more beautiful together

A geometric chromodoris (Chromodoirs geometrie) poses on a piece on bamboo on the house reef at Lembeh Resort, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nudibranchs or sea slugs come in an amazing variety of colors and shapes making their terrestrial namesakes seem very drab.

Super macro study of the head of a crested nembrotha (Nembrotha cristata) nudibranch. These sea slugs come in an amazing variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

Super macro image of two amphipods on a sponge. Komodo, Inonesia

A coconut octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) peers out of its shell home.

A playful common seal (Phoca vitulina) admiring its reflection in the photographer's dome port. The image was taken at the Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK during October 2012.

Portrait and detail of the "hairs" of a striated frogfish (Antennarius striatus). Lembeh Straits, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Coleman shrimps (Periclimenes colemani) in their fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) home. Coleman shrimps are only found on fire urchins and live in an obligate symbiosis with their host. They feed on the soft tube feet and tentacles of the sea urchin, which does not seem to be severely harmed. The venomous spines of the urchin provide an excellent defense from any would be predators too.

Sarcophyton soft corals festoon the shallow part of the reef. As most corals can produce the bulk of their own food by photosynthesis, they can survive in areas that have little or no nutrients in the water. It also means that they need sunlight and hence clear water. Ths makes them an ideal underwater photography subject!

Colorful soft corals festoon ever available spaces in the shallow sunlit area on top of the reef. Komodo, Indonesia.

A rusty parrotfish (Scarus ferrugineus) displays its amazing mouth parts. These form the major component that parrotfishes use for their duties as the constant gardeners of the reef. They play a crucial role in keeping it healthy, suppressing weed, removing sediment and helping the corals to regrow after a setback.

An oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris) performing feeding loop is the plankton rich water off Isla Mujeres, Mexico. The grace of the movement reminds me of a prima ballerina at the peak of her performance.

THE ODD COUPLE

Two emperor shrimps (Periclimenes imperator) sat on a sea cucumber. Taken during the Wetpixel Macro workshop at Lembeh Resort.

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) gulping down plankton rich sea water off Isla Mujeres, Mexico.