Lankan turtle, Tuna Pass and Hudhuveli whitetips

Hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata

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Monday 29th October

Yesterday there was heavy rain and the aftermath made for a wet journey to Lankan Reef where we found two Whitetip Sharks resting on the sand.

Bluestripe Snapper, Lutjanus kasmira

Clark's Anemonefish , Amphiprion clarkii

Collared Butterflyfish, Chaetodon collare

Abdulla & Hawksbill turtle

Hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata

It spotted something interesting under the coral head. Turtles graze on coral, scraping off algae and  coral polyps. I have also seen them eating anemones.

Adel & Hawksbill turtle

Imperial Angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator

Magnificent Firegoby, Nemateleotris magnifica

Usually seen in pairs

Maldive Anemonefish, Amphipriion nigripes &
Ascyllus Anemonefish, Dascyllus trimaculatus, juveniles
(black with white spots)

Oriental Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus vittatus

Peacock Rock Cod, Cephalopholis argus

Saddled Sharpnose Puffer, Canthigaster valentini

The Saddled Sharpnose Puffer is highly poisonous to eat. The non-toxic Blacksaddle Filefish mimics the Saddled Sharpnose Puffer and so benefits from the 'bad reputation' of the Saddled Sharpnose Puffer as predators avoid it.

Blacktip Grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus

This is the first time I have seen the Blacktip Grouper, which I originally labelled Vermillion Rock Code in error. It was not reported as located in the Maldives on www.fishbase.us so I uploaded it on 5 Dec 2016.

Harlequin Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides

Threadfin Butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga

Titan Triggerfish, Balistoides viridescens

Two-lined Monocle Bream, Scolopsis bilineatus

Vlaming's Unicornfish, Naso vlamingii

Yellow Boxffish, Ostracion cubicus

Yellowfin Soldierfish, Myripristis berndti

The second morning dive was at Tuna Pass:

Clark's Anemonefish , Amphiprion clarkii

Featherstars on whip coral

Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus

Magenta Menella

The afternoon dive was at Hudhuveli Outer where we saw a large stingray:

Alcyonaria soft coral

Alcyonaria soft coral

Bigeye Bream, Monotaxis grandoculis

Bill & Two-spot Snappers, Lutjanus biguttatus

Black Pyramid Butterflyfish, Hemitaurichthys zoster

Collared Butterflyfish, Chaetodon collare

Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus

Soft Dimemnum Sea Squirts, Didemnum molle on
Whip Coral

Commonly seen throughout the Indo-Pacific region, this Ascidian is usually found in clusters, often on   fishing line. The green colour is from blue-green algae living as symbionts in the cloacal cavity.

Abdulla

Maldive Anemonefish, Amphipriion nigripes

One-spot Snapper, Lutjanus monostigma

Painted Rock Lobsters, Panurilus versicolor

Painted Rock Lobster, Panurilus versicolor

Slender Sweeper, Parapriacanthus ransonneti

Two-spot Snapper, Lutjanus biguttatus

Two-spot Snappers, Lutjanus biguttatus &
Bluestripe Snappers, Lutjanus kasmira

Two-spot Snappers, Lutjanus biguttatus

Whitetip Reef Shark, Triaenodon obesus

 It was lying on the bottom until I disturbed it.

Whitetip Reef Shark, Triaenodon obesus

Yellowfin Goatfish, Mulloidichthys vanicolensis

Gary "Where's that dive boat?"

Bill "It's over there"

reminds of those war films - destroyer heading for sub

last out again!

Tying up loose ends

diving is fun

Abdulla, Adel & Gary