Spotting one of the most fascinating creatures in Krabi’s waters

The sparkling blue Andaman Sea’s gateway in the southern part of Thailand, Krabi welcomes a steady influx of international water sport enthusiasts, especially when the winter takes place in the western countries. Highly acclaimed for its waters’ outstanding visibility and the great selection of different dive sites, which offer terrain suitable for both beginning and advanced scuba divers, Krabi is truly a nature buffs’ must-see destination.

There are plenty of reputed dive centres in Krabi organising unforgettable trips. One of the most fascinating creatures you may spot while experiencing your underwater adventure are the amazing seahorses. With their heads up and tails down in an upright position gently moving through the mind-boggling underwater world these wonderfully shaped creatures use their backs swimming forward and steering is controlled by their pectoral fins. Unique are the tiny gill openings in their toothless, tube-shaped mouths and their prehensile tails. Each of their eyes is able to independently move from the other. The Pacific Seahorse is the biggest type.

Small crustaceans provide the seahorses’ food. While not moving they patiently wait till their next meal comes within reach and then catch them by snapping the crustaceans up. A vacuum is created by their tube-shaped mouth making it possible to suck their catch in and swallow the prey entirely. These creatures are in several ways remarkable. They live a monogamous life and maintain long relationships with their partners. The longer a pair of seahorses stay together, the better the production of newborn species will be. Especially among fish monogamy is very rare.

Spotting a seahorse, a diver’s dream come true!

The males are the ones carrying the eggs in their belly’s pouches! Inside the pouch the eggs will get fertilised and incubation takes place between two to four weeks before the creatures hatch. The males give birth to tiny but entirely developed seahorses. Nothing is known yet about the seahorses’ natural lifespan. Scientists assume the smaller species live about one year and the bigger ones five years.

It is quite hard to find a seahorse in moving water and therefore spotting one is each diver’s wish. However, divers who really try hard might probably manage to spot one or several of these magnificent animals and Krabi is the perfect destination to do so. Should you be successful, drop a line here!

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