Asian Diver and Scuba Diver No. 1/2016 Volume 140 | Page 3

Richard Smith

IT IS LIKELY you have seen these sea
sapphires, but mistaken them for floating
fish scales. The crystal structure of the backs
of these tiny copepods reflects light in the
most amazing shades of blue, green or
purple. Only the males shimmer, to attract
the less shiny females, who live inside pelagic
tunicates, known as salps. This shot, taken
in Raja Ampat, shows six male sea sapphires
sharing a salp with a non-descript female just
visible at the top right.

Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931)

“Let me, O let me bathe my soul in colours;
let me swallow the sunset and drink the rainbow.”

1,000 WORDS