Octopi of Cocos Keeling, Oct 06

Little photo essay.

Before our trip to Ningaloo, we added on a small little location in the Indian Ocean.

How many people have Cocos Keeling in their log book

I know, I've shared this often but find me a good site and I can park on it for dives after dives.

So, we are at a site called Ski Slope, and about 30 minutes into the dive, I come across this Octopus, just hanging out in the open, checking out what was happening.

I was able to get close and under and trying to work some blue water

I see Blaze in the distance and wave her over and some quick hand signs for her getting into position, and almost like she did this before instantly she took the modeling job.

nice end to a nice day.

The last day, we parked the boat between 2 dive sites, and you know I am going back to Ski Slope and looking for my friend. But what happened was I found 2, and they were already out and looking for me

this guy let me get in real close, and I did clean up some sand in PS

and then the two of them, just started bouncing back and forth,

between me and some coral heads,

this one pic, she landed and opened up and I nailed this one, used levels also in helping with the bg, but I still love this outcome.

I did all 3 dives of 70+ minutes on the last dive day with these guys, I was having so much fun and interaction,

I wound up making a separate gallery of these guys

"Octopi of Cocos Keeling Oct 06"

http://www.ppfotos.com/photo/index.php

Stunning. What fun that must have been.

How many people have Cocos Keeling in their log book smile.gif

Probably i'm going to have soon!!! I won a 7night 6 days of diving trip to the Cocos Keeling islands with the our world underwater competition. I don't know the details of the prize yet but i was wondering how it is over there.

The octopusses are gorgious, but how is the rest of the diving over there? Is it worth to get myself and my girlfriend a ticket to Perth. I'm affraid that the ticket from Amsterdam to Perth isn't included. Do you know whether there are any other airports that have flights to the Cocos Keeling islands? I'm very curious to see the rest of your pictures!!! Will you post them soon? Or can we see them on your webpage soon?

cheers, Udo

Lovely series, pp. I especially like #3...looks like it's playing peekaboo!

Isn't it great when the aquatic life lets you catch a glimpse of their world? I've been lucky enough to spend whole dives watching a pair of mating flounders fend off a randy intruder, honeycomb cowfish flashing neon colors to court each other, nudibranchs laying eggs, and a whole flotilla of sharks playing in a tidal current. The bf thinks I'm a voyeur and thinks I should get my head checked!

Thanks for posting these up!

smash

Udo, if I remember correctly, the flights are twice a week from perth, via X'mas Island (land of the red crab run). My info is a bit old since I was last there 2001 and the other possible way is through jakarta to Xmas to CKI, which I did on my second trip so I could escape Australian Airport Gestapo and their weighing machines.

The 2 times I was there, the coral and viz were amazing but in terms of marine biodiversity it's not Indonesia. However, there is a very friendly dugong named Kat there who loves to be photographed (that's if she's still there). Otherwise the usual manta, grey reef sharks and bigger reef fish like humphead wrasse and bumphead parrotfish etc etc. Since you already have the tickets to CKI, I'd suggest you try to have the stop over in Xmas during the red crab migration. After the egg release, usually whalesharks and mantas arrive to feed on the eggs (or that's the theory). Whalesharks are usually enroute to Western Australia through Xmas Island.

CKI during my first visit had some coral bleaching but in general the seascape is very healthy as is fishlife. It's great fun to go there as it is pretty pristine and if you can handle the gday mates and 'strewth"ings it's a nice place to go to esp with X'mas island as a combo.

Smash, tell the bf that you sometimes like to "watch" too. That should get him straight.

Probably i'm going to have soon!!! I won a 7night 6 days of diving trip to the Cocos Keeling islands with the our world underwater competition. I don't know the details of the prize yet but i was wondering how it is over there.

 

The octopusses are gorgious, but how is the rest of the diving over there? Is it worth to get myself and my girlfriend a ticket to Perth. I'm affraid that the ticket from Amsterdam to Perth isn't included. Do you know whether there are any other airports that have flights to the Cocos Keeling islands? I'm very curious to see the rest of your pictures!!! Will you post them soon? Or can we see them on your webpage soon?

 

cheers, Udo

dont miss xmas island then !!! amazing walls and hard coral growth over there !!

cocos is more far away in the ocean but xmas island is also really really good !

Udo, if I remember correctly, the flights are twice a week from perth, via X'mas Island (land of the red crab run). My info is a bit old since I was last there 2001 and the other possible way is through jakarta to Xmas to CKI, which I did on my second trip so I could escape Australian Airport Gestapo and their weighing machines.

The 2 times I was there, the coral and viz were amazing but in terms of marine biodiversity it's not Indonesia. However, there is a very friendly dugong named Kat there who loves to be photographed (that's if she's still there). Otherwise the usual manta, grey reef sharks and bigger reef fish like humphead wrasse and bumphead parrotfish etc etc. Since you already have the tickets to CKI, I'd suggest you try to have the stop over in Xmas during the red crab migration. After the egg release, usually whalesharks and mantas arrive to feed on the eggs (or that's the theory). Whalesharks are usually enroute to Western Australia through Xmas Island.

 

Smash, tell the bf that you sometimes like to "watch" too. That should get him straight.

Udo, drew as usual is pretty correct on his info.

