This is the follow up to the previous post on the first set of underwater photos taken at Anilao. I also talked a little bit on the accommodation and food while we were there.

Here are another set of 10 underwater photos taken during the trip that I thought worthy of sharing.  Your comments and critics are very much welcomed. 🙂

a pair of Coleman Shrimps
a pair of Coleman Shrimps, Mato Point

We saw this pair of Coleman shrimps resting in the middle of a fire urchin. These creatures are pretty difficult to spot since they camouflage so well with the surrounding. The bigger shrimp is female, and from what I heard they might provide manicure service if you place your finger closer to them. We did not try that.

yellow frogfish, Basura
yellow frogfish, Basura

This was the first frogfish we saw at the dive site Basura, the little bugger is about 3-4 inches in length. The yellow submarine did not like to move much, and when it does it was a very awkward walk. Very fascinating.

a very tiny clown frogfish
a very tiny clown frogfish, Basura

Not far from the spot where we found the yellow frogfish sits this really tiny clown frogfish, a juvenile that was no bigger than 2 centimeters. If this thing isn’t the definition of cute I don’t know what is.

leaf scorpionfish, Mato Point
leaf scorpionfish, Mato Point

The leaf scorpionfish is another master of disguise. They don’t move much and blends very well with the surrounding and apparently can eat preys as big as half its body length.

porcelain crabs on coral, Basura
porcelain crabs on coral, Basura

A pair of porcelain crabs making an anemone as their home. They are not actually “true crab” but shares the same body plan as squat lobster. True crabs have 4 pairs of legs, these tiny crustaceans have only 3. They were about 2-3 cm in length and rather active.

red lionfish, Dead Palm
red lionfish, Dead Palm

Lionfish are found all on pretty much every dive site we went to in Anilao. While its venomous spines can be pretty intimidating, lionfish are usually quite shy and will try to swim away if you go close.

red lionfish, Arthur's Reef
red lionfish, Arthur’s Reef

Another closer look at the red lionfish.

pufferfish, Basura
pufferfish, Basura

Pufferfish is another family of fishes that’s widely found here. This one was trying to hide itself by ruffling up some sand, camera shy I guess?

pygmy seahorse, Dead Palm
pygmy seahorse, Dead Palm

This little bugger is one of the hardest creatures to find and photographed. They’re only about 1 cm in length and looked almost exactly like the coral in which they hide. To make things even more interesting, they are usually found pretty deep, this one at 28-29 meter.

purple tip tube anemone, Arthur's Reef
purple tip tube anemone, Arthur’s Reef

A common species of anemone found at most sites at Anilao, staring at one top down and close up gives me a pretty surreal feeling. (reminds me of the plastic bag scene in American Beauty)

Till another dive trip! Hope you enjoy these photos.

Anilao Underwater Photography, Set 2
Tagged on:                                                 

20 thoughts on “Anilao Underwater Photography, Set 2

  • March 11, 2013 at 10:23 am
    Permalink

    loving the shots man! awesome!

    Reply
    • March 12, 2013 at 8:05 am
      Permalink

      tehtarikdrinker: thanks man.

      Reply
  • March 11, 2013 at 3:49 pm
    Permalink

    oh yeah, even looking at these shots via a computer screen, there’s a surreal sense, so the feeling must be even more magnified when u’re really underwater 😀

    Reply
    • March 12, 2013 at 8:06 am
      Permalink

      Sean: nothing beats seeing them live! 😀

      Reply
  • March 12, 2013 at 12:36 am
    Permalink

    Great pictures. Great eco sys.
    Few reef sharks I bet.
    Post some shark pictures if possible.

    Contrary to our local scenes.
    Once pristine,
    infested with swarms of jelly fish, last heard.
    Local culling of reef sharks should be done pronto.
    They are eating too many turtles that feed on jelly fishes.

    Must be an expensive camera to capture those pictures.
    Keep em coming.

    Reply
    • March 12, 2013 at 8:06 am
      Permalink

      PPKia: I think we might have to do more with stopping people from eating turtle eggs too.

      Reply
    • March 12, 2013 at 8:07 am
      Permalink

      Jules: what’s stopping you? Get back underwater! 😀

      Reply
  • March 12, 2013 at 11:15 am
    Permalink

    such awesome shots, pity our local dive sites not as great as anilao. Truly macro Heaven 😛

    Reply
    • March 12, 2013 at 1:45 pm
      Permalink

      Terenceg: tenggol isn’t too bad 😀

      Reply
  • March 13, 2013 at 10:59 am
    Permalink

    woih… maciam maciam fish eh.. surely this fish is unique clown frogfish.. never seen b4, even in those big aquarium . .:D

    nice shot btw. .

    Reply
    • March 13, 2013 at 11:39 am
      Permalink

      taufulou: thanks! you should learn to dive 😀

      Reply
  • March 14, 2013 at 6:24 pm
    Permalink

    Until I learn to dive..I shall content with visiting your boog to see the lovely pics!

    Reply
    • March 15, 2013 at 10:50 am
      Permalink

      missyblurkit: should make it your 2013 resolution 😛

      Reply
  • April 16, 2013 at 1:39 pm
    Permalink

    Your pictures are amazing.

    I feel like I must have missed out on so much in Anilao because I wasn’t observant enough. 🙂

    I’m looking at investing at a good camera for underwater pictures too. That’s how i stumbled upon your blog. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • April 16, 2013 at 2:32 pm
      Permalink

      Isabel: I guess it’s good to start small, go with something like a Canon S110 or S100 with a casing and then maybe start adding strobe lights later. I’m using Olympus EPL3 with twin Sea & Sea YS-01 strobes now, but these toys get expensive :S

      Reply
  • May 28, 2013 at 2:48 pm
    Permalink

    the porcelain crabs so cute!!
    what gadget are you using? the photos are so beautiful! i must say blogger has awesome skills too coz if im the one holding camera for sure pics sux. the arthur’s reef so beautiful. did you name it yourself?

    Reply
    • May 28, 2013 at 9:53 pm
      Permalink

      Joyceanne: I use Olympus EPL3 and some underwater strobes. Arther’s reef? I didn’t name it. lol

      Reply
  • May 29, 2013 at 4:29 pm
    Permalink

    Cool PICS!!! where’s anilao anyway? is it in malaysia?
    The visibility of the water looked really clean down there…
    can i ask how deep it that?

    Reply
    • May 30, 2013 at 9:18 am
      Permalink

      Orange: it’s in the Philippines, and most of these pics are taken pretty shallow actually, less than 10 meters, except for the pygmy seahorse which was at 30m or so.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *