It's Hard To Mate When There's Currents.....

Was out diving with The Hantu Bloggers at Pulau Hantu this morning, after missing out last month's dive due to flu. We did the two dives at the North and South Jetty. Visibility was about 1.5m and there were slight currents. I was still trying to get used to my new camera setup and so basically was using my pointer to aid me moving from point to point in the currents.

Came across a pair of Snakey Bornella nudibranch (Bornella anguilla) and realised that they were trying to mate! Well.....a bit tricky in the currents it seen.....

Trying to "connect".....

Still trying.....

Almost there!.....

Finally!!!.....

Holding on.....

Just a bit more.....

And then, a strong current swept by.....

No!!!!.....

 Okay, try again then.....

 Closer, closer.....

Ahh.....okay and hold on tight this time!

These two nudibranch were not the only one mating, MH saw a pair of Gymnodoris nudibranch mating at the shallow end too!

Besides the Snakey Bornella nudibranch, also spotted other nudibranch such as.....

 A Phyllid nudibranch (Phyllidiella sp.)

A Blue Dragon nudibranch (Pteraeodia ianthina).

A Gymnodoris nudibranch (Gymnodoris rubropapulosa)

The "Godzilla"/Slender Ceratosoma nudibranch (Ceratosoma gracillimum) at both jetties.

 

A unknown Doto nudibranch (Doto sp.) 

 An Eyed Phyllid nudibranch (Phyllidia ocellata).

And a little Emma nudibranch (Hypselodoris emma) fighting currents to move forward.

Not many Flatworm today. This is the only one that I came across.

Tiger Anemone (Nemanthus sp.?) on red Sea Fan!

Can you see me? 

 It's an Allied Cowrie that is of similar colour as the Sea Fan. It does not like to be seen.

Whereas, these two "think" otherwise. :p

Hard coral and Cave corals!

Some Synaptid Sea Cucumbers on Sponges.

Close-up of a Cushion Star!

A Carpet Eel Blenny!

After missing out the Seahorse on the 1st dive, PM showed me one on the 2nd dive. 

Lastly, I finally get to see the Jann's Pipefish that I have wanted to see for a long time! Thanks MS for finding it! Too bad I was low on air and cannot wait long enough for it to come out of the creavices. Thus, no photo. Anyway, shall wait for MS's pics and video clips of the Pipefish! *Update 31st July : And here's the video clips of the Pipefish, courtesy of MS! 

Reef Survey @ Pulau Hantu That Almost Did Not Happen.....

Last Sunday, BWV ReefFriends scheduled a reef survey at Pulau Hantu. When we arrived at the Marina, we were told that there was no booking of the boat! Opps! Turned out that there was a miscommunications. Fortunately, we managed to get hold of the Skipper and left the Marina one and a half hours late.

Even though we started late, we still managed to finish the survey on time! As usual, I was doing the benthic survey recording at the deeper end. All were well until I came to the recording at the end of tape 5. You see, I was supposed to record 5 transect tapes only, but in front of me, there was a 6th! I was wondering if I have counted wrongly when I move from tape to tape. But after double checking, I was pretty sure that I counted correctly! Indeed, it turned out that the tape laying team has accidentaly laid a 6th line.....Phew!

Anyway, here are some stuff that we came across during the survey as well as the 2nd dive at the seabed!

 

All sort of Hard corals! Sadly, some of them are bleaching.....

Flatworm!

A Pimply Phyllid nudibranch (Phyllidiella pustulosa).

A Blue Dragon nudibranch (Pteraeodia ianthina).

An unknown Doto nudibranch (Doto sp.) on the yellow Hydroid with egg ribbons!

 

A Black-lipped Conch was 'hopping' around on the seabed.

 

A long-spined black Sea Urchin! 

 An Icon Sea Star!

Crinoid/Featherstar! And on one of them, we came cross.....

a Squat Lobster! An angry one it seen. :p

Another angry creature is this little False Clown Anemonefish found among the tentacles of a Bubble tip Anemone!

And lastly, MS found two Sawtooth Shrimps on two different kinds of Sea Whip!