IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Not only are the kelp forests protection for the garibaldi, they are also a source of food. This fish is named after a 19th century Italian leader, Giuseppe Garibaldi. Why? Garibaldi took up a fashion for wearing orange/red shirts. Later this orange/red shirt became his army’s uniform. This vibrant colored fish was photographed at […]
IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern They eat zooplankton, algae, and other small plants, and they live in coral reefs. Poipu Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Kaua’i. It has a beautiful view and is great for snorkeling. Indo-Pacific sergeant majors, parrot fish, turtles, and more can all be seen when swimming in […]
Redspotted Hawkfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern These fish can be very shy This is the only species of hawkfish we have in the Atlantic basin! This 2”-3” reef dwelling fish was common to see where I used to live, in the Florida Keys. However, this fish was also a challenging one to get a photo […]
SOUTHERN STARGAZER – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Stargazers cover themselves in the sand This eyeball belongs to a rarely seen creature called a stargazer. There is a northern stargazer and a southern stargazer. Both look about the same, and the only way you can really tell the difference is the tail of the stargazer, as well […]
PYGMY FILEFISH – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN The pygmy filefish and the green feather algae are almost the exact same color! This is yet another photo from Blue Heron Bridge in West Palm Beach, Florida. Diving here is like playing underwater Where’s Waldo. There are lots of cryptic creatures that camouflage with the seafloor. Some practice mimicry, […]
LONG-SNOUTED SEAHORSE – IUCN Conservation Status: DATA DEFFICIENT This long-snouted seahorse may be pregnant! It’s odd to think of seahorses as “fish”, but these ornate creatures are indeed a species of fish. However, unlike a lot of fish, seahorses are not good swimmers. They do have fins and are able to swim, however they rely on the […]
SLENDER FILEFISH – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Blackwater photography is unique because everything you are shooting will typically be within an arm’s reach. I believe this blackwater photo to be of a juvenile filefish. It is only about one to two inches long! This photo was taken during a blackwater night dive off the […]
Greenbanded goby – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Cayman Greenbanded goby – IUCN Conservation Status: ENDANGERED Christopher Columbus called Samana Bay “Golfo de las Flechas” This beautiful sunset is from the Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. More specifically this was taken near a small municipal district called, Arroyo Barril, just west of Samana. If […]
ALLIGATOR GAR – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Alligator gars are “living fossils” What am I looking at? This strange shaped fish is named after what it looks like, an alligator. It is in fact a fish. However, this fish can breathe both air and water! In addition, this type of fish is actually able […]
Scrawled Cowfish – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Notice the horns on the scrawled cowfish Scrawled Cowfish What catches your eye when you see this photo of a scrawled cowfish? For me it was two-fold: one, the mesmerizing blue and yellow pattern that covered the cowfish’s body, and two, the little horns that protrude from […]