Decorator crab on a sea pen, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Night garden of the deep. Decorator crab on a sea pen, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Think of this as underwater hide-and-seek: the sea pen stands out while the crab blends in. Today's image comes from the waters surrounding Komodo National Park in Indonesia, established in 1980 and named after the Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard. The protected area includes islands, mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the park is shaped by powerful currents that support a rich diversity of marine life, including species that rely on camouflage to survive.

Decorator crabs are masters of disguise. They attach algae, sponges, hydroids, and other marine materials to hooked hairs on their shells, creating underwater camouflage. Sea pens, soft corals anchored to the seafloor, provide an ideal hiding place. A sea pen's branching structure helps break up the crab's outline, making it harder for predators to spot among the drifting currents. Keep your distance during night dives: some species can briefly glow when disturbed, ruining the illusion.