Guido Zsilavecz
Nudi Pixel Photographer
Guido Zsilavecz started diving in 1989, and took up underwater photography on his 27th dive. Early on he developed a strong, lasting interest in the underwater environment, and with it a desire to identify everything seen. This led to the discovery, and subsequent description, of the bluespotted klipfish, Pavoclinus caeruleopunctatus (Perciformes: Clinidae) in 2001.
In 2005, together with Peter Southwood, he established SURG, the Southern Underwater Research Group (www.surg.co.za), whose aim is simply to help other divers identify what they saw during dives, especially in Cape Town waters, and at the same time receive contributions by other divers on unusual or rare sightings. The site is now in it's 4th year, and has contributed to science through the discovery of new species and range-extensions of others.
As part of this process of informal education Guido has written and published two identification guides: "Coastal Fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay", which appeared in 2005, and "Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay", published in 2007.
Guido has also contributed photos and knowledge to other authors, and his photos have appeared in works by Dr. Phil Heemstra ("Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa"), Rudie Kuiter ("Butterflyfishes, Bannerfishes and their relatives", and "Seahorses, Pipefishes and their relatives"), Rudie Kuiter and Helmut Debelius ("World Atlas of Marine Fishes" and "Nudibranchs of the World"), and others. He also regularly assists scientists from throughout the world with information and photographs.
While Guido still enjoys his cold Cape Town waters, he has travelled extensively, and has dived in the Red Sea, Maldives, Seychelles, a number of places in Mozambique, in Perth, Darwin and on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, a number of places in New Zealand, Fiji, Argentina, Malaysia and recently, Northern Sulawesi.
Guido Zsilavecz has an MSc. in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town, and by profession is an expert in telecommunication operational support systems. He lives in Hout Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa.Underwater Cameras:
Photo Location
Nudibranch Species Photographed by Guido Zsilavecz
(125 species)
