Expeditions
We made two snorkeling expeditions to Pulau Berhala, a small island just beyond the bay of Bajau where Infinity was anchored.

Island observations
We did not have time to explore the land of Bajau which was unfortunate because it would have been interesting to make contact with the community here. Just in front of the village close to SV Infinity’s anchorage, there were fish pens containing groupers. One fishermen that came to the ship to sell us some fish (mostly small whiptails) had a small live grouper in a bucket of water in his boat. He told the crew on board that it was going to Hong Kong.

Reef observations
Reef type: Fringing reef around Pulau Berhala (see photo on right).

Coral observations: There are some very large massive Porites spp. colonies in the shallows of this reef. They are mostly 100% healthy. Other corals observed include Symphyllia spp., Acropora spp., Pocillopora spp., and Montipora spp.

Fish observations: We observed four young black tip reef sharks at this small reef indicating a very healthy predator population here. Also a school of bumphead parrotfish, a variety of snappers (checkered, lined, one spot), three types of large angelfish (blue spot, six bar and one other), emperors and jacks.

Health and vitality observations: There were two small rubble trenches on the reef crest; very small areas where branching corals had become rubble and with the appearance of being damage from a long time ago. There were a couple of corals suffering from disease; white band disease and possibly white pox.

giant clams; table Acropora spp.; clusters of massive formations in the shallows at Pulau Berhala

   
a rubble zone on the reef slope; the ubiquitous seastar, Linckia laevigata

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