An Incredible Place
Indonesia is an incredible place to visit. The country boasts of gorgeous environments, from lush forests to beautiful beaches. Not only that, but Indonesia also has a rich history and an amazing culture. However, with beauty comes danger. The spectacular views are indeed accompanied by spectacular wildlife, but these animals can be dangerous, especially if they are hunting for food. This story illustrates the possible hazards in the waters of Indonesia.
An Incredible Place
A Huge Archipelago
Located in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is a huge archipelago which has 18,307 islands. Of these islands, 6,000 are uninhabited. Many people don’t fully comprehend the scale of the country and its islands. Aside from gorgeous wildlife, these islands have a lot to offer, making them amazing places to visit and explore. It’s not a surprise then that a lot of people make sure to include a trip to Indonesia in their bucket lists.
A Huge Archipelago
Great Biodiversity
Indonesia lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia has great biodiversity, coming in third after Brazil and Colombia. In terms of marine diversity, the only country which trumps Indonesia is Australia. Tourists who go to Indonesia can expect to see spectacular sea life, such as Mola Molas, Loggerhead turtles, Harlequin ghostfish, and mantas, all of which are not found anywhere else.
Great Biodiversity
The Beaches
Indonesia is famous for its white sandy beaches and wonderfully clear water. Many tourists come for the beaches, but some people have come to the country in search of a different thrill. Actually, Indonesia is also known for one more thing – an activity that adventure seekers will surely enjoy. You might have already guessed what this activity is since it has been mentioned that the country has rich marine biodiversity.
The Beaches
A Hotspot For Diving
With all that incredible marine life and clear water, Indonesia has become a hotspot for diving. Tourists who visit the country and are seeking a different kind of thrill can go diving. Every year, millions of people come to Indonesia for the unique experiences that the country has to offer. One such tourist was Julian Dunggio. He wanted to experience something quite different, and let’s say Julian got what he wanted.
A Hotspot For Diving
A Unique Experience
Tourists love going to Indonesia’s remote islands and the unique experience that they get when they go diving. Tourists make great memories in the country and are rarely disappointed with their visit. Tourists can enjoy diving with the help of fishing boats that bring them. Even so, the waters can be dangerous for tourists. With such immense biodiversity, there a lot of marine animals which could harm people.
A Unique Experience
An Experienced Diver
It wasn’t the first time Julian Dunggio had gone diving. He was in his teens when he started diving, and he had grown to love the activity. Having done many dives before, Julian knew what he was doing. After finishing school, he decided that he would make a living out of diving. He wanted to create a livelihood from his passion. He promised himself that he would make it work in any way that he could.
An Experienced Diver
The Region Of Gorontalo
When he decided that he was financially stable enough, Julian moved to the region of Gorontalo in Indonesia. The area is near mountainous terrain and has lovely views of the clear ocean, which spills between the small islands. Saronde Island and Olele Marine Park are two of the biggest tourist destinations in Gorontalo. They have great diving spots that bring thousands of tourists each year. The area is one of Indonesia’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
The Region Of Gorontalo
His Dream Job
After Julian moved to Gorontalo, he found the job of his dreams. He took tourists to open water, and they dived to their heart’s content. Ecstatic to be able to earn a living from his passion, Julian soon learned which diving spots were the best and took tourists there so they could see some amazing marine life. However, no matter how much a person knows a place, there will still be a few surprises.
His Dream Job
Whales
The most popular beaches in Gorontalo sometimes get some big visitors – whales. The large marine mammals like to swim near the islands’ shores, so those who go diving near these beaches can get a chance to witness an amazing spectacle. The whales go about their business in their natural environment while tourists enjoy swimming near them and watching them. However, whales are not the only ones hiding underneath the surface.
Whales
The Fateful Day
On a fateful day, however, Julian thought of doing something different. He chose to take the tourists along a fishing expedition instead of going on a regular, everyday diving trip. The local fishermen catch different kinds of fish in the large nets which they cast into the water. Then, the fish are taken to the local market to be sold. During this particular fishing trip, Julian came across something that was a highly unexpected sight.
The Fateful Day
The ‘Wild Sea’
When the group arrived at the spot, Julian started getting ready for the dive. As usual, he was taking the tourists to experience the ‘wild sea’, but he was not ready for the experience they were about to have. When Julian noticed something moving in the water, he got excited. He didn’t really know what exactly he had seen, though. He was about to discover something he had never expected or prepared for.
