Squid, Bat Fish, Blennies...what else?

Friday, Tracy and I went for our weekly shore dive from Casuarina Point. The mission was to test a new magnifying glass in a homemade housing. The housing needed some more work (that means it was leaking!) so i brought it back up and left it on shore. We continue then our dive heading north west and came accross 52 squid that allowed us to be really close for several minutes. Then we reached the sand patch where we turned right toward the north following the reef. Almost within every rope sponge or seawhip or soft coral, we found Pigmy File Fish. We saw dozens of conchs and found again the conch carrying the sponges on her back. We encountered two very small Pike Blennies doing their mating ritual amongst hundreds of minuscule hermit crabs. On an isolated coral head west of Devil's Grotto section we found sponges of different kind with dozens of Bristle Stars (Ophiuras?). Also the Garden Eels were out in force covering most of the sand patch. At our exit point we saw small Pincushion Sea urchin with what seemed to us eggs amongst his/her spines. This sea urchin was walkingo on the sand, moving at a good pace. Right in front of him there was a minute flounder (easy to loose track of if you do not keep your eyes on him).

Today Saturday, upon my return from the Sand Bar, I was told the dive boat crew found a Bat Fish on the sand over the Balboa Wreck. So we headed out there and after a two minutes search, Norman found him. Measuring about a foot in lenght, he was slowly combing the sand area. We got very close to him and could observe every detail. I was lucky enough to see him eating different creatures but mostly the small hermit crabs abundant on that area. I was surprised to see the Bat Fish eat bristle worms and also the Mermaid's Umbrellas. He occasionaly would regurgitate shells. We saw him "walking" with his four legs/fins and also swimming around.
The area was loaded with "Sand Diver" fish, many of them of a pretty good size. There were very small upside down Jellies on the sand and Cat found a tiny "Leach Slug" black in color.
I must say that lately we have been enjoying the sandy areas of our sites. The sand hides many incredible creatures only visible to those who spend the time training their eyes for the unexpected!
Until next one. Sergio