[Amber's Arches, 52 fsw., Photo © 1995, A. Kimo Morris.]

Cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinesis ) are some of the most friendly creatures in the sea. They are responsible for grooming most of the fish on the reefs. I once heard that Jennifer Fleetham (a Maui divemaster) regularly has cleaner shrimp groom her face and teeth. Of course, monkey see monkey do... The very next dive tour I lead, I also opened wide for a pair of over-eager cleaners. The sensation is strange at first. It's kinda like having a pair of cockroaches running around in your mouth picking at your dentals. I frequently visit the same pair of shrimp at Amber's Arches... of course, I chow on a crumby granola bar before I go down so the shrimp can feel useful. On the left is Ernie. On the right is Burt.