The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat

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The Island of Waigeo in Raja Ampat is home to Huge Fruit Bats

Nothing about the tropical treeline or white beach suggests that this island in the Raja Ampat region of Indonesia is home to anything different from the other breath-taking islands in the area; Mioskon island is a popular island for tourists and locals in the region. This tropical island is surrounded by incredible reefs known for their amazing dive and snorkeling points. At the same time, the white beach is a popular spot for divers to spend time between dives or day trips to lounge on the white beach and cool off in the crystal-clear waters.

While spending time on this island, you soon start to notice the jungle sounds in the background, and as you venture off from the beach into a small clearing, you begin to identify the different sounds. Birds chirping away in the branches, insects buzzing in the distance, and then you hear a soft whistle and screeches answered by another. These whistles change the tone, and soon you start to realise that you are eavesdropping on a conversation. As you take a closer look at the treetops, you notice the black hanging shapes swaying with the light breeze.

The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat
The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat 5

As the sun starts to set, the screeching and whistles become louder and more frequent, and the dark shapes begin to move. It is not long before you notice one or two spreading their wings before taking flight to start circling the treetops as if inviting the rest of the shapes to join. Before long, a swarm of dark shapes take flight from the treetops, their whistles filling the air while their silhouettes pass above in the picturesque sunset for which the area is known. You have just witnessed the start of the nightly migration of the Papuan Fruit Bat, also known as the Flying Fox.

This daily migration has become a popular tourist activity, and many dive boats can be seen around the island as sunset approaches to witness the thousands of bats leaving their daytime hide-out to head to the mainland for their nightly feast.

The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat
The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat 6

The famous diving area of Raja Ampat is home to many islands and large areas of the mainland that have yet to be explored. These lush tropical jungles are home to many birds of paradise, wild bush pigs, and many other species. The jungles are also home to an uncountable number of fruit trees, including banana, coconut, pawpaw, and the local Snake fruit and Rambutan. A feasting ground for the Papuan Fruit Bat. 

The mass of bats that leave the island of Mioskon all converge on the nearby mainland of Waigeo and spend the night picking fruit out of trees. Their favourite seeming to be bananas, with one fruit bat easily consuming a large bunch in a single night. These bats will circle their intended target and swoop in repeatedly to take another bite of their chosen fruit, often repeating this for hours on end.

The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat
The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat 7

After their feast, these large bats will spend the rest of the night flying around the islands and often giving the unsuspecting a fright as they swoop in from the dark sky to investigate something interesting. Often this will be the fruit trees of a local resort or family.

Despite their large size and the many urban myths surrounding bats, they are completely harmless and help spread the seeds of the fruit they eat. These bats play a vital role in the ecosystem of the region.

Although Mioskon is known for the large population of fruit bats, there are many smaller groups of bats in the region. Many bat caves and smaller islands are hosts to these fruit bats and smaller species. Access to most of these caves is by boat during specific tides, making it a truly unique experience to swim through a small opening to gain access to an air-filled cave with sleeping bats on the cave ceiling.

The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat
The Huge Fruit Bats of Raja Ampat 8

As much of the West Papuan region is uninhabited, it has become a popular area for bat and bird watchers to come and spot rare and endangered species in their natural habitats. Many local guides specialise in these sightings, and often these sightings are possible from the outdoor lounges of resorts in the area or the deck of a local homestay.

As the night ends, it is an awe-inspiring sight to witness the masses of bats returning from the mainland while the sun is rising to their perches on the magical island of Mioskon.

About Meridian Adventure Dive  

Situated in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Meridian Adventure Dive is a PADI 5 Star Resort and winner of the PADI Green Star award. Scuba divers enjoy our professional services that have become synonymous with both the PADI and Meridian Adventure names.

@timpell49
#AskMark Mark great video love your content I recently had my cylinder hydro tested it was filled with air how long can you keep the air in the cylinder before you use it .Also dive shop can drain the air and fill with nitrox?
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@timpell49
#AskMark Mark great video love your content I recently had my cylinder hydro tested it was filled with air how long can you keep the air in the cylinder before you use it .Also dive shop can drain the air and fill with nitrox?
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

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How Long Can You Keep Air in a Cylinder? #AskMark #scubadiving

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07:06 Mediterranean
07:34 ADEX
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09:36 MIDE
10:06 GO Diving ANZ
11:09 Diving Talks
11:58 DEMA

Full List of Dive Shows with Links:
https://divernet.com/scuba-diving/your-worldwide-dive-show-guide-for-2025/

JANUARY 18-26: Boot Düsseldorf (International Boat Show)
FEBRUARY 1-2: Duikvaker
FEBRUARY 21-23: European Dive Show (EUDI)
FEBRUARY 21-23: Diving Resort Travel (DRT) Show, Malaysia
MARCH 1-2: GO Diving Show (The UK Dive Show)
MARCH 15-16: ADEX Ocean Festival / OZTek Australia
MARCH 28-30: Mediterranean Diving Show
APRIL 4-6: Asia Dive Expo (ADEX)
MAY 22-25: Thailand Dive Expo (TDEX)
MAY 31 – JUNE 1: Scuba Show
JUNE 13-15: Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE)
SEPTEMBER 6-7: GO Diving ANZ Show
OCTOBER 17-19: Diving Talks
NOVEMBER 11-14: DEMA Show

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The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.
00:00 Introduction
01:35 Scuba.com Ad
02:35 Duikvaker
03:15 EUDI
04:23 DRT
05:04 GO Diving Show UK
06:24 ADEX OZTek
07:06 Mediterranean
07:34 ADEX
08:21 TDEX
08:51 Scuba Show
09:36 MIDE
10:06 GO Diving ANZ
11:09 Diving Talks
11:58 DEMA

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US diver Barrington Scott has set a verified Guinness World Record for the fastest time to scuba dive across all seven continents.Cartagena City Council says it is preparing to tighten access to the Cueva del Agua (Water Cave) system in southern Spain, following the death of a 37-year-old female diver there on 18 January. And an underwater habitat builder has just extended the record for longest time spent submerged. 

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/scuba-dash-across-7-continents-brings-world-record/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/spanish-cave-divers-death-prompts-calls-for-controls/ 
https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article299289964.html
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Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

US diver Barrington Scott has set a verified Guinness World Record for the fastest time to scuba dive across all seven continents.Cartagena City Council says it is preparing to tighten access to the Cueva del Agua (Water Cave) system in southern Spain, following the death of a 37-year-old female diver there on 18 January. And an underwater habitat builder has just extended the record for longest time spent submerged.

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/scuba-dash-across-7-continents-brings-world-record/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/spanish-cave-divers-death-prompts-calls-for-controls/
https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article299289964.html
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/pod-builder-completes-120-days-under-sea/

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

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Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS4yNkZBOTQyMkYxQkQyMzc2

Spanish Cave Closed After Fatality #scuba #podcast #news

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