Scuba Snoopy invades Lembeh Strait

[Dave H 0]

I have a new buddy. Apparently I don't make a very good dive buddy I'm too busy taking photo's so I recently found myself a new dive buddy who accompained me to North Sulawesi over the past 2 weeks.

 

I really like my new buddy. He models really well, doesn't bother me underwater, doesn't cause back scatter and most importantly can't give any hand signals or say anything!

 

Here's a couple of shots of Scuba Snoopy, my new dive buddy!

 

Scuba Snoopy meets the Painted Frogfish

 

Snoopy meets the Harlequin Shrimp at Police Pier in Lembeh Strait

 

Snoopy plays with a Coconut Octopus

 

Some of my other favourite pics from Lembeh can be seen here:

http://www.daveharasti.com/Sulawesi08/

 

Here are some samples:

 

Stargazer

 

Two species of Rhinopias (Rhinopias Frondosa and Rhinopias eschmeyeri)

 

Pipefish

 

Nembrotha kubaryana

 

Harlequin Shrimp

 

cheers,

Dave

[JennyHuang 2]

Hahah...lovely!!!

 

Fantastic macro Dave!!

[seagrant 4]

Yes and I think the octo likes "Snoopy" the best!

 

Most interesting is the two rhinopias species together - Dave any idea why they were together? Territorial? Mistaken identity? Going after same food? or They don't hybridize do they?

 

Thanks, always enjoy your posts! Carol B)

Edited March 31, 2008 by seagrant

[sgietler 1]

Yes and I think the octo likes "Snoopy" the best!

 

Most interesting is the two rhinopias species together - Dave any idea why they were together? Territorial? Mistaken identity? Going after same food? or They don't hybridize do they?

 

Thanks, always enjoy your posts! Carol B)

 

when i was in lembeh last month, I only saw the purple one (yes, the same individual most likely!)

 

but other people at our resort saw these two together.. actually what happened, is someone was taking a photo of the purple one, the red one was farther away, and the red one hopped over and plopped down right next to the purple one to get in the photo! so how funny is that?

 

scott

[ornate_wrasse 0]

Reminds me of Monkey Boy Jones!

 

Snoopy's fins and weight belt are so cute!

 

I was looking through your galleries earlier today, thoroughly enjoying them. For me they are previews of coming attractions as I'll be there in September.

 

I really like the green and orange one with the unpronouncable name and the Harlequin Shrimp.

 

The Stargazer scares me

 

I had some questions on the focal lengths of the lenses you were using, I'll ask later when I can remember what my questions were

 

Right now, Snoopy is too much fun!

[Dave H 0]

but other people at our resort saw these two together.. actually what happened, is someone was taking a photo of the purple one, the red one was farther away, and the red one hopped over and plopped down right next to the purple one to get in the photo! so how funny is that?

 

Thats the exact same thing that happened to me!!! We found the red rhinopias (Rhinopias frondosa) sitting in the open in 12 metres of water. I took several pics and then conitnued on the dive. 40 minutes later I returned to the same spot and I found the frondosa heading towards a large staghorn coral and sitting under that was the purple rhinopias eschmeyeri!

 

I spent about 10 mins waiting for the puple eschmeyeri to move into a good position and then all of a sudden the frondosa swam past my camera and plonked itself right next to the other. I was cheering!!!

 

So by pure utter luck I managed to get both together even though they were a good 10 metres apart at the start of the dive!

 

I've also seen Rhinopias display similar behave at Loloata in PNG - they are quite a curious fish species. Probably my favourite fish (behind seahorses but they don't count as fish )

 

cheers,

Dave

[ce4jesus 1]

If it was at night or dusk, I wonder if they'e learned that small fish are attracted by the lights

[Dave H 0]

If it was at night or dusk, I wonder if they'e learned that small fish are attracted by the lights

 

They were actually photographed in the middle of the day. I find with Rhinopias that if you spend some time with them they actually become quite curious and if there are two animals near each other they will often join one another - its happened to me on two occasions at Loloata in PNG.

[Canuck 3]

Nice collection!

 

The photo with the 2 Rhinopias is awesome.

[seagrant 4]

They were actually photographed in the middle of the day. I find with Rhinopias that if you spend some time with them they actually become quite curious and if there are two animals near each other they will often join one another - its happened to me on two occasions at Loloata in PNG.

 

Dave, I just find that so interesting. I've only seen two rhinopias but it was the frondosa and saw one then the other one sauntered in but it was another frondosa. Still they were sort of "touchy/cuddly/moving around each other a lot" a red one and a yellow one. Right in the middle of nowhere at a new site on the way back from Alor, before Flores - somewhere. Fantastic!

 

But I'm still intrigued by your frondosa and eschmeyeri together!

 

Thanks again Dave, Carol

 

PS I guess the question is what does Scuba Snoopy think is going on with those two different species there....???

[ulcs 0]

Glad to see the Harlequin have returned, the local dive guides felt they had been killed with anchors dropping on them at the Police pier. Didnt get to see them over a year ago when I was there.

Terry