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Kissing Frogfish

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frogfish

It was my last dive of the day. The last few minutes of the dive and the last dive of the trip. I felt distracted by the scale and scope of the coral on this dive (Chicken Reef) in Raja Ampat from looking for the small things. And maybe tired too after 10 days of liveaboard diving. My dive buddy and dive guide were ahead of me while I lagged behind having some nostalgic moments. A rush of thoughts were going through my head. What a beautiful day…what a reef…what incredible corals…will I get to come back? I was gliding up the slope, and a rubble patch, a break in the middle of the vast forest of hard and soft corals, appeared below me.

I was calm, meditative…and then a bright yellow spot in the middle of the coral rubble grayness caught my eye. But it was moving! And it was moving with those tentative robotic steps of a frogfish. I was not that close, but I was sure it was a frogfish. I “called out” to my dive buddies through my regulator, “Hey!”, forgetting I could have banged on my tank with my stick, but they did not hear me. I settled down close to the rubble at 10 meters and began to watch my friend. He was already moving so it was not me who had disturbed him. He was slowly tiptoeing through the rubble as if he were trying to be invisible. He should have been, he probably thought. “I am a sponge.”

There is something special about making such a find on your own. You look across the expansive reef on dives like it’s infinity, wondering if you are still on Earth or in a dream. And then unexpectedly your eye catches something that’s different from the rest. It moves and you discover it. Dive guides do this every dive – “by accident” they say. “I know where to look.” “It’s my job.”

frogfish

I did my best to photograph him, but he was moving. Even for a frogfish he was moving quickly. He was moving quickly yet deftly across the rocks like a climber looking for sure footing on a mountaintop. And he did not give me a big yawn. It’s a classic pose in frogfish photos, but a yawn is often a sign of stress.

My air was getting low, and the frogfish was disappearing into the rubble. It was time to leave. I threw him and the reef a kiss and started up the slope to do my safety stop with the others who had looked back occasionally to see if I was with them still. I had made them wait too many times before while I photographed crazy coral patterns or just another anemone.

I was going to wait until topside to show my guide Michael, but I could not contain my excitement. His eyes got big and there were a few frantic moments to go back, but it was too late…the frogfish was for my eyes only.

Tip: A dive is never over until it’s over.

Janice Nigro is an avid scuba diver with a PhD in biology.  She is a scientist who has studied the development of human cancer at universities in the USA and Norway, and has discovered the benefits of artistic expression through underwater photography and story writing of her travel adventures.

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Get up to £100pp off Red Sea Resorts and Liveaboards with Regaldive

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red sea diving

red sea divingRegaldive welcomes thousands of divers to the Red Sea each year, drawn by its warm climate, stunning scenery, and exceptional marine biodiversity. With over 200 species of hard and soft corals, plus a variety of world-class diving experiences—including dramatic walls, drop-offs, wrecks, and deep blue canyons—the Red Sea remains a premier diving destination.

This February, divers can explore the Red Sea for less, with savings of up to £100 per person on holidays over £1,200 per person and £75 per person on holidays over £750 per person. Simply make a new Red Sea resort or liveaboard booking by 24 February 2025 to take advantage of this special offer.

Discover some of the top Red Sea diving locations and liveaboards below, and when you’re ready to book, use code RSFEB25 at the time of enquiry to claim your discount. For full details and terms and conditions, visit Regaldive’s offer page here.

For more information about Regaldive and the dive getaways they offer, visit www.regal-diving.co.uk.

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Gear News

Introducing the RF-40 Fins from DYNAMICNORD

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With the sporty RF-40 open-heel fin by DYNAMICNORD, you enjoy maximum effectiveness and fun. The innovative design guarantees ease and power – exactly what every diver wants.

Designed and engineered in Germany. Made in Europe.

The RF-40 open-heel fin delivers. Its harder blade will especially delight sporty divers.

The powerful blade of the RF-40 fin and its dynamic design with innovative water channels allow to perform both technical and recreational kicks with maximum propulsion. The power is efficiently transmitted from the foot pocket and sole to the blade for outstanding kick stability and manoeuvrability. With the RF-40 fin, sporty divers are guaranteed to have a blast underwater.

The foot pocket of the open-heel fin is comfortable, and the smart bungee strap enables to make small length adjustments without using any tools. This way, the fin can be used with neoprene boots or with a drysuit. The heel pad has a large finger loop that is easy to grasp even when wearing gloves, making donning and doffing the fin a breeze.

The RF-40 fins are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers in six great colours.

Recommended sales price: £127.00

Sizes: M-XL

Colours: Blue, grey, orange, purple, red, yellow

DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.

www.dynamicnord.com

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