Cruz was on a night dive with his dad when he saw a pair of bigfin reef squid in the shallow water. One swam off but Cruz quickly adjusted his camera and strobe settings, knowing that the opportunity was too good to miss. He shot four frames of the remaining squid before it too disappeared into the inky blackness.
Bigfin reef squid are masters of camouflage, changing their body colour and pattern using their reflective and pigmented skin cells. They also alter their appearance to help them communicate. During courtship, males and females display complex patterns to indicate their willingness to mate.
New Zealand
Cruz was born and raised in Bali, and has spent a lot of time diving and exploring eastern Indonesia with his family. He fell in love with the ocean from a very early age, thanks to his marine conservationist parents. He received his diving certification at the age of 10 and has logged over 160 dives.
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