Dive with
Best places to dive with Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Harlequin Ghost Pipefish)
Solenostomus paradoxus
A camouflage specialist that mimics crinoids and feather stars, often found in pairs. A prized macro subject at Richelieu Rock and other Andaman pinnacles. Common where habitat suits it but easy to miss.
Destinations ranked by how reliably ornate ghost pipefish (harlequin ghost pipefish) is seen. The bars show the likelihood by month — never a guarantee. See the full species page for more.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Regularly found hovering near crinoids and soft coral; present most of the year.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Regular on Alor's muck and coral slopes, often paired near crinoids or soft coral; numbers vary through the season.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Seen among crinoids and rubble on muck and reef sites; often in pairs and easily overlooked.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
A macro target on the black-sand and coral sites at Tulamben and Amed, often near crinoids.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Ornate ghost pipefish are reported on the Olympia Maru and other wrecks; a macro find that depends on a good guide's eyes rather than a guarantee.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Found among crinoids and debris at muck sites like El Dorado and Dauin South; often in pairs, but seasonal and easy to miss.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Reported at Stonehenge, 8 Mile Rock and Pattaya Corner; seasonal and easy to miss.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
A macro find on the walls and house reefs; present but needs looking for, often near crinoids and soft coral.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Ornate ghost pipefish are a prized macro find at Koh Haa and the Bida reefs, seasonal and easier to spot with a guide who knows the current haunts.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Ornate and robust ghost pipefish are found on macro sites such as Coral Cove, often near crinoids and sea fans. Seasonal and easy to overlook.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
A regular macro find on the reef slopes and macro sites such as Teluk Maya, though numbers vary; often paired near crinoids and sea fans.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
A macro sighting that depends on the guide spotting it against matching crinoids or corals; most associated with Richelieu Rock. Open season only.