Ornate Ghostpipefish

Photo: terence zahner · CC BY-NC

Ornate ghostpipefish appear at Hidden Garden between May and November, hovering head-down among crinoids and soft coral branches in elaborate camouflage that makes them nearly invisible without guide assistance. Pairs are reliably found on the deeper bommies between 15 and 22 meters, where the more complex soft coral architecture provides the concealment they require. Their appearance at Hidden Garden coincides with Efate's cooler, cleaner dry-season water, when visibility and macro photography conditions are at their best.