by Tommy
I’d always liked diving, and since I was a kid I’d always been in the water, be it a swimming pool or in the ocean. And with an obsession with water came a fascination with things that lived in it (or jealousy that I couldn’t be there all the time like they could, one or the other). I’d always thought the big icons were cool; your sharks, mantas and whales, so I took a massive glare at the screen when David Attenborough was giving us yet another iconic lecture. But never really considered learning in depth about anything else until more recently; anemone fish, emperors, parrotfish and nudibranch were just cast to one side. Like “yeah cool, that one’s blue!”
So aside from taking my diving to a professional level by training to be a PADI divemaster and live within the Indonesian culture for a few weeks, I thought I’d come halfway around the world to Gili Shark to learn more about the other weird and whacky shenanigans going on underwater, and nerd out about fish with other ocean lovers.
Doing my best to get to know my new underwater friends, I was soon to notice that each species and each individual has its own unique personality. Some curious, some shy, some brave and others shy, you’ve got a long stretch of cultures going on down there. To give you an idea of how to get to make friends with a fish, here are some of my favourites…
Clownfish
It’s like your moody neighbour, the bloke who wants you to “get off my lawn”, but in a weird endearing kind of way. They’re curious and suspicious, looking out of their front window at divers as they swim past. If you hang around them long enough, they might start swimming slowly towards you in a playful yet pessimistic sort of way, protecting their young that are hiding down in the anemones. Don’t get too close though, you’ll scare them away or they’ll give you a nip – slow and steady wins the race.
It’s even better when you see five or six juveniles swimming around the parents too, even more reason to smile and wave. I’d love to have a chat with one just to see what’s really going on in their heads…
Cleaner Wrasse
These guys and gals are the playful ones. You’ll rarely see them shying away from divers, swimming right up to them. They want to be helpful. If you have a bad mosquito bite or a scar, they’ll probably take a good look at it, almost like a doctor, to make sure it’s not causing you too much harm.
Unlike a doctor though, they might give you a little nip just to get all the bad stuff off your skin (yes, I did find that out first hand), and give you a nice little smile back at you as if to say “you’re welcome”. Just give them a thankful nod back, they didn’t mean any harm.
Frogfish
On a Sunday afternoon at home, I identify as a frogfish… These guys just want to sit around all day watching Netflix, only getting up occasionally to stroll (on their pelvic fins) to the kitchen for food. Loyal to their homes, you can likely go to the same spot at the same dive site and see them time and time again. They might even wave back.
Despite their laziness, they’re not the shy type, and take any chance to break from the sofa and strike a pose for the camera. They’re perfect if you just want to hover at them and stare, they won’t mind too much.
Blue Fin Trevally
They’re cool, and they know they’re cool… It’s like the cool kid in school, who has one or two mates that go with them everywhere. They dress well too, and you’ll definitely recognise the luminescent blue fins.
They won’t hang around to say hello, but it’s not passive aggressive, it’s just a little ‘nod’ in your direction to greet you while they make their way to wherever they decide to go. Just give them a nod back, you won’t get much more from them.
Great Barracuda
independent, curious souls, just cruising around the reef alone. In search of valuable treasure, they’ll give anything shiny a good long look. They’re quite happy just to take themselves on a long walk around the area, take in the views and cruise unassumingly past anything and anyone that isn’t cool enough to take a note of; even stopping for a bite to eat on the way.
Careful if you’re wearing rings or a necklace in the ocean, they might just pretend to be your best friend before they try and steal it off you…
Butterfly Fish
These are the loyal type, finding a mate and sticking with that mate for life. You’ll often see them side by side with another wherever they go. They’re not too keen to socialising though, if they were humans, you’d see them in the corner happily chatting between themselves, having a good ol’ gossip about how they’re dressed more brightly and boldly that everyone else. Almost dressed as if they’re going to Cinderella’s ball.
When you’re cleaning coral, they’ll love you though, and come out of their shy state to feed on all the algae you brush off.
Five-Band Sergeant Major
The football fans of the reef… always in big crowds together, wearing the same kit. They gather around the same place for life, saying wholeheartedly loyal to their team through high and low tides. They stay close together, and in a mildly chaotic sort of way, scramble around each other to get the best view of the pitch. Then, when something big happens, in one synchronised motion they all seem to dart one way or the other in celebration.
You can almost hear their synchronised chants… As a big football fan, I kind of want to join in…
Long Faced Emperor
Forever curious, and suspicious enough to stick their long nose in anyone’s business. They’re happiest showing off as the biggest, longest fish in their school of often much smaller emperors or trevally. Except as you give them a good long look in admiration, they’ll give you a longer, more stern glare in return. Eyeing up your every move and questioning where you fit in to the puzzle they’re solving in their head.
Never frightened, they bravely direct their team of smaller fish around the reef looking for clues (and food). Give these guys a long, heard stare back… whoever blinks first loses.
Titan Triggerfish
What’s up dude? Like seriously, do you have to?
What’s theirs is theirs, anything (or anyone) who threatens to go near best watch out… In pure aggression, they’ll chase you down the street until you’re a whole different post code away and no where near their gaff.
But it some way, I can’t help but think the fear behind them is a bit overblown. It’s almost like they’re the misunderstood school bully, who just needs a mate to put an arm around them and let them know it’s all going to be alright.
Maybe I’ll offer them a pint, get to know them a bit more. Until I’ve done that, probably best to steer clear of them for now.
Black Tip Reef Shark
The rockstars of the reef. You’re always excited to see them, they never stop moving cause they’re always on tour, and when you see them, they’re cruising around the stage proudly.
Deep down, they can be quite shy, and they don’t really like to hang around; as they pass they’re probably trying to avoid the paparazzi if they can. They can be really independent too, often only sharing their tour bus with one other shark. They’re not aggressive, and they’ll likely just give you an awkward smile to say “hi” when they swim past.
Don’t go chasing after them, they won’t like it. All you need to do is give them a cheer and a whoop as they parade past you gracefully.
They’re just the best… If only they could actually hold a guitar then my life would be complete.
Okay, I had to squeeze one shark in there, but besides that, I’ve made strong acquaintances with so many different marine species and learned to appreciate their individual quirks and traits. I’m almost on a first name basis with more fish than I am with humans. If nothing other than a bit of fun adding human personalities to aquatic creatures, by diving with them every day you get to see how important it is that we look after our delicate underwater world. From Long-jaw mackerel to ornate ghost pipefish, every species plays such an important role in the ecosystem, making the marine conservation projects at Gili Shark all the more rewarding.
If you come along and see Dave the Damselfish, remind him that he owes me 100k.