Perth - Exmouth - Xmas - Cocos is the route we had to take. a whole day just to go a few hours and this flight cost wayyyyy to much money.

the diving? clear gin like waters, vis was infinite. pretty vanilla though. not fair to even think of comparing it to Indonesia/Pacific waters. The dugong is still there, we heard it but couldnt see it. manta was on the same site and did a pass through.

They only offer 2 dives per day if that is okay with you. otherwise you have to do some real bartering for more. only one place to eat per night really and within certain hours.

very nice people.

email me if you want, we can talk in detail.

Smash, tell the bf, play his cards right, there is a long line behind him waiting !!!

And if you want to hear something really dumb.

We live in Exmouth yet we have to fly to Perth (1200km), overnight it, fly back to Exmouth (1200km), get out while it refuels then back in and off to Cocos/Xmas...Cheaper just to fly to Cairns/ Bali or some other place.

Same when you fly back.

Western Australia is so backwards sometimes and tourism will never take off untill they sort out this single airline monopoly.

And if you want to hear something really dumb.

We live in Exmouth yet we have to fly to Perth (1200km), overnight it, fly back to Exmouth (1200km), get out while it refuels then back in and off to Cocos/Xmas...Cheaper just to fly to Cairns/ Bali or some other place.

Same when you fly back.

 

Western Australia is so backwards sometimes and tourism will never take off untill they sort out this single airline monopoly.

are you friends with Ross & Mary? Kristin?

that is who I was with and they had to do the same thing. come to perth, spend the night and then go back to their airport and just as you said. coming back, straigh to perth another overnight

then we had to fly to exmouth, cause we were spending a week up there.

(Ningaloo rocks, I got some great shots or atleast some great chances. so much to see and so many behavior cleaning stations.)

stick on weight they are.

I was 1/2 kilo over the limit and they made me take something out, or they wouldnt touch the bag. I had to laugh at that one.

do u know, my wetsuit dry, 2mm weight 2kilos?

they just told me 44c up there. that makes it 112 here.. wow.. and we just got hammered with snow and ice and 20degrees here in NYC. stay cool or just dive!

And if you want to hear something really dumb.

We live in Exmouth yet we have to fly to Perth (1200km), overnight it, fly back to Exmouth (1200km), get out while it refuels then back in and off to Cocos/Xmas...Cheaper just to fly to Cairns/ Bali or some other place.

Same when you fly back.

 

Western Australia is so backwards sometimes and tourism will never take off untill they sort out this single airline monopoly.

Mate

There's your next venture... get kelly to get her commerical pilot's licence. Then start Air Wags. Feature flight attendants in skimpy costumes (yes mate both sexes, gotta cover the market, there are women and gay guys to consider) for PER-LEA-XCH-CCK route. Play u/w movies as inflight entertainment.

And remember you got the idea from me!

Btw Christmas Island is also reachable from SINGAPORE! I just found this airline while looking for info on Kiribati. Looks like they are in cahoots with SilkAir.

Austaair flight schedule to XGI

PP,did you get an upgrade from the 10D? Those don't look like photos from the 10D, got a lot more pop in the pic? Full frame?

PP,did you get an upgrade from the 10D? Those don't look like photos from the 10D, got a lot more pop in the pic? Full frame?

Very Good Drew. Been a couple trips now with the 5d in a Subal. Got it last summer.

Hopefully last upgrade for a while.

all is well? family? hope so.

Thanx everyone for your valuable information. But before i start planning anything extra i want to know hat i really won. I expected to get more information by now, but apparently they i have to be somewhat more patient.

I did find out that it is possible to reach Christmas island via Singapore, which is a lot shorter for us europeans. And then it'll also be possible to travel from Xmas Island to CKI. But again, let's see firts what's included in my prize i still don't know much about it.

I'll let you people know once i know more.

cheers, Udo

Thanx everyone for your valuable information. But before i start planning anything extra i want to know hat i really won. I expected to get more information by now, but apparently they i have to be somewhat more patient.

I did find out that it is possible to reach Christmas island via Singapore, which is a lot shorter for us europeans. And then it'll also be possible to travel from Xmas Island to CKI. But again, let's see firts what's included in my prize i still don't know much about it.

I'll let you people know once i know more.

 

cheers, Udo

Udo, I sent you a PM through the board, I dont know if you got it

email me

pp@ppfotos.com

Thanx everyone for your valuable information. But before i start planning anything extra i want to know hat i really won. I expected to get more information by now, but apparently they i have to be somewhat more patient.

I did find out that it is possible to reach Christmas island via Singapore, which is a lot shorter for us europeans. And then it'll also be possible to travel from Xmas Island to CKI. But again, let's see firts what's included in my prize i still don't know much about it.

I'll let you people know once i know more.

 

cheers, Udo

Hi Udo,

Congratulations. Does this prize have anything to do with the Dukvaker contest you mentioned to me?

Cheers

Nuno

The airline that services Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas Island out of Australia is National Jet Systems. In general they fly a circular route a couple of times a week, one anti-clockwise (Perth-Learmonth-Christmas-Cocos-Perth) and one clockwise (Perth-Cocos-Christmas-Learmonth-Perth). So depending on your timing you can get at least one flight direct from Perth to Cocos. This is the current flight schedule:

http://www.nationaljet.com.au/schedule/sch...s_20061206.html

If you want some idea of what's there this is Mary's and my shots from our trip there last year with PP:

http://www.gudgeon.id.au/Diving/Cocos%20-%...2006/index.html

The last three shots show PP hanging out with his octopus friends.