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Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 10:54 pm
by Vjw
After a 13 day live aboard on the Banda Sea Sept-Oct 2019, stphnmartin, myself, and two other PNW divers Keith and Jon spent a ‘layover’ in Ambon, Indonesia for 3 days. We did 12 dives with the shore-based dive operator Critter Junkies, only 20 minutes from the airport making transportation via taxi very easy. The Crecia hotel, a 10 minute taxi ride from Critter Junkies, is up to western-standards with breakfast, dinner, air conditioning, warm water and friendly staff. Ambon itself is slightly ‘third-world’ and trash is an issue in the water and on land.

The diving is truly amazing and outta this world!!!

The only place on earth you can see the psychedelic frog fish, which we were lucky enough to see!! We saw 10 other frogfish, 4 cuttlefish, 2 rhinopia, many colorful nudis, and a boxer crab on the first day! The wunderpus we saw the second day was epic. It's mostly muck diving but there are some corals too.

Critter Junkies provides air tanks and weights and you can dive as much as you want from 9 am until well past sunset. You set your own schedule and can dive with or without a guide from the shore. They also have a boat if you want to visit other local dive sites. They provide lunch if arranged ahead of time or you can walk to restaurants or convenience stores nearby.

Here’s some above water pics and my video of the quirky critters we saw on the adventure!


youtu.be/MKPFuSU0WkA

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:07 pm
by orcasc205
Awesome video. That looks like an amazing place to dive.

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:01 am
by oldsalt
Thanks for taking this armchair diver to a place I'll never go. Wonderful.
-Curt :rawlings:

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:18 am
by Scubie Doo
Amazing Val. I cannot believe how far you’ve come in a short period of time. Doesn’t hurt to have a badass mentor ;)

I was on the fence with Ambon. But after this video. Let’s go!



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Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 4:52 pm
by ScubaJess
Fantastic job Val!!! Amazing video! Looks like a super fun place but so sad about all the garbage.

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 7:25 pm
by Sharkb8
Val, that was absolutely stunning!!!!! Loved everything about it. Did you really shoot all that on your TG6?!

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 12:12 pm
by Vjw
Orcasc205 and Oldsalt, thanks for your comments! Glad to share.
Scubie Doo, ‘true dat!’ :notworthy: thank you!
ScubaJess, it is super fun and trash was better than when we went last year :luv:
Sharkb8, it was shot with the TG6.
:joshsmith:

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 9:27 pm
by derekcs
Is that a wunderpus or a mimic? Fun video!

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 10:01 pm
by Gdog
Ok Val. I second what Jesse said. Dad gummit, your video is epic! Fantastic job, loved every second of it!

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 5:54 am
by Vjw
Thanks Gdog and Derek! It’s a wunderpus. :joshsmith:

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 10:05 pm
by stphnmartin
I finally completed my video of the adventure in Ambon:

https://youtu.be/tf-lqPLhn-U


youtu.be/tf-lqPLhn-U

Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:59 pm
by Scubie Doo
Bravo. Super Duper Legit.


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Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 10:39 pm
by stphnmartin
Scubie Doo wrote: Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:59 pm Bravo. Super Duper Legit.


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Thanks Jesse!

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 12:33 pm
by Vjw
You hit it outta the park! I especially love the harlequin shrimp moves, straight-on shot of the hairy squat lobster, yawning FF, and clown fish aerating their eggs, not to mention the psychedelic FF. Amazing!!
:joshsmith:

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 6:31 pm
by dlh
Wow! I played that full screen on my 32" desktop PC monitor and I had to back away from the desk it was so intense and close up. If you are only watching this on a tiny phone screen I strongly recommend the Full Screen HD experience!

Incredible shots and editing Stephen! I can really see how your style is evolving and growing with ever trip. You knocked it out of the park with this one!

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:47 am
by stphnmartin
Vjw wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2020 12:33 pm You hit it outta the park! I especially love the harlequin shrimp moves, straight-on shot of the hairy squat lobster, yawning FF, and clown fish aerating their eggs, not to mention the psychedelic FF. Amazing!!
:joshsmith:
Thanks VJW. Glad we got to experience the crazy animals beneath the waves there.

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:48 am
by stphnmartin
dlh wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2020 6:31 pm Wow! I played that full screen on my 32" desktop PC monitor and I had to back away from the desk it was so intense and close up. If you are only watching this on a tiny phone screen I strongly recommend the Full Screen HD experience!

Incredible shots and editing Stephen! I can really see how your style is evolving and growing with ever trip. You knocked it out of the park with this one!
Thanks Dave! Really appreciate your kind comments. Also, congrats on your retirement!

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:33 pm
by derekcs
The shot of the ornate ghost pipefish with the silhouetted crinoids in the background is really cool.

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 8:15 pm
by Sharkb8
We just got one of those fancy new smart tv's that you can watch you tube on. I watched your video on that and it was ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!! :supz: :supz: :supz: