Has Banda been fished out??
- Thread starter FilmDork
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- banda overfishing
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billt4sf
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Remember Bill’s second rule: no matter where you go, and how great you think it is, there will be someone that was there five or 30 years ago “when it was really great!”That seems to be a common theme pretty much everywhere.
CWK
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Tippytoes12
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For various very nice reasons (a big birthday and two anniversaries) we are lucky enough to have been to Kalimaya , Bali , Alor , Lembeh and Ambon in the last two years. Alor, Lembeh on the coral sites and also Bali all had lots of fish. The house reef in Kalimaya had excellent fish life and this is now being expanded to form an MPA.
CWK
Contributor
Umm.... If you say so.
My first visit to Banda Neira was some 30 years ago (1989, the year after Gunung Api erupted) when the dive trip was arranged by and accompanied by Om Des (Uncle Des) who is otherwise known as Des Alwi. My memory has dimmed over the years, but I am still able to retrieve some fragments. I recall seeing a whale from the plane prior to landing at the BN airport. I am happy to report that there are still whales in the area, as you will be able to ascertain from my November 2018 video. Another fond memory was that as the plane taxied to a stop after landing, there was someone trotting beside it pushing a wheelbarrow with a fire extinguisher in it. It took me a moment to realise that it was the Banda Neira airport fire engine!
In terms of diving highlights I recall seeing Spanish dancers, a dugong, and large schools of fish 30 years ago. To me, Banda is still worthwhile but much depends on timing... tide, moon phase... For example, in my October video you will see the school of tuna which was at Batu Kapal just outside Bada Neira. The tide and moon phase was right, so the fish were there. When I dived Batu Kapal in November and December, the fish were not there. Tide and moon phase ..., No current, no fish.
Dan
Contributor
Listen to your friends. Don't go to Banda.
Dan
Contributor
Not true in Cocos. I just sit on the rock (literally) and watch the parade of hammerheads passing by. Don't feel guilty sitting on the rock, as it is just rock, not much coral there.
What have you heard about being in Banda January, February and March? Sounds like the wrong time of the year.
Dan
Contributor
The pressure is on me now. LOL. It'll be awhile. I won't be there until September & then will be in Raja Ampat in January 2020
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