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Anilao Philippines 2019

Staying and diving with Casa Escondida
Above the waterline
Leaving Casa Escondida
The boat crew
Our boat arrives
Ready to dive
Weird perched rock we passed daily
Our Russian friend Denis Timchenko
Passing the slow boat
June ties us off the other boat
Point Ahol dive site
Michelle, June, Denis and the crew
Denis with coconut
Denis with daughter Alexandria
Ready to night dive
View towards Sombero Island
Alfred take a break
Approaching Casa Escondida
Local fisherman
Michelle ready to dive
Evening from Casa Escondida
Nudibranchs & other Slugs

Anilao is known as macro heaven - nudis are just the start!

Miamira alleni
Reticulated Goniobranchus
Anna's Chromodoris
Elysia marginata
Okenia brunneomaculata
Willan's Chromodoris
Verconia romeri
Favorinus tsuruganus
Anna's Chromodoris
Girdled Glossodoris
Ceratosoma gracillimum
Hypselodoris roo
Rabbit Sapsucking Slug
Nembrotha lineolata
Desirable Flabellina
Geometric Goniobranchus
Armina scotti
Mimic Nudibranch
Cadlinella ornatissima
Sky Blue Phyllidia
Nembrotha lineolata
Phyllodesmium briareum
Loch's Chromodoris
Phyllodesmium briareum
Magnificent Chromodoris
Willan's Chromodoris
Mexichromis trilineata
Thuridilla gracilis
Hypselodoris emma
Purple Flabellina
Bullock's Hypselodoris
Bullock's Hypselodoris with eggs
Mourning Dorid
Bullock's Hypselodoris
Spotted Hypselodoris
Rabbit Sapsucking Slug
Aplysia kurodai
Aplysia kurodai
Clumpy Nudibranch
Jorunna rubescens
Dusky Nembrotha
Phyllodesmium tuberculatum
Anna's & Coleman's Chromodoris
Indian Caloria
Blue dragon
Batanga's Helgerda
Chamberlain's Nembrotha
Samla riwo
Anna's Chromodoris
Giant Hypselodoris
Pustulose Wart Slug
Willan's Chromodoris
Phyllodesmium jakobsenae
Chamberlain's Nembrotha
Gloomy Nudibranch
Miamira alleni
Black-margined Nudibranch
Pustulose Wart Slug
Tryon's Hypselodoris
Batanga's Helgerda
Geometric Goniobranchus
Octopus, Squid & Cuttles

The variety of cephalopods is one of the attractions of Anilao - the Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Mimic and Coconut Octopus and of course the Wonderpus

Flamboyant cuttlefish
Flamboyant cuttlefish
Flamboyant cuttlefish
Stumpy cuttlefish
Stumpy cuttlefish
Squid larva
Squid larva
Mimic octopus
Mimic octopus
Bobtail squid
Coconut octopus
Braodclub cuttlefish
Stumpy cuttlefish
Incirrate Octopuses
Incirrate Octopuses
Incirrate Octopuses
Mimic octopus
Coconut octopus
Mimic octopus
Mimic octopus
Wonderpus
Coconut octopus
Stumpy Octopus
Other Molluscs

There were plenty of other molluscs worthy of a photo too!

Little Egg Cowry
Shuttlecock Egg Cowry
Euprotomus bulla
Electric Clam
Sea Butterfly
Velutin Snail
Bat Volute
Murex tribulus
Sea Butterfly
Eels

Plenty of eel species around Anilao: morays, snake eels, garden eels, ribbon eels

Snowflake Moray
Yellowmargin Moray
Taylor's Garden Eel
Juvenile Ribbon Eel
Juvenile Ribbon Eel
White-eyed Moray
Napoleon Snake Eel
Snowflake Moray
White-eyed Moray
Black-finned Snake Eel
Black-finned Snake Eel
Seahorses, Ghostpipefish, Pipefish & Dragons

Anilao has several special of ghostpipefish, sea horses, pipefish and shares with Lembeh the Lembeh (or Anliao) sea dragon

