Getting Close to a Squid

They were colorful, flashing bright and dark. And they were graceful.

We found a pair hovering down close to the sand and coral. At first we thought they might be taking refuge from some yellowtail snapper crusing the area. But we tuned out and watched for a bit and they were going through a very deliberate and elaborate mating dance.

I just know what it looked like. Unfortunately, all that was on a dive when my camera housing was malfunctioning. So I don't have a picture.

Juvenile Hogfish Cleans A Doctorfish

On Golden Chain reef, a doctorfish gets a facial from a tiny hogfish.

It was extremely interesting to observe all the activity at the many cleaning stations along the reefs.

It seems everybody knows his part to play and all the rules of predator and prey are suspended. It's like time-out.

 

Bandtail Puffer Juvenile

We saw relatively few large puffers or porcupines.

But we saw several small ones and juveniles, like this bandtail at Coco View Wall. He was probably an inch or less long. And fearless.

He would come right up to the port on my camera housing, hamming for a picture.