Look Closely

I’m a girl impressed by size; on a recent trip to Western Australia I was exhilarated by hoards of humpback whales, my first snorkel with a 10 metre whale shark is as vivid now as it was 5 years ago.  In the waters around Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa we’re always eager to see the big things, swooping stingrays or giant turtles. But as I’ve matured (a bit), I’ve become just as enthusiastic about the less conspicuous creatures on the Hadahaa House Reef. There’s a delicate beauty in everything that should never be overlooked. Patterns formed by the repetitive symmetry of coral polyps are mesmerizing in themselves. Of course it’s a bit easier to get up close if you’re diving, but that’s not to say that snorkelers miss out if you have your eyes peeled. Here are my awards for less spotted reef creatures with cool names (see previous note on maturity): 

ALGAE CATEGORY

Sailors’ Eyeball - Ventricaria ventricosa  

Photo courtesy of reefguide.org

Winner - Sailors’ Eyeball

Not your stereotypical seaweed, the sailor’s eyeball is a shiny green blob with a mystical radiance. Made of only one enormous cell like a water balloon, it’s a little gem that sits amid the coral rubble glinting at passers-by like a crystal ball.

Rusty Scum Algae – Schizothrix calcicola

Photo courtesy of algaebase.org

Runner up – Rusty scum algae

Although extremely common and essentially just slime, it allows you to see photosynthesis in action; I particularly enjoy popping the little bubbles of oxygen that get trapped under the surface of the mat.

WORM CATEGORY

Winner - Christmas Tree Worm

Look closely at boulder corals and you might spot the beauty queens of the worm world.  Only the spiralling feathery radioles can be seen poking out of their holes. Coming in a variety of festive colours, these perfect mini Christmas trees are used by the worm to absorb oxygen and catch titbits. 

Christmas Tree Worm - Spirobranchus giganteus 

Giant Spaghetti Worm - Reterebella sp.

photo courtesy of reef.org

Runner up - Giant Spaghetti Worm

Keep an eye out for their sticky white feeding tentacles that slink along the reef-floor searching for unfortunate little creatures to ensnare and deliver back to their hungry mouth.  

CRUSTACEAN CATEGORY

Winner - Painted Rock Lobster

 If you look under rocks and overhangs you might spot this elaborately coloured, secretive and delicious lobster.   

Painted Rock Lobster - Panulirus versicolor

 Photo taken at Hadahaa courtesy of Stefan Grimmelt

Hidden Sea Whip Shrimp - Pontonides sp.

Runner up - Hidden Sea Whip Shrimp

Easy to find if you have a good memory, this little chap hardly moves from its marital home within the polyps of black coral. 

Leopard Flounder - Bothus patherinus 

FISH CATEGORY

Winner - Flounder

If “Where’s Wally” was a fish… a supreme master of disguise 

Ghost Pipefish - Solenostomus cyanopterus

Runner up - Ghost Pipefish

Is it a fish? Is it a piece of sea grass?

Very hard to tell.