Went about 50 kilometers east of Dili to do a little shore diving. Had a couple of really great dives. Nudibranchs, leaf scorpion fish, and a solitary robust ghost pipefish usually found in twos.

The French Navy is docked downtown Dili at the pier so a few of the guys came out for a dive. Really great guys and a lot of interesting stories. We stopped for a few beers at the only restaraunt on the road - a little bamboo hut that serves great food and cheap cold beer.

There was a local spearfisherman there. Really good swimmers, these Timorese. He had a scorpion fish, a titan trigger fish and a odd mix of other stuff. I got some great shots and will have them up in a week or two in the East Timor section. I think you will find them interesting.

The fishermen here don’t use dynamite like they do in so many places so the reefs are very healthy and can support the local subsistance fishermen.
Feeding the family will always come first.

There is a big concert downtown tonight. It is the celebration of the Indedendence Day of East Timor. It was suspected that some trouble would break out but the situation seems calm.

The potential for this place is enormous. There are so many undiscovered diving sites and beaches that tourism should eventually take off. These are really great people and i just hope that they get it together.

Anyway, check back because there will be quite a bit of good info for the budget traveller to be posted in a week or two.

Then I might head up to Mindanao in the Philippines to visit some of my mates up there and do a little diving as well.

Later, dutchpickle