Marine Manicures Available

Diving slowly has more benefits than just conserving air. Divers see more marine life and have a chance to interact. On a lazy dive recently, our dive master found several Pyjama cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematopera). Many divers this season have hurried past that particular stand of Acropora without noticing this wacky-patterned and highly photogenic fish. It hovers practically motionless among coral branches. It has only been found at two dive sites in Gorontalo. For attentive eyes, two Urchin clingfish (Diademichthys lineatus) in the same stand of coral swam in their distinctive, lurching manner. Nearby a small nudibranch, Chromodoris reticulata, crawled over some rubble.

The other treat was a marine manicure courtesy of a mob of Sarasvati commensal shrimp (Periclimenes sarasvati), one of our new species. Easing next to an anemone crowded with these transparent, lavender-spotted beauties, our dive master offered his hand for inspection. Bobbing and weaving, these mini manicurists jumped on top to see what needed cleaning. Only a few meters away, a large Six-banded angelfish (Pomacentrus sexstriatus) parked on the sand, while other Sarasvati shrimps provided head-to-gill treatment. The fish was oblivious to the motionless, slow breathing human.

Okay, now it’s your turn.