Sand Dwellers

Most of us feel that if we accidentally end up in the sand, the dive will be bogus unless we can find our way back to the reef ledge...However, there are divers who PURPOSELY leave the reef in search of the life they can find hiding in the sand.

At first it appears to be desert, which continues on forever lifeless. But that's what its inhabitants want you to believe. They have evolved camouflage and tactics that help them maintain their invisibility.

The Peacock Flounder has an unusually long pectoral fin, which contributes to their strange appearance. Also able to change color to match the color of the bottom, they will lie motionless unless you approach closely, which may cause their somewhat "floundering" retreat.

Life in the sand moves at a slower pace than on the reefs. Creatures like this Batfish live the waiting game, both for feeding and safety. Look for them in the Boynton Beach reef systems, and particularly in the sand between the fingers on the back side of the reefs.

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