Wakatobi's House Reef Regulars

Walt Stearns · Issue 129, Nov/Dec 2022 · pp. 63

Products mentioned: Nikon D850, Nikon 105mm macro, Retra Prime strobes

Wakatobi’s House Reef encompasses a vast area of seagrass meadows and shallow coral formations that lie between the beach and a precipitous coral rampart that plunges into the depths. Underwater photographers and critter watchers have been known to devote days and even weeks to exploring this expansive site, as it is home to a plethora of marine life. A complete listing of finds could fill a book, but for the sake of brevity, here are seven House Reef regulars that make for fascinating viewing and good photo ops. The Odd Couple A careful search of sand or rubble patches on the House Reef may reveal Wakatobi’s own “Odd Couple.” The Randall’s shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris randalli) is a burrow-dwelling fish that isn’t big on housework. Unlike jawfish and other species that dig their own dwellings in the seabed, this clever little fish lets its roommate do work. When you happen across one of t…