Pale red-chested sea cucumber
The size of the amphipods show the sea cucumber is approximately 20 mm long.
Both photos Andrew Taylor
Extremely young red-chested sea cucumbers, at most 5 mm long.
Slightly longer specimen, about 15 mm.
A bunch of adults, 60 mm long.
Above 3 photos Guido Zsilavecz
The very pale sea cucumber photographed by Andrew is most likely an unusually pale version of the red-chested sea cucumber, which when very young is a pale orange colour, before becoming a characteristic bright orange-red. From the amphipods shown it can be estimated that this one is maybe 20 mm long only, and thus still quite small.
The red-chested sea cucumber is a very common species, and certain areas may be densely covered by them, to virtually the exclusion of many other species. The young are brooded in pockets in the skin, and may often be found clinging to adults, or covering the bits between them.
Two Oceans, A guide to the marine life of Southern Africa, GM Branch, CL Griffiths, ML Branch and LE Beckley, 1994.