Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
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
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
Awesome video. That looks like an amazing place to dive.
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Thanks for taking this armchair diver to a place I'll never go. Wonderful.
-Curt
-Curt
Happy to be alive.
- Scubie Doo
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:13 pm
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
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!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I was on the fence with Ambon. But after this video. Let’s go!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Fantastic job Val!!! Amazing video! Looks like a super fun place but so sad about all the garbage.
Live Long And Prosper!!!
Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions.
Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions.
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Val, that was absolutely stunning!!!!! Loved everything about it. Did you really shoot all that on your TG6?!
Party underwater
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Orcasc205 and Oldsalt, thanks for your comments! Glad to share.
Scubie Doo, ‘true dat!’ thank you!
ScubaJess, it is super fun and trash was better than when we went last year
Sharkb8, it was shot with the TG6.
Scubie Doo, ‘true dat!’ thank you!
ScubaJess, it is super fun and trash was better than when we went last year
Sharkb8, it was shot with the TG6.
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Is that a wunderpus or a mimic? Fun video!
All underwater photographs of mine are posted at http://www.dereksinger.com
@dereksingerphotography on Instagram
@dereksingerphotography on Instagram
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
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
Thanks Gdog and Derek! It’s a wunderpus.
- stphnmartin
- Amphibian
- Posts: 821
- Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:52 pm
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
I finally completed my video of the adventure in Ambon:
https://youtu.be/tf-lqPLhn-U
youtu.be/tf-lqPLhn-U
https://youtu.be/tf-lqPLhn-U
youtu.be/tf-lqPLhn-U
View dive videos on my youtube channel. GH5, Nauticam housing, Big Blue 9000s, Sola 500, 1200, Scuba Lamp Snoot, Mavic 2 Pro, Osmo, Final Cut Pro X
- Scubie Doo
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:13 pm
Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Bravo. Super Duper Legit.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
- stphnmartin
- Amphibian
- Posts: 821
- Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:52 pm
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Thanks Jesse!Scubie Doo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:59 pm Bravo. Super Duper Legit.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
View dive videos on my youtube channel. GH5, Nauticam housing, Big Blue 9000s, Sola 500, 1200, Scuba Lamp Snoot, Mavic 2 Pro, Osmo, Final Cut Pro X
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
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!!
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
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!
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!
Dave
- stphnmartin
- Amphibian
- Posts: 821
- Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:52 pm
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Thanks VJW. Glad we got to experience the crazy animals beneath the waves there.
View dive videos on my youtube channel. GH5, Nauticam housing, Big Blue 9000s, Sola 500, 1200, Scuba Lamp Snoot, Mavic 2 Pro, Osmo, Final Cut Pro X
- stphnmartin
- Amphibian
- Posts: 821
- Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 4:52 pm
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Thanks Dave! Really appreciate your kind comments. Also, congrats on your retirement!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!
View dive videos on my youtube channel. GH5, Nauticam housing, Big Blue 9000s, Sola 500, 1200, Scuba Lamp Snoot, Mavic 2 Pro, Osmo, Final Cut Pro X
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
The shot of the ornate ghost pipefish with the silhouetted crinoids in the background is really cool.
All underwater photographs of mine are posted at http://www.dereksinger.com
@dereksingerphotography on Instagram
@dereksingerphotography on Instagram
Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
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!!!!
Party underwater