DIVE LOG DECEMBER 25 ISSUE 415

Tiny Convict Goby from Lembeh

How can you take photos of nervous fish?

Then again, a lot of the time, the fish simply ducks for cover and it is all over, red rover. The other solution is to use a rebreather so fish will not be frightened off by your noisy bubbles.

The classic behaviour challenge is that of the Long Nose Hawk fish. They live on Fan Corals. When you get too close, they duck to the other side. You have intruded into their personal space! You have to swim around the fan coral and start over again. This is where the 105mm micro lens comes into its own. You can get good photos before the Hawk fish darts off. It still feels safe at half a metre but that is their limit. The only other solution is to have another photographer on the other side of the fan coral. You can take photos in tandem. To work with another photographer, you need to discuss this before the dive. Not many divers are one the same page

Getting the photo

The easiest fish to photograph are the ones that remain perfectly still. These include Flathead, Anglerfish and fish that rely on camouflage and remaining perfectly still, like Rhinopias, Flathead and Sea Horses.

The most difficult fish is the juvenile Olive Scribbler or Snakeskin Wrasse. This one snakes from side to side

Cave Dwelling PIneapple fish will avoid strong lights

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Dive Log Australasia #415 DECEMBER ’25

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