Diving in Singapore💜 The Pyjama Nudibranch: Singapore’s Cutest Sea Slug with a Spicy Love Life
- Cuddlefish Divers
- Sep 29, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 1
– Because even the tiniest creatures have the biggest personalities.
🌊 Meet the Mexichromis mariei – Singapore’s Underwater Fashion Icon
If you think diving in Singapore is all murky water and no colour, think again. Beneath the busy shipping lanes and city skyline lies a secret runway of vibrant marine life — and headlining that show is the Pyjama Nudibranch, Mexichromis mariei.
At just 6 cm long, this flamboyant dorid nudibranch from the Chromodorididae family is living proof that diving in Singapore can be every bit as rewarding as a trip to Bali or Lembeh.
One glance at this colourful little creature, and you’ll be hooked.
👗 What It Looks Like: Runway-Ready on the Reef
The Pyjama Nudibranch is a walking (well, crawling) fashion statement. Its body ranges from translucent white or purple to deep cream yellow, bordered with orange or golden-yellow dots that look like a designer hemline.
On its back, you’ll spot rounded reddish-purple papillae, giving it that textured, high-fashion look.
💬 “If Lady Gaga were a sea slug, she’d be this one.”
Each nudibranch’s colour pattern is unique, which makes spotting them during diving in Singapore feel like discovering a limited-edition gem in the sea.
📏 How Big, How Deep?
🐚 Size: Up to 60 mm (2.4 inches)
🏝️ Habitat: Found from the intertidal zone down to 30 metres
📍 Where to See It: Pulau Hantu, St John’s Island
You don’t have to travel far to find them — just join a weekend dive with Cuddlefish Divers and you might spot one on a sponge or coral patch, showing off its vivid colours to patient photographers.
🍽️ What’s for Dinner?
Like all stylish creatures, Mexichromis mariei is picky. It feeds on sponges, often those containing toxic compounds. These toxins are cleverly stored in the slug’s tissues, making it taste awful to predators.
So when you see those bright warning colours while diving in Singapore, that’s nature’s way of saying:
“Eat me, and you’ll regret it.”
Beautiful and bold — the Pyjama Nudibranch is the ultimate mix of form and function.
❤️ A Love Story Like No Other
Here’s where the Pyjama Nudibranch gets cheeky.
When two of them meet, they engage in an unusual mating dance — both are hermaphrodites, meaning each has male and female organs. They approach, circle, and then “sword-fight” with their reproductive organs, trying to pierce each other’s body wall.
Whoever succeeds first becomes the dominant male, while the other plays the female role.
💘 Love under pressure — literally.
It’s quirky, comical, and another reason why diving in Singapore offers so many fascinating underwater behaviours if you slow down and observe.
📸 Why Divers Love Them
Photogenic AF: Bright, detailed, and slow-moving — perfect for macro photographers.
Local Pride: Seeing one during a local dive reminds you that Singapore’s reefs are alive.
Accessible Magic: You don’t need to fly overseas — you can find this level of biodiversity minutes from the mainland.
The Ultimate Macro Model: Great for practicing buoyancy and focus techniques.
“Once you start noticing nudibranchs, you’ll never look at the ocean the same way again.”
🧭 Where to Spot the Pyjama Nudibranch While Diving in Singapore
Pulau Hantu: Common near sponge gardens.
Kusu Island: Coral rubble slopes are hotspots.
St John’s & Lazarus Islands: Often spotted near hydroids.
Sisters’ Islands Marine Park: Best chance during calm-current dives.
🌙 Best Time: During low current, sunny days, and with a good macro torch.
So yes, diving in Singapore isn’t just about convenience — it’s about uncovering micro-wonders like this right in your backyard.
📸 Pro Tips from Team Cuddlefish
🔦 Use a macro lens or close-up mode to capture fine details.
💡 Adjust your strobe to avoid overexposing the translucent body.
🫧 Perfect your buoyancy — avoid stirring sediment or damaging sponges.
🐙 Keep your eyes sharp — they’re small but unforgettable once you spot them!
🌏 Why the Pyjama Nudibranch Represents the Magic of Diving in Singapore
Every time you find a Mexichromis mariei, you’re witnessing a quiet miracle — proof that even in one of the world’s busiest ports, coral life thrives.
From cuttlefish to seahorses to flamboyant nudibranchs, diving in Singapore reveals a hidden world of biodiversity that many people never realize exists.
💜 “You don’t have to leave the country to find beauty. You just have to look closer.”
🤿 Ready to See One for Yourself?
Join our next Local Macro Dive with Cuddlefish Divers and meet the Pyjama Nudibranch up close.
We’ll show you how to spot, photograph, and appreciate these tiny fashionistas while exploring the reefs responsibly.
🌐 https://www.cuddlefishdivers.com/divesingapore📍 Weekly dives, Perfect for beginners, macro photographers, and ocean lovers alike
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