Underwater photos

Sunlight streams through giant kelp forest. Giant kelp, the fastest growing plant on Earth, reaches from the rocky reef to the ocean's surface like a submarine forest.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 33433  

Corynactis anemone polyp, a corallimorph, extends its arms into passing ocean currents to catch food.
Species: Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 33472  

Giant Plumose Anemones cover underwater reef, Browning Pass, northern Vancouver Island, Canada.
Species: Giant plumose anemone, Metridium farcimen
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 34326  

The Fish Eating Anemone Urticina piscivora, a large colorful anemone found on the rocky underwater reefs of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Species: Fish-eating anemone, Urticina piscivora
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 34327  

The Fish Eating Anemone Urticina piscivora, a large colorful anemone found on the rocky underwater reefs of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Species: Fish-eating anemone, Urticina piscivora
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 34331  

A huge blue whale swims through the open ocean in this underwater photograph. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 34567  

Sea fan gorgonian and schooling Anthias on pristine and beautiful coral reef, Fiji.
Species: Anthias, Gorgonian, Gorgonacea, Pseudanthias
Location: Wakaya Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago, Fiji
Image ID: 31311  

Spectacularly colorful dendronephthya soft corals on South Pacific reef, reaching out into strong ocean currents to capture passing planktonic food, Fiji.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Fiji
Image ID: 31322  

Great hammerhead shark.
Species: Great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran
Location: Bimini, Bahamas
Image ID: 31968  

Caribbean reef shark.
Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus perezi
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31977  

Caribbean reef shark swims over sponges and coral reef.
Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus perezi
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31978  

Garibaldi and golden gorgonian, with a underwater forest of giant kelp rising in the background, underwater.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus, Muricea californica
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 23432  

Hammerhead sharks swim in a school underwater at Wolf Island in the Galapagos archipelago. The hammerheads eyes and other sensor organs are placed far apart on its wide head to give the shark greater ability to sense the location of prey.
Species: Scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini
Location: Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Image ID: 16271  

A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean at Guadalupe Island.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 21348  

A huge blue whale swims through the open ocean in this underwater photograph. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 03027  

The leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) is found on the southern and western coasts of Australia. Its extravagent appendages serve only for camoflage, since it has a nearly-invisible dorsal fin that propels it slowly through the water. The leafy sea dragon is the marine emblem of South Australia.
Species: Leafy seadragon, Phycodurus eques
Location: Rapid Bay Jetty, South Australia
Image ID: 39137  

Great White Shark, South Neptune Islands, South Australia.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: South Neptune Islands, South Australia
Image ID: 39142  

Great White Shark, South Neptune Islands, South Australia.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: South Neptune Islands, South Australia
Image ID: 39143  

Australian Sea Lions, Grindal Island. Australian sea lions are the only endemic pinniped in Australia, and are found along the coastlines and islands of south and west Australia.
Species: Australian Sea Lion, Neophoca cinearea
Location: Grindal Island, South Australia
Image ID: 39157  

Spectacular pristine tropical reef with vibrant colorful soft corals. Dendronephthya soft corals, crinoids, sea fan gorgonians and schooling Anthias fishes, pulsing with life in a strong current over a pristine coral reef. Fiji is known as the soft coral capitlal of the world.
Species: Anthias, Crinoid feather star, Dendronephthya soft coral, Gorgonian, Crinoidea, Dendronephthya, Gorgonacea, Pseudanthias
Location: Fiji
Image ID: 31310  

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Makogai Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago, Fiji
Image ID: 31453  

Ocean sunfish schooling near drift kelp, soliciting cleaner fishes, open ocean, Baja California.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Image ID: 06304  

Vancouver Island hosts a profusion of spectacular anemones, on cold water reefs rich with invertebrate life. Browning Pass, Vancouver Island.
Species: Giant plumose anemone, Metridium farcimen
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 35250  

California Sea Lions Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 36466  

Self portrait in kelp forest, Catalina Island.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37274  

Narcissis the Ocean Sunfish was So Handsome He Fell in Love with his Own Reflection, in the Open Ocean near San Diego.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 39460  

A mother California sea lion (left) and her pup (right), underwater at the Coronado Islands, Mexico. Mothers and pups spend much time together with the mother teaching her young padawan learner how to pursue prey. I spent a lot of time over 6 days watching this pair in Fall 2023.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 39960  

Colorful Dendronephthya soft coral and schooling Anthias fish on coral reef, Fiji.
Species: Anthias, Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya, Pseudanthias
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 31349  

Tiger shark and underwater photographer.
Species: Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31876  

Bryozoan grows on a red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25395