There are many fishes local to a region that you will never find in an aquarium or in the fish markets or even in National Geographic.

They are either poisonous, uninteresting, commercially unviable or just plain ugly. The poor Little Scorpionfish (Maxillicosta scabriceps) seems to fall into all categories.

Those eyes however are magnificent and like the most precious of black opals they just draw you to them in wonder.

Non-divers will never see these amazing opal eyes for themselves but at least we can share a little of the unseen wonder in our local waters.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Opal Eyes’ 1/100s f/22 ISO400 100mm