For our Christmas creature feature we have chosen the Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) because it looks like the perfect decoration for a Christmas tree! This is one of six officially described species of ghost pipefish and it is arguably the prettiest. Although they are fairly common, the ghost pipefish are so well camouflaged that they are often missed completely. Their decorated appendages and habit of hanging vertical and motionless next to their chosen feather star means they are easy to swim straight past.
The ghost pipefish are also known as the ‘false pipefish’ because they belong to a different family to ordinary pipefish. Unlike other members of the pipefish family, the most famous example being seahorses, it is the female ghost pipefish that will carry the eggs rather than the male. As if finding these cryptic critters isn’t hard enough, our dive guides have such great eyes that they love finding extra small juveniles of all our favourite creatures! Juvenile ornate ghost pipefish haven’t developed their colour yet so as well as being tiny they are also transparent which makes them a special find! This colour will develop as they mature to match the background of their host crinoids.
Attending the PADI Risk Management Seminar in Manado
It’s been another busy week at Two Fish Lembeh as we held our annual Christmas blessing ceremony. The resort hosted guests from the village and the staff families for a fun afternoon! Two Fish also joined the PADI Risk Management seminar held in Manado which was an excellent update for our Bunaken Resort and Lembeh Resort instructor teams and also great to meet other diving professionals in the region. With a couple of birthday celebrations and Christmas countdown in full swing thrown in we’ve been kept busy between our daily four dive offering!
Would you like to fins ornate ghost pipefish and all of our other weird and wonderful critters in the Lembeh Strait? Come and join us for the best muck and underwater photography diving in the world! Looking for a great offer or discount? Check out our special offers page here!
