Critter Spotter

𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃

The Trevally have been hunting in packs lately, there is so much bait around! Terrific for a bit of wide angle photography!!

The bait fish pack together in large bait balls the predators circle from the outside and dart though the school . All of this in less than 10 metres of water!

This where a fisheye lens can excel being wide enough to capture the action - in this case a 8-15mm nikon fisheye shot at 15mm.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at @𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮.𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘂

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e fish schoolpreadtors above and below

𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐩

Sometimes the best hunting spot is simply the place where dinner comes to you.

We found this Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) lurking beneath a pontoon in very shallow water, surrounded by a huge school of tiny baitfish.

For the lionfish, it was the perfect set-up.

Lionfish are ambush predators. Rather than chasing their prey over long distances, they use their large fan-like pectoral fins to help corner and confuse small fish before striking with remarkable speed.

And here, there was certainly no shortage of opportunity.

While the baitfish moved together in an almost continuous silver curtain, the lionfish barely seemed to move at all — waiting beneath them for the right moment.

A little reminder that some of the most interesting behaviour underwater doesn't necessarily happen on a deep reef.

Sometimes it's happening in a metre or two of water, right underneath a pontoon.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.
Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.
Stay a little longer at @𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮.𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘂

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇 - 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆

At first glance these photographs all show exactly the same subject—a juvenile Highfin Grouper (Epinephelus maculatus).

But look a little closer.

Nothing about the fish changed. It remained on the same small coral head, only a few centimetres from where we first spotted it. The only thing that changed was the way we chose to photograph it.

Some images place the fish right in the centre of the frame, creating an intimate portrait. Others leave generous negative space, allowing your eye to wander through the coral before settling on the subject. By changing our position slightly and using a wide aperture, the surrounding reef melts into soft colours and shapes, giving each photograph a completely different mood.

It's a reminder that underwater photography isn't just about finding beautiful marine life—it's about deciding how to tell its story.

Juvenile Highfin Groupers are among our favourite reef youngsters. Their bold black-and-white markings make them instantly recognisable, although they'll lose this striking pattern as they mature into the larger mottled adults seen around coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Sometimes the smallest changes in composition can transform an image from a simple record shot into something that invites people to stop, look a little longer, and appreciate the remarkable life hidden beneath the surface.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at @𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮.𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘂

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𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞-𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞…

.. the Fimbriated Moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) leaves absolutely no doubt that it's a predator.

Those long, needle-sharp teeth are one of its defining features, perfectly designed for gripping slippery fish and preventing them from escaping once caught.

This large adult has made its home inside a PVC pipe set within an old concrete block at Spot X. It's an unusual address, but one that's become part of the reef as marine life has gradually colonised it.

We often find animals making use of these artificial nooks and crannies, turning yesterday's discarded objects into today's homes.

This particular moray has clearly had a few adventures. A large scar along its body tells the story of a life lived in the wild—perhaps an encounter with another predator, a territorial dispute, or simply the hazards of life on the reef. Whatever caused it, the wound has long since healed.

Despite their fearsome appearance, morays rarely pose a threat to divers when treated with respect. Their open mouths aren't a sign of aggression—they're constantly pumping water over their gills to breathe.

So yes... this one definitely has the teeth.

But they're for catching dinner, not unsuspecting photographers.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at @𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮.𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘂

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞

If you've ever dived with moray eels, you'll know they often have a reputation they don't deserve. Their mouths are usually open, exposing rows of sharp teeth that can make them look more intimidating than they really are.

The White-eyed Moray (Gymnothorax thyrsoideus) is a little different.

One of the first things you'll notice is what isn't there. Unlike many of its relatives, it lacks those large, prominent teeth. In fact, from the front it almost looks as though it's patiently waiting for a new set of dentures!

Despite their rather comical expression, these morays are perfectly adapted hunters, using their excellent sense of smell to search for small fish, crustaceans and octopus hidden amongst the reef.

We regularly encounter White-eyed Morays at Spot X, ranging from small juveniles to impressive adults. They're wonderfully inquisitive and will often ease their heads from a crevice to see who's paying them a visit.

For these portraits we deliberately positioned ourselves so the surrounding reef disappeared into darkness. By excluding distractions, the image becomes less about the habitat and more about the character of the animal itself.

Sometimes the simplest portrait tells the biggest story.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at @𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮.𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘂

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫

We'd finished the dive.

Our gear was almost off, and we were making our way towards the shore when something stopped us in our tracks.

Sitting quietly beside the exit was this remarkable Spiny Devilfish (Inimicus didactylus).

Fortunately, we spotted it before taking another step.

