No Contest

Overview

Dive The World lists No Contest under the Balbulol group, which it describes as the northernmost island chain of the Misool region. La Galigo Liveaboard's Misool Explorer itinerary dives it in the afternoon of its Goa Farondi region day and describes a ridge that is home to an abundance of marine life, soft corals and overhangs. The same itinerary names Pet Rock, Plateau and Love Potion as nearby sites for an evening dive. Barefoot Conservation opens one day of its itinerary at No Contest, chasing yellowtail fusiliers and other reef life.

Reef profile

Dive The World describes a sloping reef system that extends from 8 metres to beyond 30 metres, positioned along current-swept channels that attract both resident reef species and passing pelagics. In its account, the descent follows the slope through a garden of table corals where clownfish live among sea anemones, and the main route then follows the slope between 15 and 25 metres, where cleaning stations become apparent. It reports wrasse cleaning larger fish at those stations, and wobbegong sharks resting in the swim-throughs and overhangs formed by the coral.

Fish life

Dive The World describes clouds of anthias and chromis over the coral, and lists red-tooth triggerfish, bannerfish, Moorish idols, blue and yellow fusiliers, sweetlips and snappers among the species seen. It says giant trevally patrol the reef edge where the slope steepens beyond 25 metres, blue-spotted stingrays use the sandy patches, and nudibranchs live on the coral heads. The dive ends with a slow ascent up the slope and safety stops among the shallower coral, which Dive The World says are often the most productive minutes for macro photography. The Bird's Head Seascape Misool map gives a GPS position for its No Contest pin.