Friday 2 November 2012

Mantas and Mobula rays at Lankan Reef

Blueface angelfish, Pomacanthus xanthometopon with
Yellow cornet fish hitching a ride
Thursday 1st November

Raining again till noon. Probably the outer part of Cyclone Nilam which has hit south-east India. First dive at Maagiri Rock where we came across a huge shoal of Bluestripe Snappers. 
Fayaz giving dive briefing
Magnificent Sea Anemone, Heteractis magnifica
Bill & Bluestripe Snappers, Lutjanus kasmira
Black-spotted Garden Eel, Heteroconger hassi
Bluestripe Snapper, Lutjanus kasmira
Bluestripe Snappers, Lutjanus kasmira
Clark's Anemonefish , Amphiprion clarkii
Clark's Anemonefish , Amphiprion clarkii
Featherstars
Featherstars on sea fan
Fluted Giant Cclam, Tridacna squamosa
Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus
Gold-striped Emperor, Gnathodentex aureolineatus
Indian Dascyllus, Dascyllus carneus
Maldive Anemonefish, Amphipriion nigripes
Maldivian sponge snail, Coriocella hybyae
Oriental Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus vittatus
Sea fan & sponges
Spotfin Lionfish, Pterois antennata
Two-lined Monocle Bream, Scolopsis bilineatus
Variable Thorny Oyster, Spondylus varians
Vermilion Rock Cod, Cephalopholis miniata
Vermillion Rock Cod, Cephalopholis miniata &
Twospot Bristletooth Surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus binotatus
Yellow Calcite Sponge, Clathrina species
Second morning dive at Lankan Reef which is famous for the Manta cleaning station. A small manta passed us on our way to the cleaning station. Then right above the cleaning station about 30 Mobula rays (small mantas, also known as Devil rays) passed overhead near the surface. Then at the end of the dive a huge manta gave us a display, cruising round and round. I shot some videos of the Manta and Mobula rays which I will link here.
Blue-faced Angelfish, Pomacanthus xanthometopon &
Yellow Chinese Trumpetfish, Aulostomus chinensis 
Chinese Trumpetfish, Aulostomus chinensis
Collared Butterflyfish, Chaetodon collare
Hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata
Hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata
Hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata


Imperial Angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator

Maldive Anemonefish, Amphipriion nigripes &
Dascyllus anemonefish, Dascyllus trimaculatus, juveniles
Maldive Anemonefish, Amphipriion nigripes
Multi-pore Sea Star, Linckia multifora
The discarded arm will grow into a new starfish (asexual reproduction)

Red and Yellow Clathria, Clathria species of coral
Sea fan
Tortured Black Coral Whip, Stichopathes species
Photographer's usual view a fish -
Imperial Angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator
The afternoon dive was at Banana Reef, always a great dive in low current with plenty of purple anemones with their clownefish.
Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus
Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus
Graeffe's Sea Cucumber,
Pearsonothuria graeffei
Magenta Menella
Maldive Anemonefish, Amphiprion nigripes &
Magnificent Sea Anemone, Heteractis magnifica
Maldive Anemonefish, Amphiprion nigripes &
Magnificent Sea Anemone, Heteractis magnifica
Masked Bannerfish, Heniochus monoceros
Naked Soft Coral, Chironephthya species
Naked Soft Coral, Chironephthya species 
Orange Anthias, Pseudanthias squamipinnis & sea fan
Oyster
Penguin Wing Oyster, Pteria Penguin
Pin-cushion Sea Star, Culcita schmideliana
Red-toothed Triggerfish, Odonus niger
Sabre Squirrelfish, Sargocentron spiniferum
Sea fan
Soft Coral, Siphonogorgia species
Sponge
Vermilion Rock Cod, Cephalopholis miniata
Whitetip Soldierfish, Myripristis vittata  & sea fan
Whitetip Soldierfish, Myripristis vittata
We then did a night dive at Devils Thila which ended with an Emperor Angelfish trying to outwit me under a coral head (and mostly succeeding).
Blueface angelfish, Pomacanthus xanthometopon
Black Sea Cucumber, Actinopyga miliaris
Blotched Porcupinefish, Diodon liturosus
Blue-faced Angelfish, Pomacanthus xanthometopon
Edible Sea Cucumber, Holothuria edulis
Giant Clam, Tridacna
Multi-pore Sea Star, Linckia multifora & Soft Didemnum, Didemnum molle 
juvenile Painted Rock Lobster, Panurilus versicolor
Pin-cushion Sea Star, Culcita schmideliana
Powder-blue Surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon
Soft Coral, Siphonogorgia species
Sponge
Sponge
Spotfin Lionfish, Pterois antennata
Starfish, Fromia monolis
Variable Thorny Oyster, Spondylus varians
Whiteline Lionfish, Pterois radiata
Four of the group of eight left, we are hoping for better weather tomorrow.

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