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We naturally get all excited about the big creatures such as sharks, manta rays and turtles that we see here so often – but last week this little fellow suddenly jumped right out in front of our lens, posing for a photo shoot and getting our attention back to all the interesting small animals that can be found around Kuredu.

This beauty is a Harlequin shrimp and was found together with its partner in the lagoon where we take our students for their first bubbles underwater.

Harlequin shrimp normally live together as a couple and feed almost exclusively on sea stars (which they slowly consume over the course of a week while the sea star is still alive!). As these creatures are very small at only about 3cm in length they are not so easy to spot, and with the help of their irregular blue blotches on a creamy/peachy background they are very well camouflaged, almost disappearing into the background.

If you take a closer look, you can even see the little baby sitting on the back of one of its parents!