‘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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Bluespine unicornfish, Naso unicornis. Note the two scalpels at the base of its tail. These fish have been found to live to at least 50 years old. Norfolk Island
Surgeonfish are named for the sharp little scalpels near their tails, but on Norfolk’s reef their more useful work happens at the other end. Pencil surgeonfish, bluespine unicornfish and their relatives help browse algae across the reef – a small daily job that becomes very valuable on an algae-rich lagoon reef like ours.
Read MoreEmily Bay in the spring sunshine. The seas outside the lagoons were wild this week.
I won’t lie, it has been a wipe-out in the bays this week with huge swells and poor visibility. I more than made up for it this morning. Everyone was out and about enjoying the spring sunshine. Apart from the turtle. She was asleep! Read here to find out who else was enjoying the sunshine.
Read MoreSnubnose dart
I can guarantee that each time I head out into Norfolk Island’s lagoons I will see something new or interesting. This week was no different. Here is a quick wrap up of some of my more noteworthy observations this week while out on a swim.
Read MoreOne of the many characterful fish in the Emily and Slaughter Bay environs on Norfolk Island are the bluespine unicornfish, more properly known as Naso unicornis. These guys love to pose for the camera, showing off their best side, and then shifting so you can get a shot of the other.
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