Batfish at C53

[jlyle]

Only a diver could love something as ugly as that. Batfish. I wonder how it got that name... One look at it and I see "Turdfish"! Have to say, that is an absolutely fantastic/special find with great pics to boot. I've never found one. My best find (actually my DM's best find for me to date) was this frogfish on Paradise Reef...

View attachment 380969

Frogfish are almost as rare as batfish in Cozumel. I don't know if they're so well hidden we never see them or there aren't that many. It makes you wonder how they find each other to mate.

 

[deepsea21]

Frogfish are almost as rare as batfish in Cozumel. I don't know if they're so well hidden we never see them or there aren't that many. It makes you wonder how they find each other to mate.

I am guessing there are far more around than we think... We just can't spot them. When DM Walter with Aqua Safari spotted that frogfish for us in 2012 (I must give kudos to our good friend Walter at A.S. and his ability to find little critters even though we're now diving with 3P's) and Walter signaled us over and pointed to the sand he pointed right at that frogfish and I looked at where he was pointing and looked at him shrugging my head and shoulders signaling "what?"... He gently swept the sand a bit and pointed to its eye and then I saw it... It was unbelievable to see that critter once I saw its eye. Who would ever even think to look for such a thing so well camo'd?

As far as how those ugly things find each other to mate... "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I'm guessing they hop around the bottom looking for something as ugly as they are and probably emit some unimaginable rancid stink that travels down current and smells like perfume to another Frogfish or Batfish.

 

[divingjd]

I never really liked the C53 Wreck dive, and always argued against it on the dive boat. I still don't like the wreck, but if I thought I had the chance to see this strange and wonderful creature, I'd definitely go along for the dive and spend all my time scouring the sandy bottom around it.

I was thinking the same thing. Anyone know if batfish tend to stay in the same area?

 

[cicopo]

Many years ago I found one in about 4 feet of water just a bit from shore in front of the Grand. Unfortunately the camera was new & I hadn't set it correctly so no RAW file for a better edit.

 

[MMM]

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Great shot!!

 

[MMM]

I was thinking the same thing. Anyone know if batfish tend to stay in the same area?

Well, the last time I saw a batfish diving was as we were descending to the C-53 wreck.

 

[kss1dvr]

Same batfish as in Mr. Nice Guy's photo's

 

[Marie13]

That's some ugly fish. I'd name it rockfish or craggy fish as it seems more like a piece of rock. But I think turdfish is very appropriate!

 

[Cozdreamer]

Amazing creature! Hope it's still around in June.... I'll be watching closely!