Meet Harry the hairy ghost pipefish — an underwater photographer's 'Holy Grail'

An amateur underwater photographer has captured his "Holy Grail" after spotting and snapping a rare marine creature on the Great Barrier Reef.

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An amateur underwater photographer has described capturing the image of a hairy ghost pipefish as his "Holy Grail' John Magee photographed the rare creature while diving at Hastings Reef, near Cairns  A marine biologist has described the encounter as an "exceptionally great find"

John Magee was diving at Hastings Reef, about 50 kilometres north-east of Cairns, when he stumbled across a hairy ghost pipefish.

"I saw some brown algae, it looked like seaweed. I moved my hand and the current blew it all one way but a bit of it was moving the other way," he said. 

"I put my torch on and there was this big eye looking at me."

While the creature is notoriously shy and elusive, Mr Magee said this hairy ghost pipefish — which he nicknamed Harry — put on a show and allowed him to spend about an hour observing and taking photos.

"It was playing and doing a fish dance along the bottom, so I spent time taking pictures and video because you never know when you're going to see one of these again.

"In macro photography terms, it's a bit like winning the lottery or finding the Holy Grail."

Little is known about the shy and elusive hairy ghost pipefish. (

Supplied: John Magee

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Marine biologist Gareth Phillips, who leads research and education organisation Reef Teach, said very little was known about the hairy ghost pipefish.

While it was impossible to say how rare the species is, Mr Phillips described the recent underwater encounter as an "exceptionally great find".

"We very infrequently see them, but they're so small and so well camouflaged a lot of the time, we might see them and not notice them," he said.

"It's one of those things we all aspire to see and in my nearly 30 years I've only seen a hairy ghost pipefish two times so it's a very special moment."

What is known is the fish grows to about four centimetres in size and is related to the seahorse, and like that species, the male carries, gives birth to and cares for its young.

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Positive sign for reef's health

Harry was spotted at the site of a coral rehabilitation project where a Cairns-based reef boat operator has begun growing coral garden beds.

Mr Magee believes his sighting is proof the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is in good health, despite widespread concerns about coral bleaching and rising water temperatures.

"To find one is extremely rare because the water conditions have to be right, along with the temperature, what they eat, and they're actually living here," he said.

"Everybody's saying 'the reef is dead' but the reef is not dead.

"When you find these sorts of creatures, the alkaline in the waters has to be right, so it shows there's a lot of positives."

Retired audiologist John Magee says he's "living the dream" in far north Queensland where he spends his days diving and taking pictures underwater.(

ABC Far North: Brendan Mounter

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Mr Phillips said the sighting demonstrated the marine park's extraordinary biodiversity.

"Although the reef is going through a lot of changes and it has got a lot of challenges, it still functions ecologically — all its ecological functions are there," he said.

"Despite the challenges we're facing, this is a key indication the reef is still holding its own, but it does need our help.

"This tiny little character is a standout for highlighting just how diverse and beautiful the Great Barrier Reef actually is."

'Out-of-control' hobby worthwhile  

Mr Phillips was full of praise for Mr Magee's technical abilities in capturing the images of Harry.

"John's approach to diving is the slower you go, the more you'll see, and he's done really well here," he said.

"Put it this way, I've never been able to photograph them that well."

John Magee has made around 3,000 dives on the Great Barrier Reef.(

Supplied: John Magee

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Mr Magee is a retired audiologist and since relocating to Cairns 15 years ago, has pursued his passion for underwater photography.

"I've always tinkered around with it but it's a hobby that's gotten out of control slightly."

After starting out on basic cameras worth $200 he's now spent thousands of dollars on equipment.

"You're talking reasonable second-hand car money, that's what you have to invest to get high quality pictures," Mr Magee said.

He said capturing images of Harry made it money well spent. 

(Originally posted by Mounter)