Pygmy seahorse

On the gorgonians at the deeper end of the Lava Flow and on the Banda Neira walls. Needs a guide who knows the specific fans and a bit of patience at 25-30m.

Southern Komodo only in practice — Cannibal Rock and the Nusa Kode sites, on gorgonians. Resident year-round with no documented seasonality, but access is the real constraint: the south is liveaboard-only and southern itineraries are more common May-October. Cold water (22-26C) and a guide who knows the specific fans are both required.

Bargibanti and Denise pygmy seahorses live on sea fans at sites such as Nudi Retreat and Nudi Falls year-round.

Tied to specific gorgonian sea fans — guides know the individual fans at Stingray City, Kapalai's Mid Reef and on the Seaventures rig structure. Resident on those fans year-round; you will not find them by swimming around.

Resident on known gorgonian fans at Balicasag and on the deeper Panglao walls, including Doljo. Year-round, but effectively guide-dependent — divers rarely find them unaided, and the fans are usually below 20m.

Resident year-round on host sea fans; a guide who knows the current fan locations can usually find one on any given trip.

Found on gorgonians at the Padre Burgos shoreline sites including Max Climax and Voltaire's Rock. Guide-dependent — these are a few centimetres long and easy to miss.

Bargibant's pygmy seahorses live on gorgonian sea fans on the walls and are a reliable macro target year-round; a guide is usually needed to find them.

Found on gorgonian sea fans at macro sites around Tulamben, Amed and Menjangan; needs a guide's eye to spot.

Guides may locate pygmy seahorses on suitable sea fans, especially at pinnacle sites; they are not expected on every dive.

Small seahorses are reported from gorgonian-rich reefs on full-bay itineraries. Finding them depends more on site and guide than month.

On the gorgonians at Crack Reef and along the Gorgonian Forest drop-off. Finding them needs a guide who knows the specific fans, and the current at Gorgonian Forest works against a slow macro hunt.

On gorgonians at Gato, Deep Rock and other macro sites; needs a guide to find.

Found on gorgonian sea fans at deeper macro sites like Coral Cove and the Verde Island wall. Tiny and camouflaged; usually spotted by guides who know the fans.

Several pygmy-seahorse species are reported on gorgonians and other host habitat. Sightings require a guide who knows the host and are not assured.

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Pygmy seahorses are operator-reported at Tiga Sisters, but the species identity and encounter frequency are not independently established. The Togians also hold the distinct soft-coral-associated Walea pygmy seahorse, Hippocampus waleananus; do not conflate the records.