Spiny Seahorse
Lembeh Seadragon
Messmate Pipefish
Ornate Ghostpipefish
Halimeda Ghostpipefish
Robust Ghostpipefish
Tiger Tail Seahorse
Ornate Ghostpipefish
Common Seahorse
Pygmy Seahorse
Common Seahorse
Spiny Seahorse
Roughsnout Ghostpipefish
Dwarf Pipehorse
Banded Pipefish
Banded Pipefish
Anderson's Pipefish
Winged Pipefish
Damselfish including Anemonefish

Anilao has a wide variety of Damsel and Anemone fish

A Clark's Anemonefish with eggs
Princess Damsel
Whitebelly Damsel
Clark's Anemonefish
Golden Damsel
Indo-Pacific Sergeant
Pink Skunk Anemonefish
Speckled Damsel
Charcoal Damsel
Princess Damsel
Blackback Anemonefish
Ambon Damsel
Saddleback Anemonefish
Talbot's Demoiselle
Western Clownfish
Western Clownfish
Golden Damsel
Pink Skunk Anemonefish
Blackback Anemonefish
Jewel Damsel
Blackbanded Damsel
Bluehead Demoiselle
Threespot Humbug
Blackspot Damsel
Blackmargin Damsel
Anglerfish (or Frogfish)

Anglerfish are a highlight of any dive in the Philippines

Giant Anglerfish
Giant Anglerfish
Juvenile not identified yet
Striate Anglerfish
Giant Anglerfish
Giant Anglerfish
Striate Anglerfish
Painted Anglerfish
Striate Anglerfish
Giant Anglerfish
Painted Anglerfish
Painted Anglerfish
Striate Anglerfish
Scorpionfish

Anilao has a variety of scorpionfish - including Rhinopias, leaf scorpionfish and false stonefish

Ambon Scorpionfish
Weedy Scorpionfish
Humpback Scorpionfish
Leaf Scorpionfish
Tassled Scorpionfish
Tassled Scorpionfish
Humpback Scorpionfish
Tassled Scorpionfish
Spotfin Lionfish
False Stonefish
Wrasse

Wrasse are always among the most diverse and colourful fish in any area; Anilao certainly has as variety.

Moon Wrasse
Checkerboard Wrasse
Checkerboard Wrasse
Redbreast Maori Wrasse
Yellowpatch Razorfish
Razor Wrasse
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse
Tripletail Maori Wrasse
Blue Razorfish
Clown Wrasse
Sixbar Wrasse
Golden Wrasse
Angelfish & Butterflyfish

Colourful fish that are synonymous with tropical waters

Lamarck's Angelfish
Bicolor Angelfish
Moorish Idol
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Pinstripe Butterflyfish
Two-eyed Coralfish
Emperor Angelfish
Forceps Butterflyfish
Spot-tail Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Lattice Butterflyfish
Horned Bannerfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Highfin Coralfish
Pennant Bannerfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Gobies, Blennies & Triplefins

Little fish that have the tendency to cuteness. Anilao has a wide variety here are some.

Yellow Pygmy Goby
Striped Threefin
Blenniella paula
Striped Threefin
Saddled Shrimpgoby
Striped Threefin
Burgundy Shrimpgoby
Shorthead Sabretooth Blenny
Yellow Pygmy Goby
Bluestriped Fangblenny
Tobies, Puffers, Filefish and Surgeonfish

Some of the more unusual fish to be found.

Longhorn Cowfish
Mimic Surgeonfish
Brown Tang
Redtooth Triggerfish
Orangestripe Triggerfish
Twospot Bristletooth
Narrowlined Puffer
Longhorn Cowfish
Blacksaddle Filefish
Blacksaddle Toby
Thornback Cowfish
Thornback Cowfish
Taylor's Pygmy Leatherjacket
Compressed Toby
Bristle-tail Leatherjacket
Strapweed Filefish
Compressed Toby
Other Fish

Large numbers of fish species to be found including Snappers, Bream, Goatfish, Sweetlips, Cardinalfish, Sandperch, Lizardfish, and many others

