Sulawesi's Rare Ones Were Out Today

Sulawesi diving is famous for its incredible marine biodiversity. While diving this morning at Gorontalo?s Shadowlands dive site, rare to uncommon marine life kept appearing. In addition to countless other nudibranchs, a large Halgerda sp. that is only known from northern Sulawesi clung to the deep wall. It looks like yellow-topped white tents splattered with large black spots. It is not yet described scientifically. The uncommon Leopard puffer (Canthigaster leoparda) hurried out of the third cave. Its limited range is Christmas Island, the Philippines and Indonesia (Moluccas). In front of the cut in the wall, a male Vlaming?s unicornfish (Naso vlamingii) displayed its spectacular blue tail filaments for all to see. This is the only location among various Gorontalo dive sites where it stays. Then, in the slanted cave inside the cut, a pair of rare Lantern puffers (Canthigaster epilampra) hid from the dive light behind a net fan. Why so shy? Sulawesi diving satisfies again!