Soulwater Productions

The Wakatobi is really a special place. We will be leaving here in a few days and I’m getting my last few dives in to say goodbye to the beautiful reefs here. It’s really hard to leave such a beautiful place, but for personal reasons it’s time to take the next step in our lives and careers. Hopefully I can still get underwater with my camera in the future and definitely will be taking more photos on land. For certain I have some great memories of this really special place.

🎥 Soulwater Productions Adrienne Gittus

🎼 Somewhere Down the Line by AER0HEAD, music from Vlog No Copyright Music

Look closely into the cracks and crevices of barrel sponges and you might find some cool critters hiding there. This is a hairy a.k.a. fairy crab. Their pretty purple helps them blend into the pink of the sponge so they are well camouflaged and their fine hairs all over their body trap food that drifts past in the water column. The lobster then uses its hairless hind legs to comb the food off the bristles and eat it.

Shot with OrcaTorch available from SBI - Distributor Alat Selam

🎥 Soulwater Productions Adrienne Gittus

🎼 Enigma by KV, music from Audio Library

I spotted this strange creature that looks like a cauliflower in the super shallows. Looking closer I discovered it’s actually some sort of anemone and hiding inside was a pair of peacock tail shrimp. I’m still amazed every day by the wonders of the ocean. Have you ever seen this before?

🎥 Soulwater Productions Adrienne Gittus

🎼 East by Lucjo, music from Audio library Plus

A handsome fella out on the reef this morning! It’s a grin that could suck you in. Be careful though, with their double jaw once they lock onto their prey it’s pretty hard to get them to let go! Look but don’t touch is good advice for any marine life but especially true for these beauties, though they do look lovely and soft! Made with the help of

🎥 Soulwater Productions Adrienne Gittus OrcaTorch SBI - Distributor Alat Selam

This poor barrel sponge is making a meal for multiple species of fish! Butterfly fish and moorish idols both eat the coral polyps and can be seen nibbling on this sponge. Everything has its place in the food chain in the ocean. All species of fish are both predators and prey. Although coral eating creatures like or might seem to be doing harm, it’s all about balance. Just like a forest fire can instigate renewal and growth, the same can happen in the ocean. The weakest links are easy prey and the whole ecosystem becomes stronger.

🎥 Soulwater Productions Adrienne Gittus

🎼 Somewhere Down The Line by Aer0head, music from Vlog No Copyright Music

A busy anemone is a happy anemone. This is full of multiple species of fish which protect the anemone and make it their home. It must be a cosy bed at night when they all snuggle up together to sleep!

🎥 Soulwater Productions Adrienne Gittus

🎼 Et Tu by Nycto, music from Audio Library Free Music

Look who’s hiding in the turtle grass close to shore right in front of Wakatobi Resort 😳 Even in the shallowest of water (less than a foot!) strange and unusual creatures can be found. You should definitely be careful entering the water here, you wouldn’t want to accidentally step on this guy! Bad for both the and you, since they possess a painful venom in the small spines on their back.

🎥 Soulwater Productions Adrienne Gittus

🎼 Chase by Igor Khainskyi, music from Audio Library Plus

One of my favourite little here is the blue lined 🥰 They are just so cheeky! They pretend to be a nice helpful cleaner wrasse and then when a fish comes close to be cleaned they just take a big bite instead! I’ve even been bitten by them once or twice. Nature has an ironic sense of humour don’t you think?! Little batards! 😂

🎥 Soulwater Productions Adrienne Gittus

🎼 Desert Fox by Rafael Krux, music from Wild Music

It’s hard to resist on the Wakatobi especially when the conditions are so perfect like this! Crystal clear shallow water with perfectly dappled light and dancing sunbeams bring the stunning corals and pretty fish to life. It truly is magical.

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🎼 Starry Dreams by Sascha Ende, music from Film Music