Little Dragonfish
Little Dragonfish
Panther Flounder
Mottled Flying Gurnard
Juvenile flyingfish
Smooth Flutemouth (juvenile)
Darkspotted Sole
Pacific Trumpetfish
Little Dragonfish
Paradise Threadfin Bream
Neotrygon orientale
Canine-toothed Midwater Bream
Orange and Black Dragonet
Mouth Mackerel
Orange Basslet
Yellowbarred Jawfish
Pearly Soldierfish
IMG_6201
Neon Fusilier
Neon Fusilier
Comet
Smooth Flutemouth
Striped Catfish
Oriental Sweetlips
Harlequin Sweetlips
Bigeye Snapper
Painted Sweetlips
Two-line Monocle Bream
Ribbon Sweetlips
Checkered Snapper
Oriental Sweetlips
Whitestreak Monocle Bream
Onespot Snapper
Bigeye Seabream
Frostfin Cardinalfish
Bartail Goatfish
Tomato Rockcod
Coral Rockcod
Bluespotted Rockcod
Flagtail Rockcod
Banded Lizardfish
Spinyhead Cardinalfish
Gracile Saury
Variegated Lizardfish
Variegated Lizardfish
Lyretail Grubfish
Lyretail Grubfish
Spothead Grubfish
Speckled Sandperch
Crabs

There is a range of crabs of varying sizes including hermit crabs

Anemone Hermit Crab
White-spotted Hermit Crab
Orangutan Crab
Zebra Urchin Crab
White-spotted Hermit Crab
Porcellanella triloba
Hairy Red Hermit Crab
Hairy Red Hermit Crab
Sleepy Sponge Crab
Hairy Red Hermit Crab
Orangutan Crab
Soft Coral Crab
Shrimps & Lobsters

So many shrimps - commensal shrimp on anemones, corals, sea cucumbers, sea stars; mantis shrimp, squat lobsters and lobsters

Dragon Shrimp
Soft Coral Snapping Shrimp
Hairy Squat Lobster
Bubble Coral Shrimp
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Spiny Tiger Shrimp
Mantis larva
Mantis larva
Coleman Shrimp
Pink-eared Mantis Shrimp
Emperor Shrimp
Yellow-spotted anemone shrimp
Yellow-spotted anemone shrimp
Caridean Shrimps
Pink-eared Mantis Shrimp
Blue-spot Mantis Shrimp
Magnificent Anemone Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Prawn
Ocellated tozeuma shrimp
Pink-eared Mantis Shrimp
Pink-eared Mantis Shrimp
Zanzibar Whip Coral Shrimp
Squat Anemone Shrimp
Painted Spiny Lobster
Corals & Anemones

Anilao is in the Coral Triangle and has an amazing variety of Hard and soft corals, gorgonia fans, sea whips, sea pens and anemones.

Flowerpot Coral
Pachycerianthus
Genus Chromonephthea
Euplexaura
Plexauridae
Melithaea
Cycloseris
Clavulariidae
Euplexaura
Siphonogorgia
Conglomeratusclera coerulea
Dendronephthya
Tubastraea faulkneri
Merulinidae
Genus Tubastraea
Black Sun Coral
Genus Tubastraea
Black Sun Coral
Mushroom Coral
Worms

So many worms: flatworms, tube worms and other worms.

Protula bispiralis
Racing Stripe Flatworm
Pseudoceros lindae
Indian Feather Duster Worm
Indian Feather Duster Worm
Racing Stripe Flatworm
Sea Cucumber Scale Worm
Indian Featherduster Worm
Indo-Pacific Christmas Tree Worm
Indo-Pacific Christmas Tree Worm
Chloeia amphora
Protula bispiralis
Gold-dotted Flatworm
Magnificent Feather Duster Worm
Other Life

Everything else - echinoderms, ascidians and of course a turtle

Flower Urchin
Variety of Ascidians
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Blue-spotted Urchin
Chocolate Chip Sea Star
Tiled Sea Star
Mix of colour
Blue-spotted Urchin
Blue-spotted Urchin
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