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The Pontohi pygmy blends in perfectly with its Halimeda habitat
 

In the far reaches of Indonesia, where the wild currents of the Savu Sea meet the isolated reefs of Alor, the mysteries of the underwater world still hold surprises for even the most seasoned of divers. I had the incredible opportunity to be part of such a discovery when Johannes Hennicke, owner and dive operator at SAVU South Alor reached out to me with an intriguing phone call. Johannes and one of his local dive guides had spotted something interesting on their house reef—a pygmy seahorse, no doubt, but with the relentless currents in the south of Alor, it was impossible to make an initial identification.

Their sighting stirred my curiosity, not just because pygmy seahorses are elusive but because the possibility of a new find was too exciting to ignore! Johannes and I quickly devised a plan: I would bring my macro setup over, and we’d take a closer look at this mysterious little creature and try to capture some images.
 

Eye contact can be difficult to achieve when photographing seahorses, but with a bit of patience, it can be done
 

Before diving into the specifics of our hunt, it’s worth noting the fascinating history behind the Pontohi pygmy seahorse, a species that wasn’t even discovered until the late 1990s. Named after an Indonesian dive guide, Mr. Pontoh—hence the name Pontohi— the diminutive little seahorse was first found near Manado in North Sulawesi.

Unlike other pygmy seahorses that tend to cling to sea fans, the Pontohi prefers the shelter of Halimeda algae and coralline outcrops. Since its discovery, it has sparked excitement among underwater photographers and marine biologists alike due to its minute size and cryptic appearance. Johannes and his team had seen the seahorse around one of the coral bommies on their house reef, hidden among the Halimeda algae.
 

The habitat of the Pontohi pygmy in Alor. Small coral outcrops with little patches of Halimeda algae for the seahorses to hide in
 

As soon as I arrived, we wasted no time in launching our search. Four of us geared up and jumped into the water, hoping to find this elusive creature. After 15 minutes of combing through the algae, there it was—a tiny, camouflaged Pontohi pygmy seahorse. However, as soon as we started setting up for photos, the current picked up. The conditions became too rough for any decent pictures, and we realized we'd need a better plan. Frustrated but determined, we headed back to shore with a new approach: The next day, we would dive at slack tide, when the currents were calmer.
 

It takes a keen eye to spot this diminutive little seahorse—only its eyes give it away
 

The following day, I dove with Detmon, one of the skilled local dive guides from SAVU South Alor. This time, with more favorable conditions, it didn’t take long—within 10 minutes, we had found the little seahorse again. As soon as I captured a clear shot, we celebrated underwater, swept away by the surge of the current but filled with excitement.

The photos showed the distinctive features of a Pontohi pygmy seahorse, but something wasn’t right—its coloration was unfamiliar. Upon surfacing, Johannes and I shared the images with Dr. Richard Smith, a renowned expert in pygmy seahorses, hoping to confirm our suspicions. His reply was as thrilling as we’d hoped: We had found a new coloration of the Pontohi pygmy seahorse, possibly endemic to eastern Indonesia. The feeling of knowing that we had stumbled upon something new to science is difficult to describe, but it left us beyond ecstatic.
 

A metal muck stick placed next to one of the seahorses provides a sense of scale for these incredibly tiny and delicate creatures
 

Alor has always been a region rich in marine life, nestled in the easternmost part of Indonesia, where the ocean’s biodiversity thrives in a raw and untouched environment. It’s one of the wildest places left on Earth, and despite decades of exploration, it continues to reveal secrets to those who are willing to explore.

Discoveries like this remind us that, in a world where so much has already been charted, the underwater realm remains one of the last frontiers of exploration. Alor, with its remote location and thriving marine ecosystems, offers a glimpse into the wonders that await.

For me, this experience with Johannes and his team, along with the local guides and the validation from Dr. Smith was not just about the thrill of photography—it was about being part of something much bigger. It was a reminder of why we do what we do—to share the stories of the ocean, to explore, and to uncover its hidden marvels, one dive at a time.
 

A close-up portrait of the newly discovered color morph of the Pontohi pygmy—Nauticam’s SMC-1 was critical for creating this picture
 

For more of Reilly Fallon’s work, check out his DPG Photographer of the Week portfolio and head over to his website, www.reillyfallonmedia.com.