Hymenocera elegans

Location

The Harlequin shrimp perhaps is the most beautiful shrimp living around the world. The main color of its body is cream. On their body they have brown-purple spots. Around these spots there is a bright blue line. The legs of the harlequin shrimp are striped. In general the harlequin shrimps live on intertidal and sub tidal coral reefs. Besides the color also the shape of this shrimp is very special. The claws are huge compared to the size of its body.
It looks like the harlequin shrimp is territorial. Pairs of harlequin shrimps can stay for months of years in the same area on the reef.

Waking up to our last day of diving in Tofo Beach and we almost have to pinch ourselves. It is another beautiful sunrise over the Indian Ocean, with the sound of the waves gently breaking on the beach just in front of our chalet, and still one more day of diving to go. Yes, we had heard the stories, had seen the photos and watched the DVDs, but until we were here it was hard for us to believe it could be true. But here we were - one week of diving behind us and already we had had close encounters with more than seventy Manta Rays and twelve Whale Sharks!