DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA ISSUE 413 AUGUST 25

find almost all pygmy sea horses, which are described yet, during just one single dive. Moreover, we could even see invertebrates like hairy shrimp and green shrimp just recently described. This year also frogfish in all colour and sizes are around. A special highlight is a dive site at the house reef, where each day the late afternoon show is presented by the endemic Nursalim flasherwrasse showing its flamboyant courtship behaviour. By trying to attract female attention, the males of this spectacular flasher wrasse Paracheilinus nursalim perform “flashes” with their dorsal and anal fins giving the impression of glowing bodies in vivid colours. These flashings of the male last only for a split second during a quick burst of acceleration, which make it incredible hard to obtain a shot of this dramatic courtship behaviour of different males harassing a female. One afternoon the guide spotted during this courtship action within the clouds of displaying male and female flasher wrasse a blue ringed octopus. This was a funny

impression to see the clouds of flasher wrasse focusing on their mating behaviour totally oblivious to what was going around them, just hovering over this little blue ringed octopus. From the perspective of underwater photography that situation was truly a species overload!

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Dive Log Australasia #413 AUGUST’25

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