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Clark anemone fish. This little fish looks very similar to Nemo
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date: 21/6/2009
Author:Nick Brennan
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Weather: Sunny
Air Temp: 23.5ºC
Wind: SE/E 15-20 knots
Water Temp: 22ºC
Water Visibility: 15m
Sea State: Calm
Conditions were spectacular at second reef this morning with the Easterly wind blowing the water as smooth as glass.
One of the exciting creatures seen while snorkeling from the glass bottom boat today was a Clark anemone fish. This little fish looks very similar to Nemo from the popular film! Nemo is a special fish in that it can live inside anemones which are a creature that would usually eat a fish of its size. It can do this because it has a special mucus covering its body that tricks the anemone into thinking that everything is functioning normally letting nemo swim in and out as it pleases. What’s amazing is if any predators come along and try to eat nemo they end up getting eaten by the anemone!
Snorkellers were also lucky to hear a full orchestra of humpback whales just below the surface of the water. They were very noisy indeed and creating a very other worldly atmosphere to the snorkel.
The divers were absolutely beaming after their morning in the water. One guest said she saw two tawny nurse sharks lying in the sand and it looked like they were holding pectoral fins. She laughed at how cute they looked together and took a once in a lifetime photo. Project manta observed a mature female Manta for over 40 minutes as it was being courted by two males. The males were in hot competition mimicking the female manta as it rolled and looped through the water at speed trying to keep up with her complex movements. Project Manta took away valuable information about their behaviour and our guests took away memories they will keep forever.
The guided reef walk came across a clam with an amazing turquoise mantel. It had been dislodged by the rough seas during Cyclone Hamish and was being rolled around in a small pool so it may not survive in the long term, so guests were rapt to have been able to see this beautiful creature.
At fish feeding a very pregnant looking lined rabbit fish came in for an afternoon snack. The spectacular brown booby bird also caught guests attention hovering above the fish pool looking very ominous indeed. It must have decided it didn’t like the look of the fish today or didn’t feel hungry because it flew off after a minute or so without bothering any fish.
In the evening guests came on a night stalk and took some brilliant photo’s of the lighthouse under a full sky of stars. It was a very nice stroll around the island in the fresh winter air.
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clam mantle J Fox
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