Walking colour-shifter the size of your thumb. Pulses pink-purple-yellow when threatened, one of the only cephalopods with toxic flesh.
Flamboyant cuttlefish are the showstoppers of muck dives, tiny (6–8 cm), exotically coloured, and one of the very few cephalopods known to have toxic flesh. They walk along the sand on their lower arms and a pair of muscular flaps, hunting shrimp and tiny fish in plain sight.
When threatened they pulse violent waves of yellow, magenta, white and brown across their bodies, a warning display advertising their toxicity to would-be predators. Photographers wait dive after dive for the full display.
Indo-Pacific specialty: Lembeh Strait (Sulawesi), Anilao (Philippines), and Bali's Padang Bai are the most reliable encounter points. Always on sandy/silty slopes, never on coral.
Tap a month to highlight it across destinations, or hover any cell for details.
3 destinations across SE Asia, peak seasons vary by location, so plan your trip around the right destination AND the right month.
Tier 1Flamboyant Cuttlefish here: Apr–Nov · 35 sites
Tier 2Flamboyant Cuttlefish here: Jan–May, Dec · 30 sites
Tier 4Coming soonFlamboyant Cuttlefish here: Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec · 50 sites
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