The ‘Wild Sea’
Not Afraid
What’s weird about this whole thing is that the animal moving underwater seemed like it was staying in one place. Julian was really curious about the animal which attracted everyone’s attention. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, though. Julian loves diving, and the water and everything in it must fascinate him a lot. What’s more, he is an experienced diver, so Julian isn’t afraid of diving under the ocean’s waves.
Not Afraid
Overwhelming Curiosity
Overwhelmed by curiosity, Julian decided to check out the animal that was causing a lot of commotion. The diver didn’t give the matter a second thought and jumped into the water, hoping to find out what was going on with the animal. Understandably, the tourists were stunned. Not only was there an unknown type of animal under their boat, but their guide also went into the water without any hesitation.
Overwhelming Curiosity
An Unforgettable Lifetime
Everyone was wondering what exactly was under the boat. Before Julian jumping in the water, the tourists on the boat were advising him not to do it because they could see that a huge fin was popping out. They thought the animal could be a shark. Needless to say, Julian didn’t follow their advice, but little did he know that he was about to experience something truly unforgettable.
An Unforgettable Lifetime
Their Fear
Holding their breaths, the tourists watched Julian jump into the water. They were very much concerned for his safety. They were afraid that the animal might be a shark which had gotten tangled in fisherman’s line and that Julian would get attacked. However, it seemed like Julian himself wasn’t afraid. Aside from not listening to what the tourists had to say, he also did something that many would unlikely do.
Their Fear
Helping Out
In an interview, Julian explained that even if the animal were hazardous, he would still try to help it out. Thankfully in his case, the animal wasn’t a shark. However, it was an orca, or what many people know as a killer whale. He wasn’t totally safe as it could have flipped a tail and killed him! Fortunately, it did not do that, and the helpful diver wasn’t harmed.
Helping Out
A Top Marine Predator
According to the NOAA Fisheries, orcas, or the killer whales, are among the top marine predators. They can grow to 23 feet long, weigh up to 6 tons, and have teeth up to 4 inches long. They have a diverse diet, including fish and marine mammals. They may not be as big of a threat to humans as sharks are, but you should still keep your distance. However, Julian realized that there was something wrong with the creature, which is why he stepped in.
A Top Marine Predator
Stuck
The poor animal stayed in one place, not by choice but because it was stuck. The animal somehow ended up getting wrapped around fishing lines. Seeing this, Julian asked a friend of his who is a fisherman to help him out. While it was unclear how the orca got stuck, it was clear that it needed help in getting unstuck. It’s a good thing Julian was really set on helping it.
Stuck
A Risky Mission
This mission may have been quite risky, but Julian knew that he had to untangle the orca or the poor animal wouldn’t survive. Many marine animals die because they accidentally get stuck in fishing nets or lines. Despite the orca being close to the boat, the rescuers still needed to get closer to it to help it. Unsurprisingly, it got scared and made attempts to scare the rescuers. As for the tourists, the sight was something they had never seen before.
A Risky Mission
Scared Of The Rescuers
When the orca saw the boat coming closer, it got scared and started blowing water like it wanted to scare Julian away. Fortunately, Julian did not give up and decided to continue helping the animal. He started with untangling the fishing line, which was holding the orca in place. Even though he was sure about wanting to help the poor creature out, he did not know how it would react to his help.
Scared Of The Rescuers
Calming Down An Orca
Despite its size and how ferocious a predator it is, the orca was scared. Julian noticed this, and he really wanted to calm the poor animal down. Everyone knows how to calm a cat or a dog, but how exactly do make an orca feel safe? Even though he also wasn’t sure what to do, Julian thought he had to try something. He decided to start petting it on its fin…
Calming Down An Orca
It Worked!
As risky as the move was, it worked! Once the orca calmed down, it stopped moving around. Because of this, Julian and his friends could help it out. If it had kept on moving around, it would have been tough to help it. As Julian was cutting through the fishing lines, he realized that there was something far more dangerous he needed to do. Needless to say, the tourists were awestruck!
It Worked!
Going Underwater
Everyone got scared when at one point, Julian disappeared underwater. The tourist that was filming the incredible moment thought Julian had gotten hit by the orca. We can’t blame them, though. The orca is a wild animal, and its reaction to humans can be unpredictable. Also, it is possible that the orca had gotten agitated and accidentally hit Julian while moving around. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case! So why did Julian go underwater?
