Swandives

This is the gorgeous Eastern Blue Groper, which I am ecstatic to say is still a neighbour of ours.

About five years ago (perhaps longer) I was standing on the end of the wall at my parents’ place gazing into the harbour, as I am wont to do. And I saw a beautiful blue groper feeding on the rock shelf below. It was an extremely exciting moment; as you can see, he’s an amazing, intense blue and was quite large, even then. Over the years I’ve spent countless hours staring into the harbour wondering if the groper was still around, or whether some nasty spearfisherman had gotten him (even though he’s protected, I don’t trust spearfishermen as far as their spears).

Well, yesterday, I was doing much the same thing and low and behold: there he was! Only much, much bigger! I’d say he’s just about fully grown now (they grow to 1.2 m). And not at all worried about me or my beloved, thank you very much…he had food on his mind, and the tide was nice and high and was allowing him to scrounge off the rocks. They’re very friendly and curious, often coming up to scuba divers and snorklers to see what’s what. And they have great Mick Jagger lips.

How do I know he’s a he? Well, he’s a member of the wrasse family, which starts out female, goes through a phase where they could be either sex and then turn male later on. Males develop that brilliant blue.

Anyway, I am so pleased! Yay!