Easter Island is a semi-mythical destination with an eerie zen like atmosphere surrounding it and its lionised Moai statues. The same is to be said under its waters, where a few highly prized and endemic fish reside. In this intimate video, we see some of these species gracing the camera’s lens and giving us a full 1080 HD look at their out-of-reach beauty. For a moment we thought we were looking at a rare fish collector’s dream tank.
Check out the swarm of Chaetodon litus (Easter Island butterflyfish) that appear all over the reefs in seemingly endless streams. This is a highly localised and endemic species that has not appeared in the trade since the hiatus in Easter Island exports. The gun metal colored body highlighted with white accents almost makes it look a polynesian version of the Wrought Iron butterflyfish (Chaetodon daedalma).
Another endemic that made its appearance in the video is the ultra beautiful Chrysiptera rapanui (Easter Damselfish). This has got to be one of the most spectacular Chrysiptera species out there with its black and iridescent glittery azure body. Again, like C. litus, they appear all over the reefs in large numbers. Perhaps the most famous and well known E.I fish has got to be Centropyge hotumatua. It’s a shame they did not make any cameo appearances in the video, and are probably well hidden in the numerous crevices and labyrinths that meander the rubble reefs of Easter Island.
This video however has brought us insights of two beautiful representatives of the island, and if you watch all the way to the end, you’ll be treated to a beautiful harem of Anampses femininus (Feminine wrasse), swimming and behaving just like these that was photographed at the same locale. Itching for a dive? I know I am, and I know just where to go.