Going Underwater
Working On The Fishing Line
Taking a big breath, Julian swam under the orca to cut the fishing line. Needless to say, the hero of this story is courageous. We are pretty sure not everyone would have the courage to do what he did. Just imagine going underwater to help free an animal which weighs a few tons and could hit you with such great force. Anyway, Julian managed to get the fishing lines off of the orca, which did something unbelievable when it was set free.
Working On The Fishing Line
Facebook Post
On their Facebook page, Whale Stranding Indonesia posted the video of the rescue of the orca. They explained that the orca somehow got stuck in the fishing lines and net. The post read, “The fishers chose to rip their fishing net (and thus lost the two tonnes of fish they had caught earlier) to rescue the orca.” Doesn’t this post restore your faith in humanity? There is still good in this world after all.
Facebook Post
More Problems
Thanks to Julian’s instinct and courage, the incredible creature was free once more! A few moments later, however, Julian noticed something strange. Other problems have to be solved, but fortunately for the orca, Julian was there. As what the diver said, he was willing to help the animal even if it were dangerous. It seems like he is the kind of person who would do anything to help.
More Problems
Needed A Push
Even though they had successfully freed the orca from the fishing lines, it still did not move! When Julian noticed this, he decided to pull out a huge stick and pushed the animal away from the boat. It appeared as if the orca didn’t know it was finally free. This was likely the reason it did not try to move away. Maybe you are wondering if Julian’s trick worked. Keep reading.
Needed A Push
Swimming Away
Finally, the orca seemed to have understood that it was finally free. Slowly, it started moving its tail to get away from the boat. Everybody on the boat began clapping as the moment was truly amazing. Everybody was happy to see Julian had achieved his goal and wasn’t harmed in the process since the story could have ended in a tragedy, not only for the diver but also for the animal.
Swimming Away
An Incredible Moment
The tourists who were on the boat probably never expected any of this to happen. No one who goes on a boat to go diving expects to see an orca getting stuck and rescued by their own guide. A lot of aspects of this story is truly incredible. We bet the tourists felt like they got their money’s worth for going on this incredible boat ride. We know we would.
An Incredible Moment
All Worth It
Even though it was not an easy task, in the end, freeing the tangled orca was all worth it. A magnificent animal got to live, and Julian was able to show the whole world that he is brave and that he has a big heart. We also got to see his love and respect for wildlife. However, he is not the only one that has to be commended in this story. The fishermen who chose to save the orca’s life should also be praised.
All Worth It
No Need For Thanks
It seemed like Julian using the stick to push the orca away helped the animal understand that it was free again. When the orca realized this, it didn’t waste any time and started swimming away. As for Julian, he did not need thanks or any expression of gratitude. In his heart, he knew that his actions helped saved the orca’s life, and that thought was enough for the diver.
No Need For Thanks
The True Nature Of ‘Killer Whales’
The story of the orca’s rescue went viral, and people around the world were totally perplexed by what Julian had done. However, the diver and hero of this story have no regrets about how he acted even if he exposed himself to danger. On the contrary, Julian believes this story can help throw light on how orcas, which are also commonly known as “killer whales”, aren’t as aggressive as many people think.
The True Nature Of ‘Killer Whales’
Similar To Humans
Some studies have actually revealed that orcas are quite similar to humans – more than what we think. This means that they’re not really “killer” after all! As a matter of fact, when it comes to marine mammals, orcas have the second-largest brain. Also, these creatures are sensitive, emotional, and highly social. This description of orcas does support the idea that they are a lot like us. Who would’ve thought?
Similar To Humans
Lucky Charm
Not a lot of people know this, but locals in Gorontalo believe orcas bring good luck. This may be one of the reasons why the fishermen chose to save the orca’s life. However, that does not mean that they only made an effort to rescue the orca to attract some good fortune. It is quite possible that they did it because they truly cared for the creature, just like Julian.
Lucky Charm
Respected Creatures
When the media interviewed Julian and the fishermen, they confessed that orcas are really respected in their culture. “If someone kills a strange animal in the sea, he and his family will live in bad luck; this is our ancestor’s message. Lots of evidence,” Anshar Rahman, the fishing boat’s owner, said. However, they should still be commended because they actively helped the orca and did not just leave it to die.
Respected Creatures
An Amazing Story
One of our takeaways from this story is that anyone who goes on a boat ride with Julian has to be ready for an adventure. Aside from the fact that he knows where the great diving spots are, the experienced diver is also not scared to jump in the water if his curiosity runs away with him. We don’t know about you, but we think that is the perfect recipe for unexpected things to happen. Nonetheless, what do you think of this amazing story?
An Amazing Story