One hour in mangroves

In addition to the seas and oceans, there are many natural reservoirs that may be unattractive at first glance, but they have their own special atmosphere and glamor. Most simply pass by without paying attention to them. But I really like these rivers, lakes and other small ponds. I like to swim there through labyrinths of grass and snags, especially in sunny weather.

But there is among them one category, which stands apart from everything else - it's mangroves. Being on the border of fresh and salt water, they rarely boast of clear water. But at the same time you can meet a huge number of living beings. For some, this is the only place for dwelling, but for others this is a kind of nursery. Here among snags and roots, young individuals are easier to hide from predators.

It so happened that during our stay in Fiji, our hotel was on the shore of a small local river, not far from the mouth. Our shore was more or less refined. But the opposite was wild and all overgrown with mangroves. And every day after diving with sharks, I returned to the hotel and looked at them.

This continued until the last day, when it was already impossible to dive and all the equipment was dried in anticipation of a flight. I sat for half an hour waiting on the beach. After that, armed with a mask, fins and a camera, I climbed straight from our berth into the water. She, surprisingly, was not so muddy and practically without any traces of halocline.

If anyone does not know, then the halocline is a phenomenon on the boundary between fresh and salt water. If water is not touched, then the halocline is clearly isolated and looks like a frosted glass. To look through it is impossible, and to photograph too.

I was convinced that the water is quite suitable for shooting and rushed to the other side. There where the wall towered mangroves. On the wall account this is not a verbal turn. The density of roots and branches in mangroves is such that only small fish can squeeze through there. I could only swim along the edge or swim in small bays or tributaries.

Then I just dissolved in this world of strange trees, and a bizarre light. Tightly woven on the surface of the branch let only individual rays of light pass through, which, piercing the surface of the water, sniff out individual fragments of the underwater world. And even a light pore of the wind makes them move.

I have already mentioned the various inhabitants of this world. And of course I was wondering who you can see here. Unfortunately most of the fish I met were very small and well hid. In my traditional for underwater shooting, fishes can shoot great animals or beautiful underwater landscapes. But all that is less than half a meter in size is simply lost in the photo.

However, I could not miss a few particularly remarkable creatures. I took pictures in order to then they just believed me. Well, tell me, who expects to see seahorses in a small river? They are usually not so easy to find. And here from the first attempt. Well, what a wonderful little morenki. For this hour in the water I found as many as three different kinds.

Yes, photographed on a fisheye creature in 4-5 cm size is unrealistic.
There were also cardinals, sarganes, one surprised either by catfish, or burbot. And a lot of other young fish, to determine which was not possible.

But the main thing, of course, is the light. Just for him it was worthwhile to climb into the water. And I was very sorry that I had not done this before. After all, it was then possible to inspect a large water area. Swim to a pair of half-submerged boats, which for sure have become someone's home. Try to shoot with other optics to make a selection of fish portraits. And just get another portion of pleasure.

So if you have the opportunity to ever climb into mangroves and swim there - do not refuse. It is very exciting and beautiful. It is important of course to guess the sunny weather and not get into the ebb. Since at low tide the water level can become quite ridiculous. And you can not swim any more - just crawl along the bottom. And do it categorically not worth it. And not because there may be some dangerous creatures (hoy they may be, for example I saw a scorpion). But just because of the suspension, rising when you touch the bottom. Suspension which in a few seconds reliably conceals from you all this unusual beauty.

Fiji 2017, a river in the Pacific Harbor area