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A typical Andaman sunset signals the end of daylight,
but by night the reef is still alive.
A dive under cover of darkness
provides an entirely different experience for a curious diver.
A lone bigfin reef squid is on the move.
This one is feasting on an Indo-Pacific sergeant.
A cuttlefish has also struck lucky,
but its spinefoot prey continues to struggle.
Moon jellyfish drift by in the current.
A great barracuda, one of the key predators on the reef, cruises past.
A cup coral's pretty polyps are extended.
Amongst a group of lionfish
this honeycomb moray pounces on a goldband fusilier
and swallows it whole.
Many reef fishes however,
including the blackspotted puffer,
use the night time to sleep.
A spotted sharpnose puffer takes rest on the reef.
Ember parrotfish are a favorite target of sharks
and sleep under ledges where they are difficult to get at.
Aside from electro-detection, sharks use smell to detect prey.
To guard against this,
and attacks from other predators such as large morays,
parrotfishes often surround themselves
in a scent-proof cocoon of secreted mucus.
As a diver it's very difficult to observe fishes by night without disturbing them.
Many reef fishes are naturally confused and disorientated by divers' lights.
This blue triggerfish shows its agitation by raising its dorsal trigger.
Ornate ghost pipefish are amongst the most confused
by the apparent early appearance of daylight.
Banded coral shrimps however
seem to enjoy the presence of divers.