Top of the Hill

In the past I had described photographing hermit crabs as ‘low hanging fruit’ but this guy was not so easy. Clarrie’s Hermit Crab (Pagurixus handrecki) here under Rapid Bay Jetty is tiny, about the size of my little fingernail and was marching furiously around the top of its own private little hill. Despite the diminutive […]

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Shake, Rattle and Grow

Shake, Rattle and Grow I immensely dislike the expression ‘low hanging fruit’ but when it comes to naturally photogenic, patient, and easy to photograph critters then hermit crabs fit the category. This Hermit Crab (Paguristes frontalisi) under Edithburgh Jetty is wearing a shell that is probably a new acquisition and watching it struggle around with […]

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SpongeBob

SpongeBob Most South Australian’s experience with crabs involves eating them or catching them and usually if they are local they are our blue swimmer species. As divers we do see blue swimmer crabs in Saint Vincent’s Gulf but most crabs we see around jetties and reefs are way more interesting. We have spider crabs and […]

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Hermit Crab

I first encountered hermit crabs many years ago on the muddy tidal flats around Darwin well before I began diving. Since then I’ve learned they are everywhere and more than happy to take residence in someone else’s abandoned home. This Hermit Crab (Paguristes frontalis) at Port Noarlunga is both common and comical. This one’s shell […]

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