Author: Beginer Subhan (IPB)

After enjoying a day's rest, the expedition has now entered its tenth day (10/11). We arrived at Luang Island. Both the Sea Team and the Land Team were eager to explore the natural resources of the island, as the people depend on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. We found this very interesting, given that the majority of the people on almost all the islands we visited have two livelihoods: as garden farmers during the west season and fishermen during the east season. With the community as a whole making a living as fishermen, we indicated that Luang Island has abundant marine and coastal resources.

Our theory was proven when the Sea Team and I made our first dive around West Luang Village. We encountered a variety of fish species in very large numbers. The complexity of the coral reef ecosystem, which is shaped like a wall, looks like small caves that provide shelter for fish and other marine life. Fishes such as the soldier fish are commonly found in these caves.

But among the group of fish, we saw a familiar sea creature sighting, the Bamboo Lobster (Panulirus versicolor), playing in the 12-meter-deep cave. We counted about ten of them. This is the highest number of lobsters I have encountered during my underwater research.

Lobsters can be found around coral reefs up to several meters deep. This species usually inhabits sheltered places between coral rocks and is rarely seen in large groups. In parts of Indonesia, bamboo lobsters are caught by diving.