px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/diving-timor-leste\/dcim107gopro\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8746\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/G0010675.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;HERO&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM107GOPRO&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1398640606&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;119&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0166666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM107GOPRO&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Fiona and Simone\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/G0010675-476x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/G0010675-644x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/G0010675-443x333.jpg\" width=\"443\" height=\"333\" align=\"left\" title=\"Fiona and Simone\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 443px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 443\/333;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Fiona and Simone<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jenny indicates another coral, the thirtieth and final species in today\u2019s test. This last one is hard and I need to get it right if I want to pass. It looks soft, with jelly-like tentacles that sway with the current. Suddenly a fish emerges from the mass of tentacles, closely resembling Nemo and Marlin. It must be an anemone. I jot it down and show Jenny, a little doubtful about my answer. She gives me a look and I begin to doubt myself even more. Then she smiles and gives me a double \u2018okay\u2019 sign. I had passed!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proud of our accomplishments, we enjoy a small underwater celebration, until I notice with surprise that we\u2019ve been diving for 45 minutes. It always goes by so fast. As Jenny gives us the sign that it\u2019s time to ascend, all I can think is \u201cwhy can\u2019t it last a little longer?\u201d We halt our ascent five metres below the surface. This is the final stop of our dive: three minutes at five metres to make sure our ascent is safe. It seems harder than usual; the current is trying to drag me away from \u00a0Simone. I grab onto her to make sure we all stay together. We keep an eye on our dive computers, passing the time by blowing rings with our bubbles. When our computers are done counting down, Jenny gives us the \u2018thumbs-up\u2019, indicating we can continue our final ascent to the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/diving-timor-leste\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 351px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 628px; height: 355px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/diving-timor-leste\/image009\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8750\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image009.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1366,768\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Volunteer Adam blowing bubble rings\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image009-635x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image009-745x419.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/image009-624x351.jpg\" width=\"624\" height=\"351\" align=\"left\" title=\"Volunteer Adam blowing bubble rings\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 624px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 624\/351;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Volunteer Adam blowing bubble rings<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 267px; height: 355px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/diving-timor-leste\/bubble-rings-on-safety-stop\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8749\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Bubble-Rings-on-Safety-Stop.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"600,800\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot D30&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1474020178&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0015625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Bubble rings ascending | Photo: Madison Kane\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Bubble-Rings-on-Safety-Stop-268x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Bubble-Rings-on-Safety-Stop-362x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Bubble-Rings-on-Safety-Stop-263x351.jpg\" width=\"263\" height=\"351\" align=\"left\" title=\"Bubble rings ascending | Photo: Madison Kane\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 263px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 263\/351;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Bubble rings ascending | Photo: Madison Kane<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8751\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8751\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8751 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8123.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8123.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8123-87x65.jpg 87w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8123-476x357.jpg 476w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8123-644x483.jpg 644w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8123-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8123-1300x975.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/IMG_8123-300x225.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8751\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anemone fish in their host anemone | Photo: Jen Craighill<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we make the transition from air to water, I take out my regulator, remove my mask and signal to James that we\u2019re all okay. When the boat draws close, I take off my weights and gear, passing them up to \u00a0James before finally taking off my fins and climbing on board. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat a dive\u201d, I say, still buzzing with excitement inside as I take my seat at the end of the boat. \u201cThis is why I came here\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Inspired by Fiona&#8217;s descriptions of the underwater world in Timor-Leste?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/timor-leste\/\">Join us on a marine conservation expedition!<\/a><\/p>\n<p>All photos in this blog were taken by Fiona unless otherwise specified in the caption.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><i>Blue Ventures would like to thank our supporters and funders including the Darwin Initiative through UK Government funding, the\u00a0GEF through UNEP under the Dugong and Seagrass Project, and Wilstar.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-25293 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/UK-AID-Standard-RGB_maxWidth_1920_maxHeight_1080_ppi_72_quality_60-1-300x318-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"94\" height=\"100\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/UK-AID-Standard-RGB_maxWidth_1920_maxHeight_1080_ppi_72_quality_60-1-300x318-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/UK-AID-Standard-RGB_maxWidth_1920_maxHeight_1080_ppi_72_quality_60-1-300x318-1-61x65.jpg 61w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 94px) 100vw, 94px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 94px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 94\/100;\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-25287 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Darwin-logo-281x357.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"79\" height=\"100\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Darwin-logo-281x357.png 281w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Darwin-logo-380x483.png 380w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Darwin-logo-51x65.png 51w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Darwin-logo-300x381.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/05\/Darwin-logo.png 708w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 79px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 79\/100;\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Timor-Leste volunteer Fiona Westheim describes a coral identification dive from her marine conservation expedition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":8748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[587,471,478],"tags":[499,515,512,511],"class_list":["post-8740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-timor-leste","category-volunteer-expeditions","category-volunteer-stories","tag-coral-reef","tag-diving","tag-expeditions-2","tag-volunteering"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - 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