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Diving with Seahorses

Seahorse

Diving with Seahorses

Seahorse is the title given to forty-seven species of marine fish. Pygmy and common seahorses, such as the tiger tail, are sensitive to stress and too much harassment from divers is certainly not good for them. They particularly dislike bright lights and will turn their heads away if a diver shines a dive light at them. Placing a red filter on to a dive light will give a softer diffused light that they will be less sensitive to and should enable photographers to get better pictures.

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Seahorses can range in size from 1.5 centimetres to 35 centimetres long. They can live up to 5 years. Unlike most humans but similar to chameleons, seahorses can move their eyes independently of each other. They also have a coronet on top of their head which is distinctive in all seahorses’ species, in the same way that a thumb print is in humans. The largest specie is the Pacific seahorse. Seahorses feed on small crustaceans floating in the water or crawling on the bottom. With excellent camouflage and a lot of patience, seahorses ambush prey that float within striking range. They are among the only animal species on Earth in which the male bears the unborn young.

Seahorses are mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters throughout the world, and prefer to live in sheltered areas such as sea grass beds, estuaries, coral reefs, or mangroves.

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Seahorse numbers around the world are diminishing. Asian nations consume around 45 tons of dried sea horse per year. This is about 16 million of seahorses each year. One problem is that many of the harvested seahorses are juveniles. They are also being over-collected for the aquarium trade in Europe, North America and Japan. Moreover, seahorse habitat is under threat. Sea grass areas, mangroves and coral reefs are declining worldwide. Seahorses are not yet considered endangered but they are red flagged as 'threatened' on several conservation lists which act as warnings without specifically enforcing any restrictions on their trade.

More detailed information about Seahorses can be found here.

