Highlights of the Lows: Apr 10-13

Finally!! The pre-dawn super low tides have started for the year. Under the cover of darkness, there is usually a wild party on the shores. This is when shy creatures not commonly seen during the day come out to play. Here's some of those we caught in the act...

"Adorable!" Z exclaimed when she saw this tiny nudibranch at Tuas. We thought she meant that was its scientific name. And indeed, it should have been called Adorabeleus or something like that. We have no idea what it is, possibly Hypselodoris.

Seafans are everywhere at Tuas; candy-coloured orange, red, pink, with a frosting of white. Although they may look like plants, sea fans are actually animals! They are related to corals and each 'tree' is actually a colony of many tiny polyps. Each polyp has tiny branched tentacles.

Another endearing seashore creature that is only seen at night. These large colourful Grapsus crabs are quite common at Kusu Island. But often, all you will encounter is a loud clatter as they scramble rapidly among the rocks. You'll need to creep quietly up to them, and get only one chance to take a photo of ONE of them. The flash sends all of them in a mad clatter into hiding places. Thereafter, you'll be lucky to see even the tip of a hairy leg.

Of course, I was on the look out for Worms. And What Worms we saw! At Tuas, a velvety black flatworm with eletric blue margins. And as we were boarding the boat at Raffles Marina, the water was alive with lots feathery worms, swimming near the surface with elegant ripples. These beautiful worms are also called 'fire worms' because they pack a powerful sting. The film crew got lots of lovely footage of the worms.

Other fabulous finds included the frogfish, clownfishes, seahorses at Tuas (alas, no photos of the clownfish or seahorses; but the film crew got lots of lovely footage).

Although still severely sleep deprived, I'm already missing the trips and looking forward the next series of low tides...