Summer 2021: A recent dive off the North channel buoy revealed a Sea Orange sponge inert on the sea bed. Nothing unusual about that until it moved…
Looking closer I spotted a wee feeler and on carefully lifting the sponge, this tiny Hermit crab slowly began to show itself.
Seemingly this is an alternative home for this species and on placing it back down it proceeded to move slowly away.
First time I’ve seen this occurrence in three decades of diving these waters. Nature never fails to delight the eye with something new…
Sea Orange Sponge inert on the sea bed
A tiny Hermit Crab showing itself.
Sea Orange Sponge as alternative home for Hermit Crab