Lembeh Straits; Rhinopeaus

On the way home from Lembeh.

We dive here on a yearly basis and have not seen any Rhinos for a few years.

The guides say none for last three years.

Any one seen any more recently here?

I dove Lembeh last December (2012) and there were no rhinopias to be seen

April 2011 and no rhinos...

We've had some in Bali along with Ambon scorpionfish this year!

Nope, there really hasn't been any since 2010 when a couple showed up for a brief time..

dove lembeh early January and end of April 2013 - no rhino

No rhinos for us in April 2012.

Go to Ambon - weedy & paddle-flap , at least during Oct/Nov the past few years.

dove in December 2012, there were some rumors someone saw one but no proof and not confirmed by dive guide.

Addendum to my original posting...

Last one we saw was in 2008/9.

A purple paddle-flap called " Louie" by some of the guides.

Later disapeared and unconfirmed rumore was that he was seen in an aquarium shop in Manado ???

If thats true thats truly sad..

Actually, frequent sightings of Rhinopias were recently reported on a main land location, south west of Manado bay. There were muliple sights of several specimens, up to 4 until late 2012. Some Lembeh diver groups even organized trips to see them (and that's quite a drive from Lembeh). From what I've been told (from a Murex senior guide), they disappeared after some windy and choppy days in january.

We tried to go back on the divespot of their last sightings early april, but the visibility was very limited, due to rains and a river that floods directly into this small bay. Therefore we came back with empty mem cards...

The last one I saw there was 2007. It was a yellow weedy. I only got one, poor photo.

September last year 5 different individuals in 9 days in Ambon including a red and yellow pair.

The rumours I heard on my last visit to Lembeh were that the Rhinopias had been collected for the aquarium trade, which is very sad. In Ambon in December I saw five different individuals and the guides told me there were up to twenty throughout the bay. Ambon is the place to go at the moment.

When is the best time to go to Ambon to see the Rhinopias?

When is the best time to go to Ambon to see the Rhinopias?

Roughly mid-september to mid-april. September to november are said to be better because of colder water and Rhinopias coming up while they tend to hide deeper as the water warms up from february on. But I've seen many Rhinopias in Ambon in feb, one of them less than 6m deep.

News flash from Lembeh: I'm happy to report that today one of the Critters@Lembeh dive guides found a paddle-flap rhinopias! It's been a long time since we've seen one so we're really excited about it. Hopefully one of our guests will have a decent shot and allow us to put it online. Great news!

Send guards to protect it!