23/09/2026
The magnificent Lakshadweep archipelago, made up of coral reefs and atolls, lies around 420 km west of the coast of Kerala. Its clear waters offer exceptional underwater visibility, and on any ordinary dive, you will find its reefs rife with activity.
Schools of paddletail snappers, several hundred strong, nudibranchs grazing on their favourite patch of algae, butterflyfish roaming in pairs, nibbling on coral, or large groupers swimming boldly through the reef.
What is less frequently seen is the flip side—the reef after dark. As the sun sets, the vibrant visuals of the reef subside, and many fish cease activity and nestle into coral crevices for shelter.
Moonlight trickles through the sea, sieved by its surface, creating a shifting pattern on the shallow reef. In this dim light begins the nightlife of the reef.
Text by Wenzel Pinto
Photos by Umeed Mistry, Wenzel Pinto, Vardhan Patankar
[HSO,HA]