Diving with Seahorses
The Best Dads in the Sea
Seahorse is the generalized name given to 45 of the smallest fish species in the Hippocampus genus. Their name is derived from the distinctive, horse-like shape of their head and neck. They spend most of their time anchored by their tails to coral and plants. Each of their eyes can move independently, giving them the ability to watch for predators and search for food simultaneously. These creatures are incredible, mysterious, intriguing animals. They are also very illusive so keep your eyes open and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to dive with seahorses.
The male seahorse is equipped with an egg pocket in which the female seahorse lays up to 1,500 eggs while mating. The male carries the eggs until the young and very small seahorses are expelled into the water by muscle contractions. This happens in a period of 9-45 days, depending on the species. Very often the male seahorse mates again during the season only a few hours or days after the young seahorses are released.
Animals in this category
Diving with Pygmy Seahorses
Pygmy seahorses are not only the smallest and cutest of the seahorses, but they are the best at blending in with their environment. You really have to hunt for these masters of disguise as pygmies are some of the smallest seahorse species in the world, with adults averaging only 2 centimeters in length! Every pygmy not only imitates the exact color of the sea fan it is living on, but its body is also covered in calcium-rich bumps called tubercles that mimic the fan’s polyps, completely camouflaging the pygmy. These tiny seahorses are truly an amazing sight to see.
Diving with Common Seahorses
The common seahorse is just that, the most common type of seahorse sighted around the world. This species goes by many other names such as estuary seahorse, yellow seahorse, and spotted seahorse, and has been referred to as ‘sea pony’ as well. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region and is quite large as far as they go, averaging between 17-30cm long. These fascinating animals come in a variety of colorations from dark and grainy to yellow with blotches, or reddish with small dark specks. They eat a carnivorous diet consisting mainly of small crustaceans and zooplankton.
Diving with Spiny Seahorses
Also known as the thorny seahorse, the spiny seahorse is a medium sized marine fish in the seahorse family that can grow between 15-17cm long. They are most well-known for the thorns that cover their entire body from their prehensile tail all the way up to the top of their foreheads. They eat a carnivorous diet consisting mainly of small crustaceans and zooplankton that they suck up into their tiny mouths, and come in a variety of color from grey to bright yellow and green to red.
Diving with Weedy Seadragons
Also called the common seadragon, the weedy seadragon is one of the most unique looking in the seahorse family. With a very long thin snout and a slender trunk covered in bony, brightly colored rings, common seadragons differ from seahorses in that their thin tails cannot be used for gripping. Therefore, they are oftentimes found happily drifting along with the current like a piece of seaweed. Weedy seadragons are usually reddish brown in color with yellow spots. Their most unique feature is the small leaf-like appendages growing out from their body that resemble seaweed and help them to camouflage well.
Diving with Pipefish
Pipefish are considered cousins of the seahorse, being classified in the same family as both seahorses and dragonfish, Syngnathidae. These small fish have many similarities and differences when comparing the two. Like seahorses, they have a long snout and some species also have prehensile tails that allow them to grab onto seagrass and coral. Unlike seahorses, pipefish have straight bodies and can be much stronger swimmers.
Leafy Sea Dragon
One of the most uniquely beautiful creatures in the sea, the leafy sea dragon lives up to its name. Covered in leaf-like skin filaments, this cousin to the seahorse mimics its environment in a way like no other. The leafy sea dragon is a master at camouflage, blending perfectly amongst the floating kelp beds in which it lives. The ornate leaf-like protrusions hanging from the head, body, and tail do not propel, only camouflage and match the exact color and shape of the kelp and seagrass in which they live, making them practically indistinguishable from their habitat.
Dive Sites with this Animal
★★★★★ USAT Liberty Wreck
This is the only historical shipwreck in Bali, ranked #3 in the world for Wreck diving! The wreck is 25 meters form shore at a depth of 4 to 29 meters below the surface with most of it occuring in a shallow area. This dive site does not have strong currents, has clear water, and warm temperatures. Difficult entry!
★★★★★ La Cresta - Isla del Fraile
The Dutch cave is a small hollow located in the southern wall of the lower part of Cabo de Cope in Calabardina. One of three dives on the Isla del Fraile with no or very slight current, you will follow along the wall with a progressive drop from 5 to 25m.
★★★★★ Pyramid Point
Artificial coral reef placed on the sandy bottom with depths varying from 10 meters to 25 meters. The basis of the coral growth is made of rectangular concrete arranged like a small pyramid. It is one of the best places to witness a successful artificial reef.
★★★★☆ Kerkweg, Den Osse
Dive site Kerkweg in Den Osse is one of the most famous dive sites in Zeeland. Here you can dive from the jetty on oyster beds, an artificial reef of reefballs and many other hard substrate that is nicely overgrown. The maximum depth is about 30 metres, but you will find most life in the shallow water.
★★★★☆ Frederiksted Pier
One of the top macro dives anywhere! Scattered ruins and columns are coral encrusted and provide habitat for many types of shallow sea life. The pier is 1526ft/465m long so lots to discover with a gradual westerly decline. Perfect for snorkeling & non-certified divers too.
★★★★☆ Badia de Tamariu
The boat jetty and the entrance to this house reef are only 30 m from the base. The most beautiful part of the bay is reserved for divers and swimmers and secured by a buoy line. This beautiful house reef offers something for everyone down to a maximum depth of 15 m.