Author: Trinity (travel blogger http://naked-traveler.com/)

Day 7 and 8 dives I moved to Team 1 led by Mas Opik. Team 1 changed from rubber boat to Pesut boat this time. I chose to go on the Pesut boat with whoever the team was because it was easier for me to get on the boat from the sea. I can't imagine riding on a rubber boat, after diving, my big body has to be dragged onto the boat.

Unlike Team 2, Team 1 is more agile and fast moving. Before each dive, there was a briefing, which was closed with a prayer. I felt safer. In Team 1 I joined two "fish kids", Hedra and Om Ari. Behind us were the Roll Masters, Muklis from the Navy and Vero who researched IKW. At the very back of the "coral children" with buddy Mr. Eman from the Marine and Fisheries Service. On the boat was Dirga with his GPS business and charismatic animals.

My first day diving with Team 1 was a blast! I really enjoyed diving because the sea had no current, the underwater scenery was beautiful, the wall was full of corals and fish, and the team members not only researched but also helped each other. At the end of the 250-meter dive and long swim, we still had time for photos. Maybe it's also because I already know how this underwater expedition works that things went more smoothly.

Since Team 1 was more well-planned, the second dive was just a tube change on the boat and we waited for the service interval at sea without having to return to the Menami Boat. At lunchtime, we returned to Menami, rested, and set off again. Team 1's principle, "The sooner it's done, the better, we can rest for a long time and not fight for the bathroom."

After lunch, we were eager to leave despite the rainstorm. On the way in the middle of a bumpy sea, we saw a small canoe bobbing in the sea. The ship approached the sampan but there were no people or oars in sight. The captain of the boat decided to go around the canoe. And... there was a human body floating! I was really afraid that it was a dead body because I was traumatized. My stomach was already churning with nausea. The boat got closer... a young man in his teens with his mouth gaping, legs dangling, and arms stretched out unconscious on the surface of the sea. The team quickly lifted the emaciated body, placed him on a bench, changed his clothes into dry ones, covered his body with a tarp, rubbed his body with eucalyptus oil, gave him tube oxygen. He was still unconscious. His dinghy was also hoisted onto the ship.

Although there is an island closest to the drifting location, Pak Eman suggested taking him to Grogos Island because he said there was a health center. We took him there but the boat could not get close because of the low tide. A villager was asked to pick him up in a canoe. Some of the team escorted him to the village. Not long after, the victim was transported back to our boat. What happened? The villagers said, "We wanted to help but he ran away!" But the team's version is that the Grogos villagers refused to help the victim for fear of being blamed. Alas, where is the human conscience these days? I thought it only happened in traffic accidents in Jakarta that people were ignorant because they were afraid of being blamed.

The victim, who was already conscious, admitted that he came from Geser Island. His mouth was babbling continuously. It looks like he is not in his right mind. We fed him, 2 large loaves of bread were immediately stuffed into his mouth. He also drank a 2-liter bottle of drink. At 5pm we took him to Geser Island, which is quite far from the Menami boat. When we got there, people had already gathered at the harbor. They recognized the victim and called his father. Soon the victim's father came with a tight face, pulled the child, and... beat him! Lha? I don't know how it went because the Pesut boat soon returned to Menami.

The next day due to the victim incident, we were forced to go diving four times a day. Early in the morning we were ready, straight away with change tubes. The dives went smoothly, we were blessed with sunny weather, good visibility and no current.

After lunch, we went diving around Koon Island - the name of this expedition. But from the boat, the water was choppy and the current was very strong. We all descended slowly through the anchor rope. The current is crazy strong! We took refuge behind a reef, docked as close as we could, and then got itchy plants on our hands. All the effort paid off with a very nice site, both from the reef and the fish, which were numerous and varied. Even small fish are few, with strong currents this is a paradise for big fish. There are GT (Giant Trevally), barracuda, and sweetlips like a tornado. There were turtles, bobara, groupers, and others milling about in front of us! No wonder this site is named by the locals as the Fish Market. What a fitting name!

The fourth and final dive of the day started at 4pm, still around Koon Island with the current not so strong but still plenty of big fish. But fatigue was setting in, I started shivering from the cold. My teeth and jaw hurt from biting the regulator's mouth piece for so long. I tried to swim leisurely and enjoy the view.

Total 10 times diving in 3.5 days. Been on the boat more than a week. All participants are still in good spirits. At 21.00 there is still briefing about diving tomorrow to research SPAG aka mating fish.