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| Maldive Anemonefish, Amphipriion nigripes |
Paradise Reef, Saturday 27 October am, 28 metres, 60 mins
After breakfast I collected a dead Swallowtail butterfly
from beside Adel’s jacuzzi. This should enable me to identify it later. Bill
saw one again roosting on a bush by the dive shop.
later note: It is an Eggfly, Hypolimnas bolina, which I have photographed in tropical butterfly houses in England: http://bit.ly/TDWlkl
later note: It is an Eggfly, Hypolimnas bolina, which I have photographed in tropical butterfly houses in England: http://bit.ly/TDWlkl
Our first dive this morning was on one of the best reefs in
North Male Athol. We have always enjoyed the soft corals on top and blue corals
growing from the roof of the overhangs. There was some strong current off the
reef, so much was used deep for 20 minutes then we enjoyed the shallower water
and the wonderful reef life there.
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| Adel |
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| Bandos dive crew |
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| Fayaz gives dive briefing |
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| Clown triggerfish, Balistoides conspicullum |
+5068.jpg) |
| Featherstar on Magenta Menella |
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| Featherstar on Whip coral |
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| Featherstars on sea fan |
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| Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus |
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| Honeycomb Moray, Gymnothorax favagineus |
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| Giant & Honeycomb morays with Cleaner wrasse |
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| Imperial Angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator |
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| Moorish Idol, Zanclus cornutus |
This is the usual view of a fish that I try to photograph
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| Nudibranch, Phyllidia alyta |
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| Siphonogorgia coral - a sea fan |
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| Squirrelfish |
These fish commonly swim upside down
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| blue soft coral |
In ambient light this coral is blue
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| Featherstar on sea fan |
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| Soft coral |
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| sea fan |
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| Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus |
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| Whip coral |
Devil’s Thila, Saturday am, 18 metres, 60 mins
The second dive was a very gentle one and a shoal of powder
blue surgeon fish joined us. Bill and Gary are my dive buddies on this trip,
both very experienced.
At lunchtime I managed a shot of the mystery hen which Mark Colvin identified by email as a White-breasted Waterhen. Adel advised me he had a dead butterfly beside his jacuzzi so I now have a specimen of the butterfly which others have seen live. It turned out to be an Eggfly which I have photographed in butterfly houses at home.
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| Fayaz gives dive briefing |
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| Blotched Porcupinefish, Diodon liturosus |
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| Christmas tree worm, Spirobranchus giganteus |
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| Chromis & acropora coral |
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| Featherstar |
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| Adel with Abdulla on left |
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| Longnose Butterflyfish, Forcipiger longirostris |
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| Powder-blue Surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon |
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| Powder-blue Surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon |
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| Bicolour Parrotfish, Cetoscarus bicolor |
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| fan coral |
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| Saddled Sharpnose Puffer, Canthigaster valentini |
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| Eggfly, Hypolimnas bolina |
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| White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus |
Faru Outer, Saturday pm, 22 metres, 60 mins
The afternoon dive started with a turtle and ended with one.
There were plenty of eels, including honeycomb morays. A large turtle rested
under an overhang.
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| Abdulla |
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| Anemone & Threespot Dascyllus, Dascyllus trimaculatus |
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| Black-spotted Puffer, Arothron nigropunctatus |
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| Blacklip Butterflyfish, Chaetodon kleinii |
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| Chinese Trumpetfish, Aulostomus chinensis |
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| Clown triggerfish, Balistoides conspicullum |
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| Featherstar on fan coral |
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| Featherstar on fan coral |
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| Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas |
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| Guilding's sea star, Linckia guildingi |
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| Honeycomb Moray, Gymnothorax favagineus |
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| Abddulla |
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| we're over here! |
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| Imperial Angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator |
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| Lined Surgeonfish, Acanthurus lineatus |
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| Starry Pufferfish, Arothron stellatus |
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| fan coral |
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| soft coral |
Hi Colin - beautiful photo from Paradise Reef. Looks like some great diving! Hope Adel has been using his jacuzzi. Sheryl
ReplyDeletehaha, I'll tell Adel, bet you wish you were here! You need to join us next time Sheryl... Two eagle rays this morning.
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