Alien Creature
Xenocarcinus tuberculatus (Xeno crab, whip coral crab). They look like some kind of alien creatures. These tiny crabs are typically found clutching onto a whip coral (thus the common name whip coral crab). They come in a wide range of colors to match the color of the host coral. You have to look carefully to find one.
Let's Jump!
Summer is approaching and the water temp is getting warmer. It’s time to jump in the water! When we go on a liveaboard trips someone usually asks if we can jump into the water from the boat. Usually the answer is yes and goofiness ensues…
Camouflaged n Yellow
Gymnothorax fimbriatus (fimbriatedi moray, yellow-head moray) s a medium-sized moray eel found in protected inshore reefs throughout the Indo_Pacific region. They are prettier than the green moray we usually see in California. This guy is well camouflaged in the yellow leather coral.
Rainbow!
Something you see more often in the tropics than in Southern California. A full rainbow when you come up from a dive!
Hide and Seek
Hippocampus bargibanti (Bargibant's seahorse, pygmy seahorse) is a seahorse found in the central Indo-Pacific region. It is known to be found only on gorgonian coral. The body is covered with bulbous tubercles that matches the shape and color of the gorgonian polyps, and the body matches the gorgonian stems. It is difficult to find without the help of a guide because of its tiny size and its ability to blend in with the gorgonian it inhabits.
