Back to Northern Latitudes!

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Sogndal, Norway 24/3-2014

N61.12.719´
E07.07.127´

Suddenly, I find myself among ice and snow...

Brrr!!! In the beginning it really feels cold ... or rather, it hurts to dive into the water which is only 1 °C at the surface... considerably colder then my recent time in the South Pacific... ;-)

So, where am I now?

Yeah right, I´m back in wonderful Norway!!




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As said, Norway in March means cold water... So far, we have had temperatures down to 1 ° C just beneath surface and around 4-5 °C in deeper water...
 
This might sound very cold but with good equipment you stay dry and comfortable during the entire dive. One hour dive in these circumstances requires good clothing though! :-)






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Northern Scandinavia does not only mean cold dives... ;-)

What do you do when you haven´t seen snow for many months? Exactly, you make new friends... or even better, you make new cool dive buddies!!

Indeed, it is important to keep the playful spirit in a good mood :-)





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We are currently staying close to Sogndal, in the inner part of Sognefjord.

Sognefjord is Norway´s longest and deepest fjord. This fjord is over 200 kilometers long and reaches a depth of more than 1300 meters, which not only makes it the second longest, but also one of the deepest fjords in the world.

It is more than six years ago since we were here last time, and I feel very happy to once more get the opportunity to come back to this beautiful place.

What awaits us in the water this time?





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Night dives are exiting and here in Sognefjord we do many of them.

When diving among bioluminescent plankton it feels like floating in space totally surrounded by shining stars and fluorescent aliens... :-)

But why do we dive at night?

It is during the dark night hours the deep sea animals are coming to shallower waters. With other words, night dives increase our chances to even get these exciting creatures on film...







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More dark dives are awaiting us now. What we will face next is yet unsaid, but not knowing what we will meet makes our dives even more exciting!




More from me and our time in the Norwegian fjords in the next blogpost soon...

.... :) ....




Wild & Lively Island Life in the Coral Sea

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New Caledonia, South Pacific 11/3-2014

After exactly three months in the South Pacific, I am heading back to northern latitudes... 

In New Caledonia, I have happily spent plenty time in both lagoon and mangrove, inclusive getting two new addictions; kitesurfing and SUP-paddling :)

Now, it is time to continue the diving in cold waters again and I´m looking forward to new exiting encounters with the deep sea creatures living in our Scandinavian waters...




However, before posting cold water images on the blog, I want to share one more blogpost from the southern hemisphere. This time with pics from one of my favourite places...



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Join me to a small deserted island, located just a short distance from the impressive New Caledonian Barrier Reef.

Hey wait a bit, did I say deserted island??


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In close proximity to both lagoon and deeper waters, this little island becomes an oasis  for many interesting creatures...




At this spot I have got plenty curious encounters wich I will never forget. Let me introduce the locals of this wonderful place!! ;)




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 Though, even if human activity is far away, this place might not be so silent...

This deserted island is in fact a very vivid one! :)




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 I´m totally surrounded by huge amounts of sea birds of many different species.

The Greater Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii) are very energic birds and provide a loud "soundtrack" to the entire area.





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 A much calmer companion is Fou Brun (french), or Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) in English.




Actually, the reason why I´ve been chosen to lie here in this hot, stinky sand, and under the strong scorching sun, is nothing else than the Brown Booby... ;)




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The surrounding has a strong bird smell... And in addition to my already sand and sea-salt filled clothing, the black rashguard I´m wearing starts to get an even whiter look and increased smell...

Indeed, this is a good sign for realizing you are in a sea bird paradise! :)






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 Equipped with camera, tele lens and tripod, I´m lying on the ground watching my neighbourhood. It doesn´t take long before I start to get many curious eyes on me from both young and elder bird individuals.




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I do not think that my new friends have human company often, and so it is not strange if they might be a little hesitant about who I am. 

Though, with my calm behaviour and low posture they start to accept me quickly.




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 The Brown Booby eats mainly small fishes and squids and catch their food by plunging into the sea.

The birds search for their prey at about 10 to 12 meters height above the water before angling the body in such a way that it can enter the water as smoothly as possible.

Depending on their altitude prior to diving, they are able to submerge themselves up to 2 meters deep. If neccesary, they are even able to pursue their prey underwater using a combination of feet and wing motions.




