Cryptic Crustaceans

Mark Webster · Issue 90, May/Jun 2016 · pp. 64–70

Products mentioned: Nikon D7100, Subal ND7100 housing, 105mm micro lens, SubSee +10 wet lens, Inon Z240 flash guns, Nikon D100, L&M Titan housing, Inon Quad flash

If you have an interest in macro photography as I do then you have an almost endless choice of marine subjects to keep you occupied during a dive. One of the fascinations for me are the many symbiotic and cryptic relationships between species and that applies particularly to numerous species of crustaceans that are found on corals, anemones and larger invertebrates. Some of these species are easy to find and some are well camouflaged to match their hosts and whilst there are a few to be found in temperate waters the majority thrive in tropical conditions with particular hot spots in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. A few are regarded as unusual or even rare and consequently become a grail or must have for the avid macro imager. Most trips overseas to a tropical location are a significant financial commitment on top of the substantial investment you are likely to have in underwate…