Wednesday 12th November, from the base camp in Kumawa. The ornithologists and herpetologists, accompanied by Vincent, the “botanist-climber”, are going today to the peaks of the Kumawa mountain range. There is no time to waste because they plan to climb to a height of 1,600 meters. A team of porters is going with them, carrying food and water for the … Continue reading →

Tuesday 11th November, from the Airaha 2. While the land teams finished setting up camp, the divers took their first  dive (25 to 30-meter deep) not far away. They did not find many species, but there are a few interesting specimens. Gofir and Amir found a piece of sponge which is 80 cm in diameter. It will be analysed at … Continue reading →

Monday 10th November, from the Airaha 2. Here we go, we are leaving for the Kumawa mountain range! The dhow left as early as early as 7 o’clock this morning, and the Airaha 2 at 3:15pm. Knowing that the dhow sails at a speed of 5 knots (nautical miles per hour) and the Airaha 2 at 6.35 knots, and that … Continue reading →

Sunday 9th November, from Kaimana. Today is Sunday: a day off for everybody… or almost everybody. The organisation team is working, and so are those who are late in entering their data. Staying in different boarding houses, the members of the expedition get together for meals, around a dish of rice, grilled fish and water spinach. It is slightly monotonous, … Continue reading →

Saturday 8th November, from the dhow. Saturday is being spent travelling from Urisa to Kaimana. We should have reached our destination (the Kumawa mountain range) without passing through Kaimana again, but an unexpected event has obliged us to return. Indeed, the Airaha 2’s captain has lost a relative and has gone back home to Sorong for a few days. The … Continue reading →