Pygmy Seahorse
Code of Conduct

The Official Guidelines for
Responsible Diving with Pygmies

Dr. Richard Smith authored the official Code of Conduct for diving with pygmy seahorses based on his pioneering PhD research. These guidelines are now used by dive operators and marine conservation organizations worldwide to protect these vulnerable species.

Pygmy seahorses are among the most extraordinary creatures on coral reefs - and also among the most vulnerable. These miniature marvels, smaller than your fingernail, have become the true celebrities of Southeast Asia's coral reefs. But their popularity brings serious risks.

Bargibant’s and Denise’s pygmy seahorses are tiny fish (2.3-2.7cm) that live their entire adult lives on a single coral colony, so are extremely vulnerable to diving disturbance. When proper care isn't taken, these delicate seahorses and their coral homes can easily be damaged or killed by poor diving practices.

Download PDF

The Code of Conduct is available to download in English, French, German, Italian, Indonesian, Chinese and Japanese:

The 7 Essential Rules

  • Never touch or manipulate these delicate creatures. They are incredibly fragile, and even the gentlest contact can easily damage or even kill them.

  • The gorgonian seafan is extremely slow-growing and delicate. These corals can reach 100 years of age and several meters wide. Take particular care of camera position and exhalant bubbles to avoid damage.

  • Artificial light disorientates and stresses pygmy seahorses. Do not use a torch, flashlight, or camera focus light to highlight a seahorse, as this disrupts their natural behaviour. They are used to living in a naturally low-light environment.

  • Limit yourself to 5 photos maximum per diver using flash. More flash photography can stress the animal and should be avoided. In addition, there is a cumulative impact from the rest of your group, other groups and even other local shops that may visit one after another.

  • Video capture should avoid artificial lighting entirely. Use white balanced natural light rather than artificial light for video to reduce disturbance from bright lights.

  • Pygmy seahorses sleep at night and lights disturb them. Respect their natural rest period by avoiding night diving activities around pygmy seahorses.

  • Pay close attention to fin positioning to avoid damaging other corals. Perfect buoyancy control and spatial awareness prevent accidental damage to the delicate reef environment.

Why This Code of Conduct Matters

Dr. Richard Smith's groundbreaking research - the first PhD study ever conducted on pygmy seahorse biology - revealed alarming findings:

  • Pygmy seahorses have the lowest population densities of any unexploited seahorse species ever studied

  • They spend their entire adult lives on a single coral colony - when the coral dies, the seahorses die with it

  • Their coral homes can live over 100 years but are easily damaged by divers

  • Certain diver behaviors cause significant stress that can impact their health, reproduction, and survival

This Code of Conduct is based on hundreds of hours of scientific observation and has been peer-reviewed by independent academic experts. Surveys of divers show overwhelming support for protecting these species through responsible diving practices.

The Science Behind the Rules

Dr. Smith's research revealed the critical vulnerability of these species:

  • Populations: Pygmy seahorses exist at naturally low population densities. Every individual matters for the species' survival.

  • Habitat Dependency: They cannot survive without their specific coral hosts. The relationship is so specialized that Bargibant's pygmy seahorse lives exclusively on one genus of coral, while others are nearly as restricted.

  • Stress Response: Scientific observation documented clear behavioral changes when seahorses are exposed to artificial light, touch, or prolonged disturbance - changes that can impact their ability to feed, reproduce, and survive.

  • Coral Vulnerability: Their gorgonian homes are extremely slow-growing and fragile. A single careless moment can destroy decades or centuries of growth.

How You Can Help

Share This Code of Conduct

  • Print and share - Take copies on dive trips for dive centers to display

  • Email to fellow divers - Spread awareness in the diving community

  • Discuss with dive guides - Ensure local operators understand these guidelines

  • Post on social media - Help educate other underwater photographers

Support Conservation

  • Choose responsible dive operators who follow these guidelines

  • Support Marine Protected Areas where these species are found

  • Practice what you preach - Be an example of responsible diving

  • Report violations - Help protect these species by speaking up

Learn More

Understanding these remarkable creatures makes you a better advocate for their protection. Learn more about pygmy seahorse species →

"For anyone who has been lucky enough to see these diminutive fish for themselves, they will agree - they are truly remarkable. But with great privilege comes great responsibility. These creatures have survived millions of years of evolution to become perfect miniatures adapted to one of the ocean's most challenging environments. Whether they survive the next century depends largely on how we, as divers and ocean enthusiasts, choose to interact with them."

–Dr Richard Smith

Acknowledgments

Created with generous support from:

Design by: Madeleine Pierce
Drawings by: Mean Mora (mmora.com)

This Code of Conduct was developed through peer-reviewed scientific research conducted during Dr. Richard Smith's pioneering PhD studies - the first doctorate ever focused on pygmy seahorse biology.