Mergui Archipelago: Seahorses, Frogfish and Spanish Dancers
The Mergui Archipelago was as good as ever, and we could see so many things: seahorses, frogfish, mantas and Spanish dancers. Check out the pictures!
For the night dive, we had an awesome time. Shrimps were everywhere you looked, and we often spotted Spanish dancers and other big nudibranchs too…
Seahorses in the Mergui Archipelago
There are about 40 known species of seahorse, and these tiny fish have always been among the creatures divers love to discover on the reefs of the Mergui Archipelago.
Seahorses are often seen in pairs, sometimes with their tails linked together. Seahorse couples can form long-lasting bonds, and their morning courtship displays are particularly fascinating to watch.
Every morning, seahorse couples may engage in ritualised dances as they greet each other, swimming together and changing colours during their courtship. What a nice way to begin the day!
Finding a seahorse underwater is always a special moment. They are small, beautifully adapted to their surroundings and often remarkably well camouflaged, making them a rewarding subject for patient divers and underwater photographers.
Frogfish: Masters of Camouflage
Another favourite discovery in the Mergui Archipelago is the frogfish. Due to its amazing camouflage and remarkable luring behaviour, the frogfish is considered one of the most impressive examples of aggressive mimicry in the underwater world.
Unlike a chameleon, a frogfish cannot simply change its colour quickly to match its surroundings. Instead, its camouflage develops over a much longer period and can make the animal extraordinarily difficult to spot among sponges, corals and other reef structures.
Once you know where to look, however, frogfish become one of those creatures that you can spend an entire dive searching for. Their unusual appearance, excellent camouflage and distinctive hunting technique make them a firm favourite among macro-loving divers.
Spanish Dancers: A Flash of Red Underwater
The Spanish dancer, with the scientific name Hexabranchus sanguineus, is a dorid nudibranch and one of the most spectacular animals you can encounter during a night dive in the Mergui Archipelago.
When they are crawling across the reef, Spanish dancers can already be impressive, but when they start swimming they become something completely different. They undulate their bodies through the water, creating the appearance of a dancer in a flowing red skirt during a flamenco performance.
Spanish dancers are also able to store toxins from the sponges they eat inside their own bodies, providing them with an effective form of defence against predators.
And night diving is when these encounters can become particularly memorable. With shrimps everywhere you look and the possibility of finding large nudibranchs such as Spanish dancers moving across the reef, the darkness reveals a completely different side of the Mergui underwater world.
Discover the Mergui Archipelago Underwater
The Mergui Archipelago is a remarkable destination for divers who enjoy searching for small and unusual marine life. Seahorses tucked into the reef, perfectly camouflaged frogfish and spectacular Spanish dancers are just some of the encounters that can make a diving expedition in this remote part of Myanmar so memorable.
And once the sun goes down, the reef changes again. Shrimps, nudibranchs and other nocturnal creatures become active, turning a night dive into an entirely different underwater adventure.
One Response
oh this amazing it seems sea creature nice photos …