more beautiful together

(Anisodoris nobilis), Carmel Bay, California
Lemon nudibranch crawling through some hydrocoral in Carmel Bay.

(Eretmochelys imbricata), Roatan, Honduras
Hawksbill turtles are on the endangered species list so coming across one is always a special treat, especially when they come this close on a swim by.

(Calliostoma annulatum), Monterey Bay, California
One of my favorite small critters in Monterey. A ring top snail nestled in among some strawberry anemones.

(Rhincodon typus), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean. It is also a filter feeder and lives mainly on plankton.

San Diego, California
The Yukon was a Canadian destroyer that was sunk off of San Diego in 2000 to joining a number of other wrecks as part of an artificial reef system.

(Enteroctopus dofleini), Channel Islands, California
A giant Pacific octopus trying to hide in the purple hydrocoral off of Catalina Island.

(Ginglymostoma cirratum), Marathon Key, Florida
A nurse shark resting on the bottom by the reef off of Marathon Key.

(Flabellina iodinea), Channel Islands, California
Spanish Shawl on top of a barnacle at Santa Cruz Island in the Northern Channel Islands.

(Trichechus manatus), Marathon Key, Florida
Manatees hanging out by the docks in a harbor. They like the harbor because there is a fresh water aquifer feeding it and they need fresh water to survive.

(Dardanus lagopodes), Solomon Islands
Hairy Red Hermit Crab, taken on a night dive in the Solomon Islands.

(Aetobatus narinari), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
One of the most graceful fish I have ever seen. This one had just broken away form a large school of fish as it went by me.

(Ophioblennius atlanticus), Marathon Key, Florida
This redlip blenny was living in the conch shell. They can be very territorial and this one was chasing away any other fish that came to close to its home.

(Chrysaora fuscescens), Monterey Bay, California
A very common jellyfish, they usually arrive in large quantities in Monterey in the summer.

(Sphyrna lewini), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The scalloped hammerhead is the most common hammerhead shark. They are often found in large schools. This one came in to check out the divers and left as soon as the camera strobes went off.

(Bothus podas), Canary Islands, Spain
All I can say about this one is "Love the eyes!" I found him on a night dive in the El Cabron reserve off of Gran Canaria.

(Ophiodon elongatus), Monterey Bay, California
Lingcod are one of the larger reef fish found in Monterey Bay and have been making a comeback recently. Previously they had been over-fished due to the fact that they are good to eat.