Colorful Nudibranchs From Raja Ampat

Risbecia tryoni

Some of the more spectacular creatures to observe while snorkeling at Raja Ampat are the numerous nudibranchs, or sea slugs. Tucked among the many sponges, soft corals, and colorful tunicates these gaudy, ornamented animals are tiny visual jewels. In Raja Ampat these slugs, because they are so abundant, seem much easier to spot than in many other marine areas. And like everything else in Raja, there is great diversity allowing you to see at least one new flamboyant species with each different snorkel site visited.

Nudibranchs are so colorful for a variety of reasons, to warn predators and to fool them, for camouflage, and because some have toxins which can taste bad to predators. Many can incorporate stinging cells from the anemones they eat, while others hijack the poisons from the sponges that they ingest. Thankfully for the snorkeler we are most interested in locating, observing, and photographing them so simply th fact that they ARE extremely colorful makes for a bit of an underwater treasure hunt when trying to locate these small (most are less than 3-inches) critters. Below are photos showing some of the slugs we encountered on the most recent Oceanic Society snorkel trip to Raja Ampat in Oct/Nov of 2011.

Nembrotha cristata

Chromodoris annae

Elysia ornata

Halgerda batangas

Caloria indica

Phyllidia ocellata

Nembrotha chamberlaini

Chelidonura varians

Chromodoris coi - laying eggs

Flabellina exopata

Nembrotha kubaryana

There are some terrific sites on the web to learn about nudibranchs and see detailed pictures of them and many other marine animals for id'ing your photographic finds. I have listed some of my favorite below. Here is link for a great book for id'ing Nudibranchs.

MarineLifePhotography - Keoki & Yuko Stender
Secret Sea Visions - Burt Jones & Maurine Shimlock 
Sea Slugs of Hawaii - Cory Pittman & Pauline Fiene
Underwater Photography Guide - Nudibranchs

Raja Ampat - Snorkeling Indonesia's Marine Jewel

Soft Corals Aplenty

Just returning from snorkeling the northern islands of Raja Ampat. This was the first year of Oceanic Society's snorkel expedition to this biodiversity hotspot located within Indonesia. Arriving in Sorong our group of 13 was taken to the Bidadari, a dive (or in this case snorkel) live-aboard. This vessel would serve as our ocean platform for the next 11 days. Located in the coral triangle, harboring over 500 coral species and more than 1300 varieties of fish (some just recently discovered), Raja Ampat has the distinction of being considered the most diverse coral reef ecosystem on the planet.

Each day snorkeling these remote reefs, our group was rewarded with amazing encounters. One day we were treated to a "herd" of Bumphead Parrotfish, A school of over 30 individuals paraded by us, with all members being at least 60+ pounds or more. Their size, confident manner, and shear bulk, made me think this might be the marine equivalent of savanna elephants passing one by on safari.

Bumphead Parrotfish

On other days we let the currents take us along multicolored walls covered in tunicates and soft corals. We floated along as if we had fallen down the coral reef "rabbit hole" and much like Alice, never knowing what crazy wonder lay around the next corner. These walls were rich in "macro" marine critters. Tiny animals that Raja Ampat is also know for. Here the sharp eyes of our Indonesian guides Dalton and Caroline, spotted many different types of nudibranchs. Some pictured below. The crypsis continued with scorpionfish, pipefish, and Wobbegon sharks all hidden in plain view.

Nembrotha chamberlaini

Tasselled Wobbegong

Halgerda carlsoni

Getting up each day we never knew what to expect. Each site always had a surprise in store for us and as the trip progressed we all became better at spotting our own "macros" once we took the opportunity to slow down and take a closer look at what nature was putting right in front of our noses (snorkels). Below are a few more photos to share. I will post more about the places we visited, the people that shared these reefs with us, and the coral ecosystem that we were lucky enough to float amongst in the next few days.

Spinecheek Anemonefish

Chromodoris annae

Feather Star

Risbecia tryoni

Snorkeling among the hard corals and Fusiliers