Something that is highly conspicuous when I see these graceful birds is their varying colour on both face and legs...




While females are light yellow on feet and beak...






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... the males have a slightly stronger blueish "makeup"!!




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Their breeding season is dependent upon food availability, but most common is that they breed between December to March (peak season).
peak breeding months are December to February




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When you live on a small Pacific island it is always nice to get some height to improve the ocean view...

... some prefer a more solid basis for the choice of their second floor...




... while others are fortunate to get an entire coconut for themselves!!




Your own coconut on a deserted Pacific island with the very best view over the Coral Sea... What more could you ask for?! :)




Although the birds prove to be relaxed in my company I do not want to disturb them more...




The sun is getting even stronger and I feel tempted to get back in the water again. Slowly, I start to pack my camera gear and put it all back in the drybag. A short swim thereafter I´m back in the boat which is anchored some distance away from the island.

Time to say goodbye to my featherd friends; -Thanks alot for your great hospitality and hope to see you again! :)










Soon on the blog:

Believe it or not, but the tour goes to the other side of the world..! ;)

With other words I´m back in Scandinavia again! Dives in the deep fjords of Norway are waiting ahead now... Who knows what I will meet at the depths this time?

Much colder environments are promised in the next blogpost...

..... :) ..... 





La plage de Moara

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Moara, New Caledonia, South Pacific 27/2-1/3-2014

S21°38.629´
E166°18.351´

After plenty time spent among wind and waves at the west coast, it is a total contrast to come to the New Caledonian east coast.

Here, in Moara, we have no waves in sight, and the wind is just enough to smoothly move the big palm trees which decoratively grow along the beach.




The reason why I whished to visit this particular place, was that I have heard reports about a friendly dugong that should have been seen in the area...

New Caledonia is a good place for dugongs, the great lagoon offers many sheltered places where they can find both food and rest. Though, most of the dugongs here are shy and the few we have seen from the boat have quickly been on their move without any bigger interest of further human company.

However, the dugong in Moara is told to be very social and keen on having closer contact to humans, up to that grade that there even is a big warning sign next to the beach, warning the swimmers about this big mammal.




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In Moara we get to know that the dugong has not shown up for a long time. Bad news for the dugong loving person I am...

Nevertheless, even if the dugong might not be on site anylonger, we still want to give it a chance and also give ourselves time to explore the area a bit.




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When the camping ground is chosen, and the tent is in place, I start to feel that I have a huge need of something...

Simply, to get into the water!!! ;)

Mask, snorkel, fins, camera... and one breath later we are beneath the surface again.




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The first impression of the underwater world is not very impressive though, the visibility is poor and just some small dead coral sections are partly visible.

No wonder the dugong has not been seen for a long time, there is no food for it here!

Even the smaller whitetip reef shark we meet looks a little lost in the barren underwater landscape...





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We continue to swim further out with the aim to follow the coral reef and to get some distance from the beach area.

The wonderful free feeling freediving gives me, always keeps me in a very good mood :)


So much fun you can have in the water!




It does not take long before the coral reef drastically start to change shape. With an increased curiousity we continue our swimming...  

 




Wow! This looks promising!

The east coast is not as exposed to wind and waves as the west side and this shows. Here, many different corals including seafans are growing in very shallow waters. 






From an almost dead landscape we suddenly find ourselves in a paradise of corals in all kind of sizes, colours and shapes.





In the coral reef, we also find smaller gorges, caverns and caves. The underwater world of Moara turns out to be really exciting!







We really enjoy our new snorkel spot and start to call it "Garden of Eden". Even though the dugong never showed up, this beautiful coral surrounding made it well worth coming here.







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Generally it is more precipitation here at the east coast, which results in a very green and vegetated area.

The large coconut palm trees truly gives the place an exotic touch. But attention is needed... You don´t want to get a falling coconut on your head!






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I have now spent three awesome months in New Caledonia and it is getting time to get used to cold waters again.

Soon, I will find myself diving in the deep fjords of Norway. But before that I will post one more blogpost with pics from the South Pacific...







Soon on the blog: 

Join me to the small deserted island where my feathered friends are living. Close encounters with amazing animals. And learn how to use a coconut... ;)
..... :) .....