Mandarin Fish Love @ Fish porn

We wished hard enough!!

One of the marine life activity that we stressed we have to see and have bugged the DiveMasters to show us here is the Mandarin Fish Mating Dance. They're absolutely stunning, blessed with a body of striking colours, they are the envy of many. One cannot leave Mabul without witnessing this sunset love ritual. According to National Geographic, they are one of the tiniest among ocean spawners which reproduce by depositing thousands of eggs into the water. And just how tiny is tiny, they grow up only 1 to 2 inches long. It is found that at each evening, within 20 minutes of sunset, groups of three to five females gathered. Each group had its own "street corner" to which its members returned night after night. Males visited the sites and displayed courtship behavior, hoping to attract females.

During our 1st sunset dive, we were both overly excited at seeing the mandarin fish for the first time hence it was point and shoot, flashes going off left and right. The sun sets and we've caused enough disturbance to prevent the biggest show of the night. We failed.

During our 2nd attempt, we dived in at 5pm and waited patiently. We could see the male courting and romancing multiple females! There was hope. We lay on a sandy patch, staring at the corals, watching them play hide and seek. The Bollywood style. Half an hour went past and nothing happens. The free house reef dives ends at 6pm so we were forced to surface, disappointed for the 2nd time. We were told they only start to mate around 6.30-6.45pm. So we promised ourselves, we definitely have to fit another sunset dive in before we leave.

At our 3rd sunset dive earlier today, we descended at 5.45pm with our DM, Allan and 2 other Japanese guests. We swam straight for the mandarin fish's residence. Four divers, all equipped with a camera, picked our spot and waited. Patience finally paid off.

.Male mandarin fish. They're usually bigger in size when compared to the females.

.He found a 'she'!.
.He starts courting her and this can go on for tens of minutes.

.The ritual begins.

When the moment finally comes, the sun is fast setting and we could hardly see so our DM would shine his torch at them to alert us as they begin to spawn. First they join together at the pelvin fin, then they rise slowly to about 10-20cm above the coral reef. At the peak of their rise, a cloud of eggs and sperm is released. All this happens in less than 7 seconds, then they dived straight down back to the coral in opposite directions. It gives you close to zero time to react, hence the positioning of camera, lock-in focus and waiting for the moment to just press that snap button. Then we look at each other and nod in agreement with a sparkle in the eye. To some of you, it might sound weird.. but it truly is a wondrous thing to watch.

.A playboy, he is.

As soon as the same male is done with his 1st partner, he goes on to court another female. In the same night, he can probably spawn with 4-5 different females. Some people has seen 7 and even 10!

.The last pair.
.Can you see this white cloud of eggs and sperms just between their tail? Abit x-rated .
.And can you see Angel's pink glove?. hehe

I'm soooooo glad i got a few shots. Arent they just gorgeous!!!

Today we clocked in 6 dives. 7.15am, 9am, 12pm, 12.40pm, 2.30pm, 5.45pm. It's longer than a full-time job. Tomorrow, we're off to a house rig to look for the tiniest pygmy seahorse. It'd be our last day of diving. I dont want to leave!