If you peered into the ocean and spotted something pale and wavy drifting by, what would cross your mind first?
A snake? A worm? Maybe a ribbon tossed in by the wind?
If you guessed “ribbon,” you’d actually be closer to the truth than you think. This mysterious creature — known as the white ribbon eel or ghost eel — is a ghostly pale cousin of the more familiar green and brown moray eels. And spotting one is almost unheard of in Australia.
A few years ago, diver Acacia Ott, part of the Master Reef Guides program that educates people about Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, happened to capture a short video of one while at a marina. At the time, she had no idea she’d stumbled upon something extraordinary.
“Initially thought to be a creepy-looking worm, we didn’t realize how unique this sighting was,” Ott later shared on Instagram.
It wasn’t until recently, when Ott rediscovered the video and showed it to eel expert Theresa Graham, that the significance hit home. Graham was stunned — Ott had unknowingly filmed one of the only three confirmed sightings of this species in Australian waters.
Typically found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji, white ribbon eels are thought to be elusive rather than truly rare. They’re shy, nocturnal hunters that emerge only at night to feed on small fish and shellfish, spending the day hidden away in habitats divers rarely visit. Their small size and secretive habits make encounters vanishingly rare — and sightings like Ott’s, even rarer.
Why this particular eel ventured out during daylight is a mystery researchers are still puzzling over. But every new observation, experts say, is another puzzle piece in understanding life on the Reef and beyond.
“Next time you see something special in the wild, share it,” Ott encouraged. “Even if it’s years later, your sighting could lead to important discoveries — and help protect rare species.”
Sometimes, the most extraordinary moments in nature happen when you least expect them — and sometimes, they’re caught entirely by accident.
