The Barred Hamlet is a shy creature. Hamlets are common on many reefs in the northern Caribbean. I've seen Hamlets near islands as far north as Grand Bahama and as far south as Grand Turk. But I never see very many of them. They seem to be loners, almost like hermits. They don't travel in schools; when I have seen them they always have been alone. But if I swim another hundred yards or so down the reef I will see another one.

This closeup of the Barred Hamlet shows its spectacular markings. It has dark brown vertical stripes, called bars, from which it gets its name. It also has vivid blue stipes all around its mouth and eyes. Notice its translucent dorsal fin. (Translucent means you can almost see through it. The dorsal fin is the fin on a fish's back.) This fish was about 6 inches long.

I have spent a lot of time trying to photograph these bashful fish. But last June when I was diving at The Amphitheater Reef near Grand Turk I got lucky. Using a Canon A2 in an Ikelite housing, I was able to use a small telephoto lens so I wouldn't have to get too close and scare this little fish. With a bright underwater strobe I could light up the fish and the coral reef behind it. The autofocus on my camera really made a difference, bringing out all the interesting details on this Barred Hamlet.

Go to the ReefNews website to learn more about the island of Grand Turk and its reefs, at
http://www.reefnews.com/reefnews/oceangeo/grndturk/grndturk.html

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