Southern Reef Squid

The southern reef squid is a streamlined cephalopod reaching around 50 cm in length, found on coral reefs and rocky outcrops across southern Australian waters. Its body shifts rapidly between pale and dark patterns—stripes, spots, and bands—as it hunts small fish and crustaceans or communicates with rivals and mates. These squid are highly social and often gather in loose aggregations, making them engaging subjects for divers who approach slowly and watch for their dramatic colour changes and graceful arm movements.