Dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis)

Date taken: January 14, 2012 at 8:33am
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Dive site: Bird Wall, Waigeo Island, N. Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Dwarf cuttlefish are one of the smaller cuttlefish (up to 5cm in length); often walking the sandy bottom (using their "arms") searching for crustaceans. This one was hunting and displaying a wonderfully warm shade of reds / whites.

Waigeo Island (Bird Wall) is known to have frequent cuttlefish sightings. Back in 2012, this was only my 9th dive in Raja Ampat and I was already hooked; what an amazingly diverse and rich area for marine critters. Definitely another one to add to your dive "bucket list" if you're keeping one!

My iNaturalist observation: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5108830

For more info:
* Wikipedia: the broadclub cuttlefish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepia_bandensis