Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine June 2018 | Page 131

Travel | Kaimana
The experience of being
in the water with such
beautiful creatures
is pure magic.
“Some bagan fishers said they did this because
the sharks represented ancestors and brought
good luck; others more pragmatically explained
that, if the whale sharks congregate around
their bagans in the morning, they are more
likely to also attract skipjack tuna, Spanish
mackerel and sailfish,” observes Abraham
Sianipar, Elasmobranch Conservation
Management Specialist from CI.
From talking to the fishermen, scientists
understood that the presence of bagan lift
net boats had created one of the most reliable
places across the archipelago to have an
unforgettable encounter with whale sharks.
Sequoia captain Ms Suriani has planned
for us to arrive near the bagan boats of
Triton Bay just before sunrise. As the first
light of dawn glows in the east, dive master
Yohardik Lumettu briefs us on the plan for
the morning: “We will ask the fishermen if
they’ve seen a whale shark in the early hours
– if we’re able to find one feeding at the
bagan, we can get in the water with them.”
5 Senses – Sight
AIDUMA ISLAND
BEACHES
It sounds simple enough, but the anticipation
in the great room of Sequoia is electric,
as everyone checks and double checks their
gear as they anticipate this once-in-a-lifetime
chance to see these gentle giants of the sea.
The cobalt-coloured waters of Triton Bay are
glassy calm as we venture out in the tender
boat, the horizon line blending with the
golden light of the morning sky like a mirror.
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Arriving at one of the bagan fishing boats,
we find Akbar, a 22-year-old fisherman,
tending to an enormous lift net. He and
his fellow fishermen are trying to catch
thousands of ikan puri – tiny silverside
minnows that are then dried or sold as
bait for larger species. Sequoia dive master
Yohardik has arranged to buy some
ikan puri from Akbar, which will be
used to hand feed the sharks.
“This morning, we already have two
whale sharks here,” says Akbar, perching
on the wood and bamboo frame of the
net. Behind him, we hear a sound like an
enormous bathtub draining – the whale
sharks are at the surface and feeding.
Pinneng, my dive buddy and fellow
underwater photographer, has a glint of
excitement in his eye as he does a final
prep on his scuba tank. One by one,
six of us take the plunge, jumping in the
water for an encounter with one of the
most amazing animals on the planet.
Diving below the surface, I’m greeted
by the enormous sickle tail of a seven-metre
whale shark sweeping past, its refrigerator-
sized mouth taking in gulps of sparkling
silver ikan puri dropped from above by
Akbar and his friends. Even after more
than 10 years of swimming with these
huge fish, my heart rate never fails to
go into overdrive when I’m in the water
with them.
Beautiful white-sand beaches, rugged
formations of karst limestone, sapphire-blue
water – and not a soul in sight. The coastline
of Kaimana’s Aiduma Island is every bit as
beautiful as the world beneath the waves.
Perfect for sea kayaking or a relaxing
afternoon on a deserted beach, this is
Indonesian island beauty at its finest.
Pantai Pulau Aiduma di Kaimana sama
indahnya dengan dunia bawah lautnya.
Pantai pasir putih yang cantik, formasi
bebatuan kapur, air berwarna biru safir—
dan tidak terlihat satu pun pengunjung lain.
Pulau terindah di Indonesia ini adalah lokasi
sempurna untuk berkayak atau bersantai
sore di pantainya yang sepi.
Karst limestone islands in Kaimana are very similar
to the legendary archipelago of nearby Raja Ampat.