The Raja Ampat Creature Feature Series –The Big Cuttlefish

The Raja Ampat Creature Feature Series –The Big Cuttlefish

Raja Ampat is rightly known as the most biodiverse marine ecosystem in the world. The abundance of healthy coral reefs and marine species is a diver’s dream. For this series, we will highlight a few of our favorite marine creatures you can see during your visit to the region.

The Cuttlefish is a genuinely unique sea creature. Found seemingly hovering a few centimeters above the reef with a strange glimmering effect, it will then suddenly propel away with the effect reminiscent of a UFO in a Sci-Fi movie. This alien-like mollusk has a soft outer body with an internal shell known as the cuttlebone. Air/water chambers regulate its buoyancy allowing it to hover gracefully. The cuttlefish uses a fin that surrounds the bottom of the body to swim. When the need for faster movement arises, the fin is shaped to suck in and forcefully displace water, similar to a water jet engine.

While the Cuttlefish can quickly escape predators using this technique, it is also a master at distraction and camouflage. When threatened, the cuttlefish can release an ink-like substance to provide an opportunity to escape. Furthermore, Cuttlefish can instantly change color and texture to match the environment perfectly. Watching a cuttlefish undergo this transformation is an incredible experience, as this not only allows them to hide from predators but also make them the perfect hunters. Using their camouflage, they can stalk and hunt larger fish, crabs, squid, and even other cuttlefish.

The cuttlefish can also see in all light conditions and directly above and behind them; this is done by reshaping their eye shape. The cuttlefish is the Predator Alien of the sea. There are over 100 known species of cuttlefish varying in size and location. The giant Cuttlefish has been known to weigh as much as 10kg. In Raja Ampat, it is possible to sport cuttlefish from the size of a nail to the size of a foot. Be sure to keep a keen eye out for these critters as often it will be a blink, and you miss it the moment when you encounter these on a dive.

About Meridian Adventure Dive    

Situated in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Meridian Adventure Dive is a PADI 5 star resort and winner of the PADI Green star award. Scuba divers enjoy our professional services that have become synonymous with both the PADI and Meridian Adventure names.  

Asbat Mohamed
Author: Asbat Mohamed

Related Post
PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA)

Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, is the second largest island in the world. The territory is split in half between Indonesia and Papua New

Read More »
Daily Newsletter
Get all the top post and stories form karibunitravel.co.ke

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

All Category
Share
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
5/5

Popular Viewed

The Beautiful Island of Papua Part II
The Beautiful Island of Papua Part II
1. Raja Ampat Raja Ampat, popular for its breathtakingly beautiful sea, can be one of finest...
The Beautiful Island of Papua
The Beautiful Island of Papua
1. Sentani Lake Sentani Lake, reachable through the curved paths amidst the hills that surround...
Facts About the Papua Culture
Facts About the Papua Culture
1. Becoming the Second Largest Island in the World Papua is often considered a small territory...
PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA)
PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA)
Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, is the second largest island in the world. The territory...
Government Seriously Monitors Educational Aspirations in Papua
Government Seriously Monitors Educational Aspirations in Papua
https://www.wapresri.go.id/pemerintah-serius-kawal-aspirasi-pendidikan-di-tanah-papua/ Papua is...
President Affirms that Papua Land is a Development Priority
President Affirms that Papua Land is a Development Priority
https://www.menpan.go.id/site/berita-terkini/dari-istana/presiden-tegaskan-tanah-papua-jadi-prioritas-pembangunan Indonesian...
A brief history of Papua
A brief history of Papua
Name and Historical Background When the Dutch government was in power in the Papua region until...
A glimpse of Papua
A glimpse of Papua
Papua is a province in Indonesia which is located on the western island of New Guinea.   Papua...
Facts about Papua as the Coldest Island in Indonesia
Facts about Papua as the Coldest Island in Indonesia
https://www.indonesia.go.id/ragam/pariwisata/pariwisata/fakta-tentang-papua-sebagai-pulau-terdingin-di-indonesia Mulia...
PAPUA: province of indonesia
PAPUA: province of indonesia
Papau is an area of cultural and biological diversity, the population of (west) papua province...

Recent Post

https://www.karibunitravel.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/3332863379-scaled.jpg
The Beautiful Island of Papua Part II

1. Raja Ampat Raja Ampat, popular for its breathtakingly beautiful sea, can be one of finest...

https://www.karibunitravel.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/67856974.jpg
The Beautiful Island of Papua

1. Sentani Lake Sentani Lake, reachable through the curved paths amidst the hills that surround...

https://www.karibunitravel.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Yospan-Dance-Traditional-Dance-From-Papua.jpg
Facts About the Papua Culture

1. Becoming the Second Largest Island in the World Papua is often considered a small territory...

https://www.karibunitravel.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/image-14.png
PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA)

Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, is the second largest island in the world. The territory...

https://www.karibunitravel.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pemerintah-Serius-Kawal-Aspirasi-Pendidikan-di-Tanah-Papua-1024x480-1.webp
Government Seriously Monitors Educational Aspirations in Papua

https://www.wapresri.go.id/pemerintah-serius-kawal-aspirasi-pendidikan-di-tanah-papua/ Papua is...