Angelfishes
All photographs are, of course, protected by Copyright (© Shane Paterson, 1997-1999).
The diversity of angelfishes in Papua New Guinean waters is quite astounding, especially for people used to the limited variety found elsewhere. Although undeniably more diverse than in the Western Atlantic region, angelfishes seem to be less abundant than in many of the sites that I have dived in the Florida Keys and Turks and Caicos Islands. I made this slide for a talk (all original photos are from Madang).
This emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) looks suitably regal. (Restorf Island, Kimbe Bay)
Papua New Guinean angelfishes seem to be a little less approachable, too, and most species seem to spend a lot of their time basically skulking around in places where photographers can never get a clear field of view. Disappearing into crevices is a survival-related trick common to many reef fishes, and angelfishes are no exception. I was happy when I finally got the brief chance to get an unobstructed shot of this relatively large angelfish species during a dive along the Willaumez Peninsula, a lengthy boat ride from Walindi. (Ann Sophie's, Kimbe Bay)
The yellowmask angelfish (P. xanthometopon) is a particularly striking species that is among the more commonly seen in Papua New Guinea. This yellowmask angel was deep on the outer slope of the barrier reef (Milinat Pass, Madang)
A yellowmask angelfish swims over a nice coral as it heads about its business, whatever that may be. (South Ema, Kimbe Bay)
A closer view of the same species. (Ann Sophie's, Kimbe Bay)
Emperor and yellowmask angelfishes together beneath the spectacularly spreading branches of a large green tree coral (Tubastraea micrantha). (Ann Sophie's, Kimbe Bay)
A bluegirdled angelfish (P. navarchus) swims across the top of a seamount. The bluegirdled is another angelfish that, like the yellowmask, really seems distinctive of PNG diving. Both species sport quite striking markings in gold and blue. (Joelle, Kimbe Bay)
A regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) scurrying over the coral on a seamount. These little angelfish are very good at scurrying and I've had a supremely hard time trying to get anything but pictures of their tails. I'm still working on getting a decent view.... (Planet Rock, Madang)
The blackspot angelfish (Genicanthus melanospilos) doesn't look like most other angelfishes and the casual observer could be forgiven for thinking they're seeing something entirely different (such as a really huge damselfish). This individual is a male — females lack the bars. (Milinat Pass, Madang)
The brilliantly-hued flame angelfish (Centropyge loriculus) is a small angelfish (a few cm long) that also looks somewhat different than its larger relatives. One of the 'pygmy angels,' it was a species that I wasn't really expecting to see in Madang. I ended up spending an extended safety stop in 5 m of water — on a shallow shelf area just inshore of an outer reefslope spur that featured big currents — trying to get a look at the fish as it expertly weaved its way through the tangled interior of this coral thicket. (Barracuda Point, Madang)