Turtle, Koror
70-Diving
Palau: Snorkeling in the Jellyfish Lake
The Palau archipelago, located in the Western Pacific east of the Philippines, consists of more than 250 islands. Most are uninhabited, covered in primary tropical rainforest and mangroves. While this description already promises adventure, the existence of a lake populated by millions of jellyfish on one of these islands makes the region truly extraordinary.
School of bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), Celebes SeaSpot-fin porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix), Maldives
Spot-fin porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix), Maldives
The porcupinefish, in case of danger can inflate itself by swallowing water to deter the potential predator with its larger volume and it can raise its spines. In addition, it concentrates a mortal poison in certain parts of its body.
Spirographe (Spirographis spallanzani), Mediterranean sea
Spirographe (Spirographis spallanzani), Mediterranean sea
The Spirograph is a sea worm living in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Atlantic Ocean and in the North Sea.
This animal, living and fixed on a rock wall, can be seen up to 40 meters deep in the water. Being able to measure up to 35 centimeters long, this animal deploys from its mouth a feather duster of filaments enabling to catch its food and some air. The stem of this sea flower is in reality a tube made out of mucus and sand by the worm.
Maldives Blenny (Ecsenius minutus)
Manta RayTawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus), Maldives
Tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus), Maldives
Nocturnal in habits, the tawny nurse shark tends to spend the day resting in piles of two dozen or more individuals inside caves or under ledges. At night, it is an active-swimming predator that uses a powerful suction force to extract prey from inside holes and crevices. The diet of this species consists mainly of octopus, crustaceans such crabs, small fishes.
School of bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) and Manta Ray, MaldivesBrazil: The Boto, pink dolphin of Amazonia
23 to 7 million years ago, during the Miocene era, Amazonia was partially covered by seawater. Cetaceans were living in this area. When seawater has been definitely out of Amazonia ground, a species would have adapted to continue living in rivers, drawing the Amazonian landscape. This species became the Boto, known also as the biggest pink dolphin of Amazonia.
Continue reading“Brazil: The Boto, pink dolphin of Amazonia”
Ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita), Celebes Sea, Borneo
Mediterranean red sea star (Echinaster sepositus), France, Mediterranean Sea
The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) arms can length up to 1 meter long
Spiny starfish (Marthasterias glacialis)School of Rigid shrimpfish (Centriscus scutatus)
School of Rigid shrimpfish (Centriscus scutatus), Celebes sea
The Rigid shrimpfish, also called razorfish is about 15cm long. This fish moves in groups, and stands verticaly, facing the ground. The shrimpfish travels sandy bottoms, looking for small crustaceans it aspires with its tubular mouth
Chinese trumpetfish / Aulostomus chinensis
School of Grey Snapper (Lutjanus griseus), Caribbean Sea, Mexican Coast
School of bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira)Philippines: The Marine Park of Tubbataha
Located in the Philippines’ Sulu Sea, the Tubbataha Reef became a protected marine park on August 11th, 1988. This 968 km² sanctuary was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in December 1993. In the Sama language, Tubbataha means “a long reef exposed at low tide,” referring to its two large atolls, each featuring a tiny islet at its center.
Salpa maggiore (salpa maxima), Celebes Sea, Borneo, Malaysia
Blenny, Australia
Grouper, Portugal, Azores
School of Barracudas (Sphyraena)
Cave diving, Landenouse Resurgence, Lot, France