Brown-spotted Moray Eel

A curious brown-spotted moray eel approaches my camera. Common in the Caribbean, these guys mostly hold up in recesses on the reef but forage for food at night.

Eels can appear more fearsome than they really are. Many, like this one, must constantly open and close their mouths to assist in breathing. That might make them appear as if they were hostile.

We encountered several morays on Front Porch as we moved north along the coral toward Bari reef.

Christmas Tree Worm at Alice in Wonderland

I had a difficult time on the outer reef at Alice in Wonderland. There were so many beautiful Christmas tree worms like this one, I shot almost an entire roll of film on nothing but worms, thinking each was more extraordinary than the last.

They may also appear as if they are everywhere because of their strategy of exposing themselves on top of the reef, at an advantage for snaring drifting plankton.

When touched or approached to quickly, they instantly recoil into the coral, slamming the door, or operculum, behind them for good measure.

Spotted Cleaner Shrimp and Giant Caribbean Anemone

Commonly found among the tentacles of the giant Caribbean anemone, as here, spotted cleaner shrimp wait for larger fish to stop by for, well, a cleaning.

The fish will hang motionless for a time as the shrimp, searching for parasitic morsels, climbs without fear all over the fish, even in its mouth.

Spotted Cleaner Shrimp

Here is another spotted cleaner shrimp in a giant Caribbean anemone.

These crustaceans were common on the Bonaire reefs but their tiny one-inch size required you to look closely among the anemone's tentacles to discover them.

And even then they didn't always cooperate for a portrait.

Slender Filefish at The Cliff

Often drifting among the branches of gorgonians, the tiny slender filefish relies on its camouflage to protect it from predators. This is also one of many reef fishes that can change color to better blend in with its background. They can be hesitant to leave the protection of their cover, making them pretty easy to approach for a picture.

So named because of the forward single portion of the dorsal fin, a frightened filefish can wedge into a crevice on the reef and lock itself in with this fin, making it difficult for its pursuers to extricate it.



Brown-spotted Moray Eel A curious brown-spotted moray eel approaches my camera. Common in the Caribbean, these guys mostly hold up in recesses on the reef but forage for food at night. Eels can appear more fearsome than they really are. Many, like this one, must constantly open and close their mouths to assist in breathing. That might make them appear as if they were hostile. We encountered several morays on Front Porch as we moved north along the coral toward Bari reef. Christmas Tree Worm at Alice in Wonderland I had a difficult time on the outer reef at Alice in Wonderland. There were so many beautiful Christmas tree worms like this one, I shot almost an entire roll of film on nothing but worms, thinking each was more extraordinary than the last. They may also appear as if they are everywhere because of their strategy of exposing themselves on top of the reef, at an advantage for snaring drifting plankton. When touched or approached to quickly, they instantly recoil into the coral, slamming the door, or operculum, behind them for good measure. Spotted Cleaner Shrimp and Giant Caribbean Anemone Commonly found among the tentacles of the giant Caribbean anemone, as here, spotted cleaner shrimp wait for larger fish to stop by for, well, a cleaning. The fish will hang motionless for a time as the shrimp, searching for parasitic morsels, climbs without fear all over the fish, even in its mouth. Spotted Cleaner Shrimp Here is another spotted cleaner shrimp in a giant Caribbean anemone. These crustaceans were common on the Bonaire reefs but their tiny one-inch size required you to look closely among the anemone's tentacles to discover them. And even then they didn't always cooperate for a portrait. Slender Filefish at The Cliff Often drifting among the branches of gorgonians, the tiny slender filefish relies on its camouflage to protect it from predators. This is also one of many reef fishes that can change color to better blend in with its background. They can be hesitant to leave the protection of their cover, making them pretty easy to approach for a picture. So named because of the forward single portion of the dorsal fin, a frightened filefish can wedge into a crevice on the reef and lock itself in with this fin, making it difficult for its pursuers to extricate it.


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