Can be seen at these locations

Ambergris Caye, Belize
The most popular of Belize’s diving destinations, with access to the second largest barrier reef in the World and one of the most famous Blue Holes! Ambergris Caye has some great relaxed, fun diving to match its peoples laid back relaxed attitude. Ambergris...
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Andros, Bahamas
Set in a tropical scattering of islands, surrounded by the third largest coral reef and some of the clearest water in the world. Andros has a wide range of exciting and beautiful marine life making this an exciting scuba diving location. The...
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Barbados
Barbados is like the black sheep of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands. It lies over 100 km to the east of the arc made up by the Lesser Antilles island chain and is encircled by reefs provided numerous excellent diving spots! Unlike its...
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Berry Islands, Bahamas
A quiet group of islands with excellent less known reefs, the Berry Islands are great for those who want a quiet holiday but still have access to excellent reefs and large pelagic species. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a...
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Bimini, Bahamas
Dives to wrecks, reefs and what is thought to be the remains of the Fountain of Youth and the Lost city of Atlantis, Bimini is an excellent, easily reached diving destination. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700...
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Bonaire
Healthy Reefs, excellent macro marine life, world renowned shore diving and remarkably calm sea all contribute to make Bonaire a fantastic divine location. With as many as 60 listed dive sites on the main island of Bonaire and 20 on the nearby...
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Carriacou, Grenada
A gem among Caribbean islands; peaceful, quiet and unspoilt. Carriacou is volcanic in origin, with the island featuring rolling green hills, spectacular views of the surrounding sea and reefs and seemingly endless white sandy beaches. People are friendly and you can be...
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Cat Island, Bahamas
Home to the highest peak in the Bahamas, a huge 207 feet, Cat Island is a wonderful place to explore above and below the surface of the ocean. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands...
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Cozumel, Mexico
Mexico’s largest inhabited island has exceptional crystal clear water, towering, spectacular coral formations and exciting drift dives along spectacular reefs! All of which have earned Cozumel its reputation as one of the World’s premier diving destinations. Cozumel Island known to the Maya as...
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Eleuthera, Bahamas
The pineapple capital of the Bahamas, Eleuthera has excellent diving on reefs and wrecks with the most natural wrecks of any other island. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the...
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Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
A trip of a lifetime! The Galapagos is one of the last places in the world where you have the chance of diving with huge schools of Hammerhead Sharks. The Galapagos Islands consist of 13 main islands and 6 smaller isles approx...
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Gili Islands, Lombok
Tropical Island Paradise’s off the beaten track; these overlooked islands offer excellent diving and Sea Turtles galore! With white sand beaches, clear blue water, the peaceful Gili Islands are perfect for a diver wishing to have a castaway experience. The Gili Islands are...
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Gozo, Malta
A jewel of the Mediterranean, Gozo has some spectacular underwater topography, wrecks and reefs, all in crystal clear water with diverse marine life providing great dive sites for beginners to advanced technical divers. Gozo is the second largest island in the Maltese...
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Grand Bahama, Bahamas
Close up dolphin and shark encounters can be had in the waters around Grand Bahama, including dives at the famous Tiger Beach where you can get up close and personal with the amazing Tiger Shark! The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists...
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Hoi An, Vietnam
The most northerly point on the Vietnamese Coast where you can scuba dive, Hoi An is a beautiful town rich in culture with the old town listed as a World Heritage Site. Hoi An has a tropical climate with a dry...
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Kas, Turkey
An unspoilt small tourist town, set in a stunning location at the foot of mountains facing the Mediterranean, Kaş is one of the best destinations for scuba diving in Turkey. Kaş is located on the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey and is one of the most Southernmost points...
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Koh Lanta, Thailand
A jewel in the Andaman Sea, Koh Lanta is a laidback, relaxed island close to some of the coasts best dive sites. The Koh Lanta archipelago consists of over 50 islands, the two largest are Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta...
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La Paz, Mexico
Gateway to the magnificent Sea of Cortez, with access to a diverse selection of enjoyable and exciting dive sites, La Paz is a brilliant base to experience some of the best marine life encounters in the area has to offer. La Paz,...
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Long Island, Bahamas
The most scenic island in the Bahamas, Long Island has amazing diving including the deepest Blue Hole in all the Bahamas. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the Caribbean above Cuba...
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Malta
A popular Mediterranean getaway for divers and holiday makers, Malta is a fascinating island with a lot of history and culture to explore above and below the surface. Malta is based in the South Mediterranean sea between Sicily and Tunisia. The country...
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Nassau, Bahamas
Everything you could want from a holiday Nassau provides. Sharks, wrecks as well as many on land activities, beaches and a fun nightlife. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the...
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Nha Trang, Vietnam
Nha Trang is Vietnam’s main diving destination. Although not an area known for large marine creatures, the diving offers a wonderful selection of macro life. Nha Trang is a popular seaside town which is quickly becoming a major tourist destination, visited by...
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Padang Bai, Bali
A high chance of Sharks and Mola Mola’s, shallow coral reefs and steep wall dives, Padang Bai has some spectacular dive sites which cater for everyone. Based on the stunning island of Bali, which is Indonesia’s top tourist destination Padang Bai is...
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Pattaya, Thailand
Thailand’s wreck capital, with year round diving, Pattaya is full of life and along its 3km long beach that are a huge range of activities that can be found to occupy almost anyone, not just divers. Pattaya is a beach town located...
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Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
One of the most beautiful areas in Thailand, the Phi Phi Islands dramatic landscape is just as beautiful underwater as it is above. Perfectly placed to access all the best dive sites of the area, Koh Phi Phi is a very...
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Playas del Coco, Costa Rica
A small beach town in the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica, Playas del Coco is known for great exciting diving with large marine life, especially Bull Sharks. Set on the Pacific coast it is one of the oldest beach communities in Guanacaste....
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Roatan, Honduras
The largest of the Bay Islands, Roatan has pristine white sand beaches, amazing tropical jungle covered hills and a unique coral reef close to the shore. Any visitors will easily see why these islands are said to be the “Caribbean’s Best Kept...
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San Salvador, Bahamas
World class wall diving, frequent visits by hammerheads and striking topography, San Salvador is a must for divers visiting the Bahamas. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the Caribbean above Cuba...
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Sekotong Tengah, Lombok
An unspoilt area of beauty and rich bio diversity, the Sekotong Peninsula in South Lombok has excellent diving with bright soft corals, plenty of reef life and Hammerhead Sharks! With over 3,500 species living in the Indonesian underwater world, it has one of...
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Sipadan, Malaysia
Turtles, Turtles and more Turtles everywhere! Pulau Sipadan is a dream dive location that is on every diver’s wish list! Sipadan is another island that was made famous by legendary Jacques Cousteau when he raved about the diving here and called it...
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Sydney, Australia
A wonderful city packed full of iconic buildings, culture and stunning beaches. Sydney is not only one of the most popular, busiest cities in the world but also has some of the best temperate diving. Sydney is one of the main gateways...
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The Abacos, Bahamas
A group of islands and small tranquil cays, The Abacos Islands are a perfect place to base a dive holiday, with beautiful intact staghorn and elkhorn coral structures and plentiful marine life. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of...
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The Exumas, Bahamas
Great Diving, easy reefs, blue holes and a peaceful scenic setting, the Exumas are a great location in the Bahamas to visit. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the Caribbean above...
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Tioman Island, Malaysia
The largest island on the East coast of the Malay Peninsula, Tioman is a wonderful holiday and diving destination offering a variety of underwater sites such as wrecks, sheltered bays and volcanic rocky pinnacles. The densely forested island is surrounded by numerous...
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Tulamben, Bali
Lying in the shadow of Bali’s highest volcano, Tulamben is Bali’s most popular diving area, home to an abundance of marine life and Bali’s most famous wreck, the USAT Liberty. Tulamben is the most famous diving area of Bali, a quiet village located...
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Tutukaka, New Zealand
Tutukaka is the gateway to the amazing Poor Knights Islands rated by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world! Tutukaka is on the beautiful Northland coast of New Zealand. Its marina is the perfect departure...
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Utila, Honduras
The smallest of Honduras’ Bay Islands but most famous for its frequent sightings of the largest fish in the World, the Whale Shark! Utila is part of a group of islands called the Bay Islands located off the north coast of Honduras....
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