New Ocean Realm Images Logos!

My new Ocean Realm Images will start to crop up around the place so keep your eyes peeled!

Moreton Bay Critters

I have just returned from a couple of dives in Moreton Bay (Just off Brisbane) and was shocked by the number of critters we came across!  Two juvenile Ornate ghost pipefish, a rough snout ghost pipefish, short pouch pygmy pipehorse and a flamboyant cuttlefish.  Not to mention the usual leopard sharks and shovel nose rays.  I'll take my camera next time!

Alor & Flores Images

I have recently returned from a trip aboard the Komodo Dancer which was cruising around Alor and Flores.  It was a great trip!  I found four Rhinopias two of each of R. frondosa (Including a very small juvenile) and R. eschmeyeri of which the female was clearly pregnant.   I also found a pair of velvet ghost pipefish and a couple of beautifully coloured thorny seahorses.  I also saw my first ever Mola Mola (Sunfish) but it was off in the distance and only passed by for a few seconds.  I have posted images form the trip on my website www.OceanRealmImages.com/gallery so check them out!

Pygmy Seahorse Article in Dive Chronicles Magazine

My article 'Pygmy seahorses - A Case Study in Marital Bliss?......Not Quite!' is in the new issue of the US magazine Dive Chronicles - The Digest of Diving.  I talk about some of the amazing behaviours I have seen these tiny fish get up to and obviously there are plenty of pictures including fighting and birthing pygmies!

2009 Calendar is at the Printers!

The 2009 edition of the 'Portraits of the Ocean Realm' Calendar by OceanRealmImages and Robert Hollingworth Photography is currently at the printers so email Richard@OceanRealmImages.com if you would like to pre-order your copy for dispatch in early December!

Rough Guides - Fiji

If you happen to be flicking through the new Rough Guide to Fiji you will come across my image of a snorkeller checking out a starfish in the shallows.  It was a beautiful day and conditions were great for the shot - calm water surface and a few clouds in the background!

Walea Images uploaded

Just a quick one to let you know I have finally got round to posting my images from Walea Resort.  There are plenty of shots of the endemic Walea pygmy seahorse as well as the areas amazing hard coral gardens so check it out!

Amazing Walea Pygmy Seahorse

I have recently spent two weeks at Walea Resort in the Togian Islands of central Sulawesi, Indonesia where an amazing endemic pygmy seahorse can be found.  It lives on the surface of soft corals of the genus Nephthea and is the most active pygmy I have seen.  I will be posting more images from this trip very soon.

Wakatobi Pygmy Full House!

After the recent discovery of a brown (likely Pontohi) pygmy here at Wakatobi I have seen all four species.  In fact all four can be seen at one site!  Denise's, Bargibant's, White and Brown.

Pygmy Seahorse Publication in Coral Reefs

My publication 'Mating and birth of Denise's Pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus denise) observed in the wild' has been published in the hard copy of Coral Reefs Journal.  The reference for this is:

Smith R.E. & Tibbetts I.R.  (2008).  Mating and birth of Denise's pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus denise) observed in the wild.  Coral Reefs 27 (3), 617.

Back at Wakatobi

I am back at Wakatobi Resort and have found a new family of pygmy seahorses which I will be observing.  The individual on the right is an amazing colour form of Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) which I have never seen before. It was living alone on a site named Kollo Soha.

'Patterns of Diversity' Article in Sport Diving Magazine

My article entitled 'Patterns of Diversity' has been published in the new issue (129) of Sport Diving Magazine which is available throughout Australasia.  It explores the biodiversity of tropical reefs and the reasons for the patterns found across the world.  I find this subject fascinating and I hope you do too!

Lembeh Images Uploaded

I have posted images from a recently short trip to Lembeh.  Some highlights were a multitude of Ambon scorpionfish, an apparently undescribed nocturnal octopus, Lembeh velvetfish and a host of ghost pipefishes (Ornate, Robust, Delicate, and Rough Snout).  We stayed at NAD which was excellent in terms of accommodation, guides, food and price.

The Great Barrier Reef

Just a note to let you know the pictures from my recent trip up to the reef will be posted soon.  We had some great dives and it was interesting to see a reef without much fishing pressure.  I was also really pleased to find a hairy ghost pipefish at one site.  I've never seen one of these before so that was really brilliant!

Images from Paradise Dancer

Just a quick one to let you all know that I have posted the images from my recent trip aboard the Paradise Dancer.  She sailed, for her maiden voyage, out of Manado and visited Bunaken, Lembeh and the northern islands.  She is an excellent boat and we had some great dives.  Check out the pictures at www.OceanRealmImages.com/gallery

Photographer's Responsibility!

