Magnifa Nudibranch

If nudibranchs weren't quite so small and didn't behave quite so inconspicuously, they would certainly be be the main attraction for scuba divers at coral reefs. Magnifa Nudibranch (Chromodoris magnifica).

Magnifa Nudibranch

Despite their small size, any scuba diver can find 5-10 different types of nudibranchs on an average dive at a nice coral reef.

Colors...

Nudibranch, corals and sea squirt provide a colorful image.

Nudibranch

The bright colouration seen in many species is believed to warn potential predators that the nudibranchs contain distasteful or even toxic compounds.

Clown Fish on an Anemone

It's a big anemone for a small fish...

Anemone Shrimp

A see-though anemone shrimp sporting a brightly coloured tail. The little Nemo on the background.

Anemone Shrimp

Any better plans for a camouflage than being transparent?

Anemone Shrimp

Side view of a see-though anemone shrimp.

Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs lack the shell of 'true' crabs. They have solved their accommodation issues by carrying their home on their back. In most cases it is an empty sea shell.

Anemone Hermit Crab

Some hermit crabs attach anemones to the shell. The anemones provide the crab protection with their stinging tentacles and in turn receive leftover food from the crab's messy eating and free transportation. When the hermit crab grows, it changes shells, pries the anemones off the old one and coaxes them to attach to the new shell.

Thornback Cowfish

Thornback cowfish is a boxfish. The bodies of boxfish are covered in a toxic mucus which can be released when stressed.

Thornback Cowfish

Two commensal shrimps enjoying a flower coral's polyps...

...until something bigger appears.

Porcelain Crab amongst soft coral polyps.

Titan Trigger Fish

Scuba divers' nemesis: trigger fish. Trigger fish fiercely defend their nest and cone shaped territory. If you get too close, they'll let you know...

Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip reef sharks are the most common sharks scuba divers see at reefs. If you don't bother them, they won't bother you.

Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark from a distance. Seeing sharks underwater is a good reason to get certified - while they are still around.

Humphead parrotfish

Humphead parrotfish, the largest parrotfish.

Leaf Scorpionfish

Nudibranch inspecting an egg ribbon.

Sea Shell

Cone shell - a gastropod. Gastropods have one single solid shell that is usually coiled in some way.

Mantis Shrimp

The claws of a mantis shrimp are capable of inflicting serious damage on victims significantly greater than the shrimp. They are known to have broken aquarium glass with a single strike.

Scary looking fellow, could be a monster from a Hollywood movie out to get you...

And he looks like he's ready to fight.

The muscular foot of a gastropod provides a slow but steady form of crawling type movement.

Redspotted Blenny

Reef and Rock Blennies are usually territorial and have their own areas of rock pools which they skip and jump over, scraping algae from the surface of dead corals. Some male Blennies have small harems of arguing females. Males and females often have different colouring and features.

Moray Eel

Moray eel peeking out of the sandy bottom.

Spiny Lobster

Frogfish

Thorny Seahorse

Seahorses feed on tiny invertebrates which they suck whole into their mouths. They feed either on the bottom or capture swimming prey.

Pipefish

Ghost Pipefish

Ornate Ghost Pipefish

Ghostpipefish swim with heads down searching for crustaceans near the bottom. They can usually be found in seagrass, between the arms of crinoids, black corals and Gorgonian fans, feather stars or hover between sea urchin's spines for protection and camouflage.

Ornate Ghost Pipefish

Ornate Ghost Pipefish

Ornate Ghost Pipefish

Also known as Harlequin Ghost Pipefish.

Painted Frogfish

Did we mention that frogfish are masters of camouflage? The black blob on the right is a fish.

Sea Urchin Shrimp

A shrimp cleaning a sea urchin.

Something is lurking in the sand.

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

Sea Snail

Ribbon Eel

Ribbon eel juveniles are black, adults are blue.

Ornate Elysia

Sap-sucking sea slug. It looks like a nudibranch but it is not closely related.