Rudie Hermann Kuiter, underwater photographer, taxonomist, and marine biologist

Rudie Kuiter and Alex Foreman at the Langwarrin Flora & Fauna Reserve

In the world of fish enthusiasts and nature lovers, Rudie Kuiter is a legend. He's the guy who writes the books and takes the amazing photos all over the world. Rudie has discovered described many new species of sea horses and developed new groundbreaking techniques in fish photography amongst many other exploits. Now it seems he is turning his talents to rare and interesting flora and insects.

Rudie Kuiter photograph of an Arganout

Being a total fish enthusiast myself, I felt honoured to be able to spend an hour with Rudie while he plied his trade photographing rare orchids at the Langwarrin Flaura and Fauna Reserve. I simply bumped into him as he emerged from some bushes with his camera, and we started talking. When he learned that I was once the President of the South Australian Native Fish Association, Manager of the Southern Eyre Marine Farm, and a keen SCUBA diver, he opened up.

Rudie related to me many stories of his adventures around the world. In particular, I found his stories of SCUBA diving in Japan fascinating. He talked about doing 60 meter plus deep dives right off the shore, and shooting dozens of photographs in minutes before being forced to return to the surface. He had to find ways to adapt incompatible camera parts to make the ultimate underwater photography cameras. Rudie was previously an electrical engineer before he turned his hobby into his profession, and he said that his engineering skills were part of the key to his success. When the Japanese scientists ask him to make some adapted cameras for them, he obliged.

Australian Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) Rudie Kuiter

Rudie told me that Japan provided some of the best SCUBA diving in the world and encouraged me to go there.

The amazing Leafy Sea Dragon

Rudie also told me that he thought the stories of traditional Aboriginals burning off the bush are not true. Instead he suspected that the Aboriginals were lighting fires to scare off white colonialists and these were misinterpreted as normal behaviours to benefit the bush. He was very critical of burn-off policies and the damage they do to the natural bush-land. I found this very interesting and contrary to what I had been taught.

Best nature walk ever!