Norfolk chromis, the kissing fish — Norfolk Island's Reef

Out on A Swim

‘Out on a swim’ is a coral reef blog that tells the stories of the characters who live under the waves and what has caught my eye when ‘out on a swim’ in the lagoons of Norfolk Island. It is also a record of the difficulties Norfolk Island’s reef faces, like many others around the world, as a result of the poor water quality that has been allowed to flow onto it.

This page shows the most recent blog posts. For the complete catalogue, visit the ‘Out on a swim index’ page.

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According to a recent research paper, Norfolk Island now has a new species of fish. What was once classified as Chromis fumea has been recognised as a separate species, Chromis norfolkensis. This means our little smoky puller, which is a member of the damselfish family, (and which is, in my humble opinion, one of our most romantic fishes with the cutest little courtship ritual) is now its own fish and has a new common name, the Norfolk chromis.

Thanks to the reader who sent me the paper, Brent. It is published in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, vol 38, by G Allen and M Allen, 'Two new species of Chromis ...'

Norfolk chromis live around two-thirds of the way up the water column, often a little distance from the coral reef.

Prepare to go 'awwwww'. As you can see in the video, right, romance is definitely in the water; these two little Norfolk chromis are courting. If you watch carefully you will see their little 'dance' interspersed with what look just like kisses. Delightful. They lay their eggs under a small rock nearby.

Now I'd better try harder to get a really good photo of this little guy!

Dec 15, 2025

Herbicides, heritage, and an inshore reef: what happens when land management meets lagoon health

Herbicide use near Emily, Slaughter and Cemetery Bays raises questions about inshore reef health, heritage land management, and environmental protection on Norfolk Island.

Dec 8, 2025

Signs of bleaching – 8 December 2025

I took these photographs this morning, Monday, 8 December 2025. A few warm days of settled weather, little cloud cover and low tides in the hottest part of the day have led to some early bleaching on our reef. Bleaching doesn’t always mean death for our corals, but it is concerning to have this so early in the summer season. Fingers crossed the conditions don’t last and the reef can recover.

Dec 3, 2025

Nature is my teacher

This is a thank-you note. Five years after my first Out on a swim post – written with zero marine science quals and a head full of questions – I’m still in the water, now as a PhD candidate, because an extraordinary mix of locals, volunteers, researchers and public servants decided to share what they knew. This is the story of how nature – and a very patient community – became my teachers.

Nov 30, 2025

Reef grief: what dredging has done to other reefs

From Miami to Fiji, from Dubai to tiny village harbours on atolls, dredging near coral reefs has left a long trail of scars – even on ‘small’ projects. This follow-up to last week’s Kingston post walks through real examples of what happened elsewhere, and what that should make us think about before we dig up our own reef.

Nov 20, 2025

To dredge or not to dredge? The Kingston Pier channel project

How much risk are we really taking with the planned dredging at Kingston Pier – and how much protection do our corals actually have on paper? This piece walks through what the federal approval does and doesn’t guarantee, explains why sediment and light matter so much to the reef, and asks the hard questions we need answered before we trade a deeper channel for a shallower future.

Nov 8, 2025

A coral reef out of balance

After the long dry spell, the lagoon was crystal clear and full of life. But with the return of the rains, something else has returned too – the brown, filamentous mats of Lyngbya. It’s not seaweed, it’s a cyanobacterium, and when it takes hold it smothers coral and rubble alike. The reef’s way of showing us that every drop of water, from tank to tide, is connected.

Oct 25, 2025

Aglow among the spines

Ever seen a sea urchin that seems to glow blue from the shadows? That’s Diadema savignyi showing off its reef shimmer. Beautiful, a little spiky, and definitely not to be messed with.

Oct 15, 2025

The funky seventies sea slug – Halgerda willeyi

If ever a sea slug was channeling the 1970s, it’s Halgerda willeyi. With its groovy orange lines and chocolate-brown bumps, it looks straight out of a vintage lounge suite – the kind with shag pile carpet and bold floral cushions. Proof that nature was nailing retro design long before humans caught on.

Oct 5, 2025

Haddon's barometer

This Haddon’s anemone has been quietly living in the middle of Norfolk Island’s Emily Bay for years, bleaching and recovering with the seasons. Like corals, sea anemones host microscopic algae that provide most of their food. When stressed by heat or rainfall changes, they lose colour – and tell a story about seasonal changes to the weather.

Sep 30, 2025

Honoured to be featured

I left school in the UK nearly 50 years ago, so it was a pleasant surprise to be invited to share some images and take part in an interview for an article about my work, to be published in the annual glossy magazine the school now produces. Here is the end product.