Anilao April 2012 Pictures

[DSR-3]

Another great trip to Anilao (#2 for me). Stayed at Crystal Blue- great place & food, a week of beautiful weather, and 24 awesome dives. I checked-off a number of new critters from my list, and almost got a decent shot of a pygmy seahorse! (undoubtedly the hardest animal I've ever tried to "capture"). Plenty of photog's there, so I'm surprised not to see other's pic's posted/linked here? Anyhow, I always enjoy the reading here on PPD so I'll do my part. *I'm looking for an ID of the fish as noted "ID Help Needed", thanks.
Anilao 2012

 

[MrsBBC]

He looks like a juvenile sweetlips... not that I know anything about what juvenile sweetlips actually look like
Nic

Edit:
Yep, he's a Diagramma labiosum (Juvenile painted sweetlips)

 

[jbb]

Wow, you actually saw a Bobbit worm? How big was it? I suspect I witnessed one at Dauin last year grabbing a lion fish and dragging it head first into the sandy bottom. Never saw the worm but can't imagine what else would take on a lion fish and hunt like that.

 

[annasea]

Great pictures, DSR-3!

jbb: There were at least 2 bobbit worms in the vicinity during that week... one at the pier and the other at Secret Bay, I believe.

 

[Karl_H]

Wow, you actually saw a Bobbit worm? How big was it? I suspect I witnessed one at Dauin last year grabbing a lion fish and dragging it head first into the sandy bottom. Never saw the worm but can't imagine what else would take on a lion fish and hunt like that.

You should check our Balanoy next time you're in Anilao, just on the other side of the Mainit peninsular to secret bay (i.e. 3-5 minutes by boat), nothing is guaranteed but there's a very high chance of seeing Bobbit Worms there!

 

[DSR-3]

Thanks for the comments and ID.
That Bobbit worm was at the Aniloa pier (1 of 2 there), and we saw another one later in the week. I think it was at Balanoy or near there. Bobbit worm invasion?? All about 20mm diameter, but I hear they're reeeealy long.
At the peir, guys were all set-up for pic's/video with tripods and all, then teasing it with a fish-on-a-stick. That thing was quick, making 1-2ft lunges. Luckily we found another (then another).

 

[rob1967]

Wow, great shots! What kind of rig are you using?