Mating Bottletail Squid

When we do night dive in Dauin, there is a big chance to see Bobtail Squid and Bottletail Squid. Aside from previous two diving trip, I also saw some Bottletail (Speiadarium kochi) this time night diving in Dauin. Moreover, I was very lucky to see two squids "hugging " each other.

These pictures were taken by Panasonic GF1 + Panasonic 45mm Macro lens + double Sea&Sea YS-D1 strobe. When the guide showed me these two small squids, I approached them carefully and slowly. I watched them "hugging" and took shots around 1 minute until one of them "push away" another. I shared this to some guides and instructors, and they all said they haven't seen this behavior in person. I think I was really lucky to encounter this.

At first I thought two of them were fighting, because the pictures of mating squids I admired on the internet are males holding female squids from the back, unlike this face-to-face. After I shared the picture on the internet, some divers mentioned they were possibly mating. Anyway, mating is somehow like fighting, isn't it?

What else did I see in Dauin this time? Please check:
Third Muck Diving Trip in Dauin, Dumaguete 

Porcelain Crab On Sea Pen

The picture below is a Porcelain Crab (Porcellanella haigae) standing on the top of a sea pen. I took this shot during my third diving trip in Dauin, Dumaguete. The gears were Panasonic GF1 + Panasonic 45mm Macro lens + SAGA 20 diopter + double Sea&Sea YS-D1 strobe.

If sea pen is touched or feels something approaching it, it will duck into the sand easily with critters on it. In order not to scare the sea pen and the crab, I tried to minimize my movement. Porcelain crab feeds on plankton using its feathery arms. I wanted to photograph this behavior, so I waited there and only clicked the shutter when the crab opened its "filters".

What else did I see in Dauin this time? Please check:
Third Muck Diving Trip in Dauin, Dumaguete

Painted Frogfish in Dauin

Previous two times when I dove in Dauin, all the frogfish I saw were small sizes. Before I went there last August, I was wondering where those frogfish go when they grow bigger. However, all I saw this time were almost all big frogfish and hard to find a mini one.

The four pictures below were taken by Panasonic GF1 + Panasonic 45mm Macro lens + Sea&Sea YS-D1 strobe*2. The frogfish have different colors and patterns, however, they are all Painted Frogfish, scientific name is Antennarius pictus. Thanks to the diver friends on the internet for helping me identify.

Other frogfishes I saw this time:

Spotfin Frogfish (Antennatus nummifer)

Giant Frogfish (Antennarius commersoni)

Even giant frogfish showed up. haha~ what else did I see in Dauin this time? Please check:
Third Muck Diving Trip in Dauin, Dumaguete