Connie’s Paddle-Flap Scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri)

Rhinopias are the all-time favourite among the critter enthusiasts who stay at Maluku Divers. It never fails to be one of the first marine creatures that guests name when our dive guides do their routine consultation “What would you like to see in your dive today?” before every dive at Maluku Divers.

This is the second stay this season at Maluku Divers for Cornelia Thieme, a physician from Germany. She already stayed for two weeks in October, and when she knew the dive liveaboard she had planned to be on would end its itinerary in Ambon, she couldn’t wait to come back for a convenient land based add on to the cruise. On Connie’s wishlist this time were skeleton shrimps, boxer crabs and rhinopias. Our dedicated dive guides found her a colony of skeleton shrimps in one dive site and two boxer crabs at our spectacular house reef (even more spectacular at night!).

Then, Maluku Divers really delivered and Connie had not one, but two different rhinopias: a velvet red Paddle-Flap Scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) along with a purple Weedy Scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) and she also had the pleasure of seeing a pretty Ambon Scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) in her spiritual home in Ambon! Connie shares her picture of the velvet red Paddle-Flap Rhinopias this week:

The world class muck diving and Maluku Divers’ convenient location just a few minutes from Ambon’s domestic airport, are just two of the many reasons why guests keep returning again and again to Ambon. Pattimura airport has daily flights from Bali, Manado and Jakarta, via Makassar, as well as regular flights to Sorong, Nabire and many other locations in east Indonesia. Even if the main aspect of your trip is exploring other parts of Indonesia, Maluku Divers is a great, cost effective and convenient way to make sure you get your fix of critters during your dive trip.

Other reasons divers repeat their stays at Maluku Divers, as Connie and many of our return guests would tell you, a professional team and great service with a big smile! We look forward to seeing you in Ambon. Don’t forget to bring your wishlist!