 |
| A Cleaner/Sand shrimp waiting under a colourful overhang |
|
As much as I love underwater reefscapes ie. the "big picture", I have a better camera in hand now and had a whole load of fun on my last 2 Sodwana trips getting as close as possible to some of the smaller creatures of the reefs.
When I started reviewing and editing those photos I realised, with delight, how intricately and delicately beautiful a coral reef can be when viewed close up.
I hope you enjoy this selection of photos I took over 2 trips to Sodwana Bay in 2018. Even if you are not a diver yourself you may marvel at the incredible beauty of the underwater world.
 |
| Chromodoris hamiltoni |
The nudibranchs (sea-slugs) are always looked for, producing bright spots of colour on the sea floor.
 |
| Halgerda wasinensis |
This year for the first time, I started really looking into the shadowed spaces of the branching corals.
This was my first time seeing the tiny Bigeye scorpion fish and Leopard blenny.
On one dive site I found the little scorpion fish in almost every coral head, often sharing with the polka-dotted coral crabs.
 |
| Bigeye scorpion fish |
 |
| Leopard blenny |
 |
| Coral crab |
I've had a "thing"for clams for many years - their mantles are so incredibly varied and colourful. It's actually very difficult to capture digitally the colours & details that one can see with the naked eye.
These clams are usually very old & have a fascinating array of other sea creatures & plants residing on their ridged shells.
 |
| Giant clam |
 |
| Giant clam |
 |
| Giant clam |
And a few other of the smaller creatures we can so easily overlook.......
 |
| Tube worm in a Cup sponge |
 |
| Anemone crab lurking... |
 |
| Eggshell cowrie browsing the Finger-lobed soft coral |
