The mantis shrimp is one of the ocean's true wonders: a rainbow-colored crustacean with the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom and a strike so fast it can crack glass. Divers and photographers love it for its color, its intelligence and its sheer strangeness. It lives in warm reefs and sandy bottoms around the world, and yes, the Caribbean has its own species. Here is where to find it and how to watch it safely.
A superhero of the reef
Mantis shrimp come in two styles: smashers, which club open snails and crabs with hammer-like clubs, and spearers, which impale soft prey. Their strike is one of the fastest movements in nature. Their eyes can detect colors and polarized light far beyond human vision.
The biggest ones can crack a shell, so never try to handle a mantis shrimp; admire it from a respectful distance.
The best places to see them
- Lembeh Strait, Indonesia: the peacock mantis shrimp on muck dives.
- Anilao and Dumaguete, Philippines: superb macro sightings.
- The Great Barrier Reef, Australia: several colorful species.
- The Red Sea: mantis shrimp in sandy burrows.
- The Caribbean: the local rock and mantis species on reefs.
When and how to spot one
Mantis shrimp are around all year, so any season works. Look for their burrows in sand and rubble, often marked by a neat hole, and watch for a pair of eyes swiveling at the entrance. The vivid peacock mantis shrimp sometimes walks in the open across the bottom.
Move slowly and stay patient; a startled mantis shrimp vanishes into its hole in an instant.
Mantis shrimp in the Caribbean
Good news for divers in the Americas: the Caribbean has its own mantis shrimp species, hiding in reef crevices, rubble and sandy patches. They are less flashy than the famous peacock mantis of the Pacific, but they are just as fascinating and every bit as fierce.
Finding one is a rewarding treasure hunt on any Caribbean reef for a diver who takes the time to look.
Macro treasure hunting at Isla Fuerte
The reefs of Isla Fuerte reward divers who slow down and look closely, and hidden hunters like the mantis shrimp are exactly the kind of small treasure our guides love to point out. Between turtles and eagle rays, the tiny stuff makes every dive an exploration.
Nautilus is a PADI center that celebrates the whole reef, big and small. See our experiences or read more guides to sharpen your search.
