The Reef is basically the sims
Divers are obsessed with the icons.
Turtles.
Eagle rays.
People's fascination with mola mola never gets old.
The sort of animals that arrive with an audience already waiting.
Meanwhile, the reef fish are quietly getting on with running the place.
Nobody elected them.
They just assumed the roles years ago.
Unnoticed.
Like clockwork.
A reef is basically The Sims.
Just underwater.
It's a neighbourhood.
Everybody has a role.
Everybody has a routine.
Everybody has that one neighbour who takes things far too seriously.
Spend enough time watching, and you begin to realise who everyone is.
Anemonefish
Strives to have the loudest house on the reef.
Unparalleled poor decision making.
Quick to react and charge at something 500 times its size.
A turtle.
A manta.
You...
It's chosen its target.
Yet in an unthreatening way…
That's their anemone.
You may now leave.
Lives next door to...
The Damselfish
Owns a small family home.
If a fish could say, "Get off my lawn..."
Protects its coral like a nightclub bouncer.
Possesses the highest anger-per-inch ratio on the reef.
Day frequently disturbed by…
The Parrotfish
The reef's enthusiastic DIY expert.
A ferocious recycler.
Starts renovations at 7 a.m.
Doesn't stop until sunset.
Nobody asked for the extension.
Also interrupts the working day of...
The Cleaner Wrasse
Runs the local clinic.
Intent: helpful.
Execution: mildly inconvenient.
Will investigate your mosquito bite like an overenthusiastic doctor.
Knows everybody.
Has probably cleaned half the neighbourhood.
Often stops for a chat with...
Butterflyfish
The couple everyone knows.
Finish each other's sentences.
Go everywhere together.
Always seem to have time for a stroll around the neighbourhood.
Have somehow avoided upsetting...
The Emperor
The neighbourhood detective.
CEO of giving divers the side-eye.
Has reported you to the nearest mooring block.
Rarely in a hurry.
Never particularly impressed.
Has a close bond with…
The Trevally
The detective's partner.
Lets the emperor ask the questions.
Rarely starts the trouble.
Usually arrives just in time to witness it.
After work, they're often found with...
The Grouper
The pub regular.
Has a chair with their name on it.
Rarely leaves.
Knows absolutely everybody.
On first-name terms with...
The Pufferfish
The landlord.
Perfectly content sitting still for hours.
Doesn't appreciate unnecessary excitement.
Quietly keeping an eye on the whole neighbourhood.
Spend enough time watching a reef and it stops feeling random.
Everyone seems to have somewhere to be.
Something to defend.
Someone to annoy.
A routine to get back to.
The clownfish still has an anemone to defend.
The parrotfish still has renovations to finish.
The cleaner wrasse still has a waiting room full of patients.
The grouper is still in exactly the same seat.
To us, it's a dive site.
To them...
...it's just Tuesday.