THE ORANGE SPOTTED GLASSY BUBBLE BONANZA - Uepi Snorkelling

Jill Kelly

The SE trade winds were blowing and a strong incoming current roaring when Colleen Boreham having finished her second dive for the day, decided to snorkel the long reef around Inside Point back to her Beach House. Keen eyed and always observant Colleen was alerted to something quite different to the previous day, that being hundreds of tiny green “things” clinging to the rocks and rubble of the shallow reef edge. Intrigued, she fought her way back to get a better look. They were everywhere but measuring only 2.5 millimetres max and many much smaller, it was a struggle to hold position long enough and photography was all but impossible, but determination took over and an almost recognisable shot was taken.

Back at the dinner table of Uepi, Colleen mention to Jill this phenomena. We (the considerable expert team that night) agreed it must be a mating gathering of green things - much laughter ensued and we all moved on to other topics, all but not one.  Colleen returned the next 2 days to see if the winds and currents had abated and an improved photo could be had. Success and the image inspired Jill to go try to photograph these little creatures with her macro setup, Sony A7siii with Sony 90mm G Macro Lens & tripod, should be easy she thought.

Anyone who has tried to photograph in such shallow water, with waves and current against you, will know that its a challenge, especially knowing you cannot damage any of the tiny green things, determinedly procreating in front of you. Jill spent an hour of careful manoeuvring and almost visionless shooting (serious screen reflection) before she retreated, seemingly unsuccessful. However the excellence of the camera and lens took over and despite all odds against it, some magic images appeared on the computer screen, during playback. Surprise! “What a magnificent clever camera I have said Jill”

No they were not a new species and surely some previous Uepi guests have spied them before this sighting. In less than a week, all little green things had vanished.

Colleen researched and sent the following information.

Haminoea cymbalum

Headshield Slugs - Haminoeidae

Found in REEF CREATURES

PAUL HUMANN

NED DELOACH