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, […]
Seaweed Blenny – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern If you approach slowly and try to get below them, seaweed blennies appear to be comfortable checking you out Although it may be hard to tell in this photo, you are looking at a fish that will only grow to about three inches. You can only see its […]
Hawksbill – IUCN Conservation Status: Critically Endangered Hawksbills are smaller turtles than similarly looking green turtles This small hawksbill turtle is drifting with the current. Adult hawksbills will grow to about three feet long and weigh around 180 pounds. This little turtle was less than a foot long. We were able to snorkel with it for a short […]
Florida Softshell Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern They get this name from their cartilaginous carapace This is Virgil the Turtle. Virgil is a Florida softshell turtle that lives near Williston, Florida. Williston is a small town about half an hour south of Gainesville. North Central Florida is known for its fresh water springs, caverns, and caves. Virgil […]
Green Sea Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered Green sea turtles are a common sighting in the Florida Keys Green turtles are a common sighting in the Florida Keys. They appear similar to a hawksbill turtle, however there are some identifying features we can look for. The green sea turtle bill is not beak-like. Hawksbills have a […]
Green Sea Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered The legs of the green sea turtle are well-adapted for swimming When I think of a drawing of a sea turtle, normally people will draw it to look just like this. That’s why I love this photo. With its four arms fully extended, the green sea turtle […]
Green Sea Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered They can spend up to seven hours without taking a breath What is the green sea turtle doing laying on the sea floor for minutes on end? Is it hurt? Is it sick? Did it get injured? These are all questions that might pass through your mind […]
Green Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered Turtles can hold their breath for two hours before surfacing. Even if this photo was in color, you would not use the color of the shell to determine that this is a “green turtle”. The name “green turtle” actually comes from their green fatty tissue. There are other ways to […]
Hawksbill Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Critically Endangered Hawksbills only grow to about three feet in length. They will grow to 180 pounds on average. This month our gallery theme is “Turtles”! Ben and I are fortunate to have had many turtle encounters over the years. They are magical moments. When I was 13, I went snorkeling for the […]
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 […]