Despite its extraordinary camouflage, this species carries venomous spines capable of delivering an extremely painful sting. It's a timely reminder that even when a dive appears to be over, staying observant remains just as important as it was underwater.

With the exit temporarily postponed, I spent almost half an hour photographing this individual. The water was so shallow that my scuba cylinder was actually breaking the surface, while the surge continually pushed me backwards and forwards. Holding focus and refining the composition became an exercise in patience.

Rather than taking a single photograph, I explored different viewpoints, apertures and compositions. The result was a series of images showing how one animal can tell very different stories depending on how it's photographed.

For us, that's one of the joys of underwater photography. Sometimes it's not about finding another subject—it's about slowing down and discovering new ways to see the one already in front of you.

And on this occasion, it was also a timely reminder to keep looking right to the very end of the dive.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at .waters.vanuatu

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝

At first glance, this is just another old concrete block on the reef.

Look a little closer and you'll discover one of its smallest residents—a Bumblebee Shrimp (Gnathophyllum americanum).

Only a few millimetres long, these beautifully striped shrimp spend much of their lives tucked amongst black sea urchins, where their colours blend remarkably well with the surrounding rock and shadows. Unless you know exactly where to look, it's very easy to swim straight past them.

Over the years we've come to know one particular block where several of these tiny shrimp regularly live. Every now and then they'll emerge just long enough for a photograph before disappearing back into the maze of spines and crevices.

It's another reminder that some of the reef's most fascinating animals aren't necessarily the rarest—they're simply the easiest to overlook.

If you look carefully at the second photograph, you'll also notice a familiar face blurred in the background: an orange-and-blue pipefish that shared this little corner of the reef for a time before eventually moving on.

One small block.

Countless stories.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at .waters.vanuatu

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𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇, 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃

One of the challenges of underwater photography is showing scale.

When we photograph small subjects close-up, it's easy to forget just how tiny they really are.

This young Clark's anemonefish lives amongst the tentacles of its host anemone, a place of shelter and protection from predators. Looking at the fish alone, it appears quite substantial. But when we step back and include more of its surroundings, the story changes completely.

Suddenly the fish becomes just a small part of a much larger world.

The negative space in this image is deliberate. Rather than filling the frame with the subject, it allows the anemone to dominate the scene and gives a sense of scale that would otherwise be lost.

For us, images like this are a reminder that the reef is built from countless small stories. Tiny fish finding shelter. Tiny shrimps living amongst tentacles. Tiny creatures surviving in a world that, to them, must seem enormous.

Sometimes stepping back tells a bigger story than moving closer.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at .waters.vanuatu

www.critterspotter.com

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐅

Some reef inhabitants demand attention through movement. Others do it simply by enduring.

Giant clams can take decades to reach impressive sizes, becoming permanent fixtures on the reef and quietly filtering seawater day after day.

They may appear motionless, but they are very much alive, with their colourful mantles extended to capture sunlight through a remarkable partnership with microscopic algae living within their tissues.

This individual was photographed with a wider-angle lens to show not only the clam itself, but also its place within the reef community.

With the shell fully open, the intricate patterns and colours of the mantle are on full display. Every giant clam seems to have its own unique design, as though painted by hand.

Sadly, large clams are becoming less common in many places. Their size makes them attractive as a food source, yet it can take many years for them to grow into these magnificent reef giants.

That is why encounters like this feel special.

Every large clam is a reminder that some of the reef's greatest treasures are not the fastest, rarest or most dramatic creatures.

Sometimes they are simply the ones that have survived long enough to become part of the landscape itself.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at .waters.vanuatu

www.critterspotter.com

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡

This small Tassled Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis oxycephala) became one of our favourite residents on the reef.

It lived on an old piece of timber covered in algae, sponges and marine growth. We knew exactly where it lived, yet there were days when it would still take us twenty or thirty minutes to find it.

Its camouflage was simply that good.

Rather than relying on bright colours or speed to avoid predators, scorpionfish disappear into their surroundings. Every flap of skin, ridge and bump helps break up their outline, making them almost impossible to distinguish from the reef itself.

This individual was especially memorable because of its rich reddish colouration—a variation we hadn't seen before. Against the algae-covered timber it was beautifully disguised, yet once you finally spotted it, it seemed impossible to lose.

It's a wonderful reminder that the ocean doesn't always reveal its secrets quickly. Sometimes the greatest discoveries come to those willing to slow down, look carefully, and keep looking.

📸 John Warmington

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨.

Discover the reef with Critter Spotter.

Stay a little longer at .waters.vanuatu

www.critterspotter.com