IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Sharptail eels orange eyes match their orange spots This is the head of a sharptail eel, which is a type of snake eel. Although these creatures resemble a snake, don’t confuse this with a “sea snake”. So, what’s the difference? Sea snakes are reptiles that need to surface to breathe […]
IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN This bluestriped grunt was in the waters off of Siesta Key in Florida I took this photo of a bluestriped grunt during some of the hours of snorkeling that I did in Siesta Key, Florida this past year. This year the water had been more clear than I had ever […]
IUCN Conservation Status: VULNERABLE With a front like a ray and a back like a shark, it’s easy to see where the guitarfish gets its name This interesting creature is called a guitarfish. The body shape of this fish resembles a guitar. The front half looks like a ray, while the back half looks like […]
Goliath groupers are my favorite to shoot in black and white With the incredible photography equipment available these days, it’s becoming less common to see black and white underwater photography. I’m a big fan of black and white photography, on land and underwater. Large subjects, like goliath groupers, are my favorite to shoot in black […]
The minnows always seem to return to the same areas every year Come mid-summer every year in the Florida Keys, a unique but temporary frenzy of life occurs out on the reefs. Silverside minnows school by the thousands at various sites, shallow to deep, reefs as well as shipwrecks. Their presence draws in the whole […]
Each print on the back and wings of a spotted eagle ray is unique! Many divers would agree that spotted eagle rays are some of the most graceful and photogenic creatures in the sea. Each with a unique print on its back and wings, similar to a fingerprint. Reaching widths approaching 11 feet, these giant […]
The dwarf seahorse is the “slowest-moving fish”! Seahorses rely on camouflage as their primary form of survival. As if sea horses weren’t hard enough to find already, there is a type of seahorse called a “dwarf seahorse”. To find these, you need a sharp eye, patience, and luck. This photo is a dwarf seahorse that […]
The northern stargazer buries itself and then ambushes its prey! You are looking at a northern stargazer partially buried in sand. Seldom seen by divers, this fish is a master of stealth. Sometimes the only thing exposed above the sand are its eyeballs. If you look closely, even the skin around the eyeball is dotted […]
Tarpon can survive in waters with low dissolved oxygen Tarpon are an unmistakable fish. They can grow to eight feet in length and weigh almost 300 pounds. These guys are tough. Tarpon can survive in waters with low dissolved oxygen and varying PH levels. They can also hangout in freshwater rivers or open ocean. This […]
Slender filefish can be a tricky find underwater This is a photo of a slender filefish taken on a night dive in Key Largo, Florida. These 2”-3” fish are great at camouflage. They are often wary towards divers and tend to retreat when approached. Slender filefish are often found around sea whips, sea rods, sea […]