Under the Bali Sea with Cerulean Starfish

I should have become an oceanographer.....i do love observing and Swimming

lined surgeonfish

mature angelfish

  

Pemuteran: West Bali- National Park. (north west, not far from where you can catch the ferry to Java)
Does anyone else giggle and chuckle underneath the sea?
I do.  Snorkeling under the Bali Sea, in Pemuteran and the Menganjan Island (deer island) i am so amused by the creatures of the coral reefs.  As a painter and (former) fabric designer I also guffaw at the premise that we think we can "do better" or even "equivalent" to Mother Nature.  What Folly!  The subtleties, the patterns, the compositions, the range of colors.....it's all there (But You ALREADY  knew this)
In case you need reminding Why this planet is so extraordinary..... take a peek at the few living things that make it so special.   

Giant clam- about 2' across... all different colors and patterns.... I saw 4-5' ones in Tahiti: Polka Dotted in neon colors

       
    Some of the giant clam patterns looked just like the finest italian silks; umber and celedon.  

I spotted some very very shy octopus', usually cowering in some hole.... but i kept seeing this HUGE 3' l x 2.5 H fish jabbing at the coral.   He was fascinating: even had a Black mustache. After watching him and following him for awhile (he was a solo Triggerfish )..... i came upon him 1/2 hour later..... well this is when he turned on me, chasing, actually hitting my flipper... and i was swimming for my life.  He had sharp teeth and is very territorial and PREDATORY.  o well.... i went looking for the smaller fishies.... i found one called "sweet lips!"

Sweet Lips!

      
             
                         
           So anyone know where i can get that classic fish tale that I somehow managed Not to see, "Finding Nemo"?

 The clownfish were plentiful and very playful darting in and out of the anemone
       
 
The crinolines and cabbages of the coral reef may look like a vegetable garden..... but it's ALL alive ,and well "animal".  The sponges are electric orange  and the fan coral looks like japanese maple trees.  There is subtlety and there is flamboyance.  Lots of Psychedelica! Yeah polka dots, swirls,stripes, undulating lines, eyes, all quite staggering.

      
   

wrasse basslet

Triggerfish baring its teeth

the feather coral resembling rich velvet

TRIGGERFISH- this dude was After Me

hogfish

cerulean starfish: they drape themselves over coral

puffer fish off Menjengan Island

Parrotfish

young angelfish

orange pipefish

fairy basslet

the orange fan coral

It's the clownfish with it's partner in symbiosis; the anemone

Rabbit fish and the ubiquitous Moorish Idol

 craggy mountains come down almost to the Pemuteran beach; it's the only national park in Bali . the
park is a good place to trek and go birding (mostly sea birds).

directly outside the lovely hotel Reef Seen /where i stayed..... it had a turtle hatchery also.... the fishermen sell the eggs to the hatchery instead of eating them!  Hawksbill turtles -Turtle Conservation