2015-12 Solomon Islands Dives 2178-2210

Unknown Calcareous Sponge

Lumalahe West, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2192#7688

Larry L. Jackson

Crocodile Flathead

Cymbacephalus beauforti

Lumalahe West, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2192#7696

Larry L. Jackson

Longnose Hawkfish

Oxycirrhites typus

Lumalahe West, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2192#7699

Larry L. Jackson

White-bonnet Anemonefish

Amphiprion leucokranos - in Merten's Carpet Anemone.

Lumalahe West, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2192#7702

Larry L. Jackson

White-bonnet & Orange Anemonefish

Amphiprion leucokranos & sandaracinos - in Merten's Carpet Anemone.

Lumalahe West, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2192#7706

Larry L. Jackson

Elegant Phyllidia

Phyllidia elegans

Lumalahe East, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2193#7708

Larry L. Jackson

Variable Thorny Oyster

Spondylus varians - have numerous small eyes along the mantle edge.  The Oyster reacts when something gets too close.

Lumalahe West, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2193#7711

Larry L. Jackson

Hairy Yellow Hermit Crab

Aniculus maximus - this only the second time I have seen this Hermit Crab in over 2200 dives.

Lumalahe East, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2193#7714

Larry L. Jackson

Maxima Giant Clam

Tridacna maxima

Lumalahe East, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2193#7719

Larry L. Jackson

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata - swam just below me.

Lumalahe East, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2193#7720

Larry L. Jackson

Squarespot Anthias

Pseudanthias pleurotaenia - male, generally seen fairly deep on walls and slopes.

Cotton Candy, Mbaleva Island, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2194#7724

Larry L. Jackson

Unknown Algae

A very small, delicate looking algae, perhaps a Caulerpa specie.

Cotton Candy, Mbaleva Island, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2194#7726

Larry L. Jackson

Pinnate Spade Fish

Platax pinnatus - large juvenile, back in a small cave.

Cotton Candy, Mbaleva Island, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2194#7727

Larry L. Jackson

Scleronephthya specie

An abundance of this coral gives the dive site its name.

Cotton Candy, Mbaleva Island, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2194#7729

Larry L. Jackson

Sponge

Clathria mima - an encrusting sponge.

Cotton Candy, Mbaleva Island, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2194#7734

Larry L. Jackson

Fluted Giant Clam

Tridacna squamosa

Cotton Candy, Mbaleva Island, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2194#7737

Larry L. Jackson

Twotone Dartfish

Ptereleotris evides - my camera has a hard time focusing on these fish because of their dark coloration.

Cotton Candy, Mbaleva Island, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2194#7739

Larry L. Jackson

Black Velutinid

Coriocella nigra - found by Ruth.

Cotton Candy, Mbaleva Island, Solomon Islands, December 6, 2015

2194#7747

Larry L. Jackson

Pyramid Butterflyfish

Hemitaurichthys polylepis

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7751

Larry L. Jackson

Bignose Unicornfish

Naso vlamingii - at a cleaning station.

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7759

Larry L. Jackson

Variable Thorny Oyster

Spondylus varians - with coral growing on it.

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7760

Larry L. Jackson

Blue Dragon

Pteraeolidia ianthina - sometimes called Chinese Dragon.

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7761

Larry L. Jackson

Hybrid Butterflyfish

Chaetodon pelewensis punctatofasciatus

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7762

Larry L. Jackson

Big Longnose Butterflyfish

Forcipiger longirostris - record photo of an uncooperative dark variation.

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7766

Larry L. Jackson

Blue-spot Butterflyfish

Chaetodon plebeius

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7769

Larry L. Jackson

Masked Rabbitfish & Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Siganus puellus

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7770

Larry L. Jackson

Lined Surgeonfish

Acanthurus lineatus - a shallow water, fast moving fish.

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7773

Larry L. Jackson

Titan Triggerfish

Balistoides viridescens - draws other fish when feeding.

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7778

Larry L. Jackson

Pearl-scaled Angelfish

Centropyge vroliki

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7780

Larry L. Jackson

Blackfin Barracuda

Sphyraena qenie

Barracuda Point, Mborokua Island, Solomon Islands, December 7, 2015

2195#7785

Larry L. Jackson