With the new issue of FiNS (Vol 7.3) my article 'A Photographer's Responsibility' is published.  This is quite a controversial subject but, I think very important.  Often photographers have a very bad reputation for damaging the reef and traumatising its inhabitants.  I find these habits quite distressing and completely unnecessary so was compelled to write this article.  I hope you enjoy it and it gives you something to think about.

Column Continues

The new issue of FiNS is now available for download.  My regular column 'Really Richard?' continues, this time helping distinguish between two species very dear to me - Denise's and Bargibant's pygmy seahorses!  If I happen to be on a trip with you there will be no excuse for not knowing the difference!

Enjoy!

Coral Reefs Publication

Hi there,

My publication in the scientific journal Coral Reefs has recently been released which describes the birth of Hippocampus denise that I witnessed at Wakatobi Resort, Sulawesi Indonesia in December 2007.  Included are two images of the male giving birth to the last of the brood.  This individual was trapped temporarily after its 6-7 siblings were released 30 seconds before.  I hope you enjoy reading about these fascinating little creatures!

Richard

Seahorse Article in Sport Diving Magazine Australia

Just an update on my new article on the biology of seahorses and pipefish titled 'A case study in Martital Bliss' which is currently on the shelves throughout Asia and soon in Australia in Sport Diving Magazine.  This fascinating group have really amazing reproductive behaviours so have a read!

Recent Excursions

Hi everyone,

I've just posted some pictures on my site from recent dive trips to Melbourne where we dived Portsea and Rye Piers and Byron Bay where we dived Julian's Rocks.  Finally saw a seadragon plus two species of seahorse in Melbourne but conditions were pretty awful for the seadragon so didn't manage many shots.  Byron was nice and saw some really nice little critters as well as plenty of Wobbegong sharks.

Enjoy

Rich

Front Page!

Hi there,

I have just seen my first ever front page which is of the Paddle-flap scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) taken in Lembeh Straits last year.  It is on the cover of FiNS magazine issue 7.2 which also features my article on the top 10 critters on Lembeh along with my column 'Really Richard?' comparing the Mandarin fish and the easily confused Picturesque Dragonet.

Go and get a copy for yourself from the FiNS website or subscribe to the podcast download on iTunes:

www.finsonline.com/magazine/vol_7_2/

Enjoy!

Rich

Publication in Coral Reefs

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick note to say I have had a publication accepted by Coral Reefs which is a well respected scientific journal.  It focuses on the gestation, birth and mating of Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise).  This species is the subject of my PhD here in Brisbane, Australia.  I will post here once I have been provided with a pdf of the paper.

Best wishes

Rich

Scuba diving Magazine

Another update about my published articles.  

The new issue of Scuba Diving magazine, which is available throughout Australasia, contains a full length article about cephalopods (squid & octopus)entitled 'Stunning Cephalopods'.  The article can be downloaded at www.divetheblue.net in the marine life section: 

Rich

FiNS article

I have a column in FiNS diving magazine starting this issue (Jan/Feb 7.1).  It is called 'Really Richard?' and helps you to identify commonly mistaken reef species.  This month explains how to distinguish stone and scorpionfishes.  You will be able to download the current issue at www.finsonline.com 

Hope you enjoy

Rich

New Pygmy Pipehorse described

News from the world of science!

A recently discovered pygmy pipehorse has been described from Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia.  It has been named Kyonemichthys rumengani.  I have seen this amazing species at Wakatobi resort in southern Sulawesi where quite a few are now being found on the reefs there.

This is the smallest species of syngnathid (pipefish and seahorse) by weight, even smaller than the pygmy seahorses.  It reaches around 3cm in length but is exceedingly slender.  Red filaments are found on the head and mid way down the trunk, there is also a longer, more rigid process on the back.  This species uses the tip of its prehensile tail to hold the substratum, mostly hydroids or small halimeda clumps.  It tends to be be found fairly shallow at between 5-15m.

Please let me know if you see this species outside Sulawesi, since it is such a recently discovered fish it will be great to gather as much information as possible about it.

Rich

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog!

This is where I will be posting about diving, marine biology, travel, photography and my studies.  

I am working on my PhD at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia on the ecology and behaviour of Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) and will be posting some of my findings here so keep coming back to check out the latest developments in my work.

I am also a freelance writer and photographer primarily focusing on raising awareness of the marine environment.  If you have any questions about marine life please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes

Rich