Indo-Pacific Rock-Boring Urchin – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data It’s also known as the burrowing urchin This photo was taken while on a snorkeling adventure with my wife off the coast of the island of Hawai’i. We were in the Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District, which is a marine protected area. We were with […]
Redbreast Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern These fish were fearless Dropping under the water at Alexander Springs in Altoona, Florida, I was not expecting the water to be as crystal clear as it was. The visibility was easily one hundred feet, and the water was a crisp 72 degrees. Although this is a […]
Gray Triggerfish
Gray Triggerfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable If you depress the second spine, this will release the first spine This unique looking fish is called a gray triggerfish. It is a medium sized fish which will grow to be around nine inches long. Their coloration and pattern are hard to appreciate in the water, especially if it […]
Redbarred Hawkfish
Redbarred Hawkfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern They have a small number of teeth in the roof of their mouths While on a dive off the coast of Honolulu, Hawai’i in which I was searching for nudibranchs, I came across this interesting looking fish. It seemed to be on the lookout from its hovel […]
Black Coral Shrimp
Black Coral Shrimp – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data This shrimp can be found all over the world I encountered this semi-transparent shrimp while diving in Little Cayman. Confusingly this black coral shrimp is not on black coral in this photo. Instead it is on a sea rod which is attached to a vertical wall. In diving, we […]
Trunkfish
Trunkfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Varies They will hover above the sand and occasionally tilt their head down and blow water through their mouth This fish is only the size of a quarter, for now. It will eventually grow to be over a foot long and weigh up to seven pounds. It’s color and pattern will change. This […]
Yellow Tang
Yellow Tang – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern This yellow tang was one of many yellow tang that I saw during our four hours of snorkeling This photo was taken during a snorkeling trip with my wife in Kealakekua Bay on the big island of Hawai’i. This area is a marine life conservation district, which […]
Christmas Tree Worm
Christmas Tree Worm Christmas tree worms have a surprisingly long life, living up to 40 years You will be surprised to learn what you are looking at is considered a worm. These colorful worms are stationary, so once you locate one you are all set. However, if you approach these creatures too quickly or get too close, […]
Nurse Shark
Nurse Shark – IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable Nurse sharks are not considered a dangerous shark species to humans This is a photograph of a nurse shark, taken in Key Largo, Florida. To get a close up photograph of a shark can be tricky, but the nurse shark gives you a better chance than most shark species. Nurse […]
Atlantic Spadefish
Atlantic Spadefish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern You can find Atlantic spadefish in the shallow waters of the east coast These silvery zebra striped fish are called Atlantic spadefish. They grow to a couple feet long and can be found on their own or schooling with others. They tend to be unafraid of scuba divers. In fact, […]