A life is important, however small. What follows is the existence of most of the marine life that inhabit our coral reefs. Each animal contributes, co-exists and thrives amongst a cacophony of others. One moment a voracious predator, at another, expertly camouflaging itself to avoid becoming prey. This precarious lifestyle has forced animals to adopt spectacular strategies in order to thrive. Safety is as often found in numbers, as it is in translucent skin, which enables near invisibility. For the more outgoing, as with the mantis shrimp, intense colouration warns of a searing spear-like appendage, which can be unleashed at will, dispelling the heat of the sun, should an intruder enter its comfort zone.
A uniquely fragile balance is the result of this web of interrelationships. On an average reef, thousands of individual species contribute to the community. Fish, reptiles, crustaceans, corals, jellyfish, birds and even a few intrepid mammals, either call the reef home or rely on it for sustenance and survival. At its heart, the Indo-Pacific is the centre of bio-diversity. Stretching from the Indian ocean in the west to the pacific ring of fire in the east; geology, climate and remoteness have worked together to foster one of the greatest spectacles of marine habitats on earth. Requiring a close-focus macro lens, still hands and many hours of patience, it’s possible to capture the minute, small and often overlooked animals which deserve every conservationists attention.
INDONESIA. Tulamben, Bali. May 29th, 2013. Common Ghost Goby (sp. pleurosicya virgularia) on a sea pen. The species is commonly found along the volcanic reef slopes in the area.
THAILAND. Similans Islands, Phangna Province. March 10th, 2013. A Peacock Mantis Shrimp (sp. odontodactylus scyllarus) gaurding its den in the coral substrate. These creatures are related to other crustaceans such as crabs, shrimp and lobsters, in addition to having one of the most developed eyes in all of the animal kingdom, which allows them to see in 3-D and perceive objects at a speed much faster than humans.
THAILAND. Similan Islands National Marine Park, Phangna Province. March 24th, 2013. A common reef Octopus (sp. octopus Cyaneus) found on a night dive in Ao Nam Chai bay.
INDONESIA. Tulambem, Bali. May 26th, 2013. A goby (sp. bryaninops erythrops) sits atop a honeycomb coral (sp. diplioastrea heliopora).
THAILAND. Similan Islands National Marine Park, Phangna Province. March 23rd, 2013. A false perucla anemonefish or clownfish (sp. amphiprion ocellaris) nests in an anemone (sp. heteractis magnifica). The two animals share a symbiotic relationship whereby the fish removes parasites and protects the anemone, while it is able to live amongst the stinging tentacles by secreting a specialised mucus onto its skin.
INDONESIA. Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. May 31st, 2013. A yellow margin morray eel (sp. gymnothorax flavimarginatus) allows a cleaner wrasse (sp. labroides dimidiatus) to inspect and remove parasites from its teeth. The small wrasse engages in a symbiotic relationship with many animals on the coral reef, feeding on parasites and detritus which their hosts are unable to remove.
THAILAND. Similan Islands National Marine Park, Phangna Province. April 12th, 2013. A brown banded pipefish (sp. corythoichthys amplexus) hunts for prey a atop a coral (sp. diplioastrea heliopora). Captured at a dive site known as Torinla, which is a channel between two of the Surin Islands, fed with tides and current, in the northern most section of the marine park.
INDONESIA. Tulamben, Bali. May 31st, 2013. A pair of peacock tail commensal shrimp (f. palaemonidae sp. periclimenes brevicarpalis) living in symbiosis with an anemone (sp. stichodactyla haddoni).
INDONESIA. Tulambem, Bali. May 26th, 2013. A ribbon or leafnose eel (sp. rhinomuraena quaesita) emerges from it's burrow in the sand to catch prey passing by in the current.
INDONESIA. Tulamben, Bali. May 31st, 2013. A commensal shrimp (f. palaemonidae sp. periclimenes brevicarpalis) living amongst the reef and rubble on a volcanic slope.
THAILAND. Similan Islands National Marine Park, Phangna Province. March 12th, 2013. A De Beaufort's flathead or crocodilefish (sp. cymbacephalus beauforti) camoflauges itself in the sand while waiting for prey to swim by. Captured on a night dive and Hin Kong bay in the northern most section of the marine park in the Surin Islands.
INDONESIA. Tulamben, Bali. May 29th, 2013. A Clark's anemonefish (sp. amphiprion clarkii) Anemonefish looks out from its nest inside an anemone.
INDONESIA. Tulamben, Bali. May 29th, 2013. A commensal shrimp (f. palaemonidae sp. periclimenes brevicarpalis) living amongst the reef.
INDONESIA. Tulamben, Bali. June 13th, 2013. A broadclub cuttlefish (sp. sepia latimanus), found throught the IndoPacific living on shallow tropical coral reefs, inspects the camera.
INDONESIA. Tulamben, Bali. May 29th, 2013. A species of Mantis Shrimp (fam. stomatopoda) sits atop it's burrow waiting for potential prey.
THAILAND. Similan Islands National Marine Park, Phangna Province. March 11th, 2013. A skunk anemone or clownfish (sp. amphiprion akallopisos) hovers over it's nest in an anemone. Found along the reef slope at West of Eden, a popular dive site in the marine park.
THAILAND. Similan Islands National Marine Park, Phangna Province. March 24th, 2013. A harlequin shrimp (sp. hymenocera elgans) feeds on a starfish. Captured at Richilieu Rock, so named by ocean explorer and conservationist, Jaques Cousteau, on account that the purple soft corals which blanket the pinnacle of the submerged rock reminded him of the colour of Carindal Richileu's cape.
THAILAND. Similans Islands National Marine Park, Phangna Province. March 6th, 2013. Bearded or tassled scorpionfish (sp. scorpaenopsis oxycephala) at Hin Kong bay on a night dive, Surin Islands. These islands lie in the northern section of the marine park and are a refuge for Andaman sea species.
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