These guys, Red Banded Shrimp, on some dives.... they are just about everywhere you look.
At least that's what I am pretty sure are attached to all of those white antenna.... that are waving out from under just about any ledge you look at.
But finding one out in the open, where you can get a good shot of them and their partially translucent body.... is a challenge.
These guys are "cleaner shrimp" so all of that antenna waving is their way of attracting business.
If a bare hand is extended toward the shrimp, it may leave it's retreat and attempt to clean your fingers.
No really.... I have seen Linda do this more than once.
An up-close look at one of the cup corals.
"Hidden Cup Coral" I believe.
They generally attach to and encrust the underside of rocks, ledge overhangs and cave ceilings.
Often only the top of the polyp is visible, as the body is hidden by encrusting sponge, algae or other growths.
Most commonly found at depths between 1 and 60 feet.
This funny looking character is a White Spotted Filefish.
They have the ability to change colors.... showing their white spots, or not, at will.
Their name comes from their laterally compressed bodies and their sand-papery skin.
It is said that dried filefish skin was at one time used to finish wooden boats.
Most commonly found swimming individually or in pairs.
Their very small fins make them sluggish swimmers and they can often be observed drifting head down among strands of seaweed. Presumably, in an effort to fool both predator and prey alike.
When threatened, filefish will first lay over on their side to present a smaller profile..... and a lousy pixture opportunity.
If pressed further.... they will retreat into crevices in the reef.
Often the idea of seeing an Octopus.... is always more exciting than the actual sighting.
On this particular day, we had just entered the water and were still pretty shallow.... less than 15ft.
As we swam by.... the rocks moved.
And then, began to behave very much like an empty grocery bag.... blowing across the parking lot.
It was not, of course, a grocery bag.... it was an Octopus.
One that we had interrupted.... on a rare daylight foray from his den.
Now, he was just a little bit desperate to find another whole to hide in.... at least until we had moved along.
The Red Hind is part of the family of fishes that include groupers and sea bass.
Like their cousins, they are ambush hunters.... who are willing to spend hours sitting quietly in wait for their prey.
They feed on other smaller fishes.... that they will ambush with a lunge once they come close enough.
Apparently, a vase sponge makes a good spot to wait.
