ReefWorld Hardy Reef Seastars and other critters

Site Overview
Dive Centres
Site Type: The other interesting stuff
Depth: Top: 5M Median: 12M Bottom: 20M
Location: Hardy Reef is about 50kms north of the Whitsundays conveniently accessible via ReefWorld owned by Cruise Whitsundays.

Five dives on Hardy Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef, were undertaken on two consecutive days in spring during a ReefSleep overnight stay on ReefWorld owned by Cruise Whitsundays. Rather than document what we saw on any particular dive, it seems more useful to illustrate the large variety of corals, fish, nudis and other miscellaneous critters by type, so this 100m stretch of reef is covered in four parts: Hardy Reef Nudis, Hardy Reef Fish, Hardy Reef Coral and Hardy Reef Seastars and other critters. So take your time and read them all. Firstly, a few sea stars – ranked by numbers of legs!

A four-legged Peppermint seastar – hope it grows back soon.

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

A Heffernans seastar

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

A really nicely defined Indian seastar

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

A couple of truly undefined seastars in green,

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

Also available in orange.

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

Finally, a six legged Luzon seastar.

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

And a feather star, which most people don’t realise is another seastar with its mouth on the top, and a lot more arms to feed itself.

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

The hermit crab has eight legs!

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

I’m assuming the variable fire urchin has the most.

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

Though I’ve never counted them!

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

And the giant clam has none!

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

Neither has the smooth giant clam – distinguishable by patterning.

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving

Likewise the variable thorny oyster. Fancy spending your entire life rooted to one spot!?

The many different seastars and critters you’ll see at ReefWorld Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving