Underwater Wildlife

Seen from space, oceans cover more than 71% of our surface, a liquid expanse that gives Earth its nickname: the Blue Planet. As the cradle of life, this world is home to an incredibly rich biodiversity, from bustling coral reefs to unique creatures such as nudibranchs and marine mollusks.

With nearly 250,000 recorded marine species — and millions of others likely unknown — the ocean is the true lung of our planet. However, this sanctuary is now threatened by ocean acidification and pollution. To photograph this ‘world of silence’ is to reveal the splendor of a timeless universe, while bearing witness to the vital urgency of protecting the beating heart of our global ecosystem.

2016, Mainland France Selection, Underwater Pictures from France, Underwater Wildlife

Spirographe (Spirographis spallanzani), Mediterranean sea

Spirographe (Spirographis spallanzani), Mediterranean seaSpirographe (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.

2016, Maldives Selection, Underwater Pictures from Maldives, Underwater Wildlife

Tawny 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.

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