Menjangan Island is one of the lesser-known dive spots in Bali and it also happens to be my favorite. Located in West Bali National Park, the island is protected and uninhabited aside from the park rangers onsite to keep local fishermen at bay. Menjangan means “deer” in Bahasa Indonesia, and the island is named for the resident deer population that swim back and forth from the mainland, which is an unusual sight to behold.

Temple on Menjangan Island – photo by Jenny Hanna

The island is popular for both scuba diving and snorkeling and is easily accessed by boats from Bali and nearby Java. With a dozen dive sites to choose from, it is worthy of several visits and even in high season the dive sites are uncrowded. It is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs teeming with fish and other critters so photographers should bring both wide-angle and macro lenses.

Sea Fan – photo courtesy of Abyss Ocean World

Menjangan Island’s spectacular coral walls plunge to depths exceeding 160 feet (50 meters) and are adorned with a variety of pristine hard and soft corals and massive sea fans. Wide-angle photographers can capture the beauty of these walls, along with the schooling fish and occasional sharks swimming in the blue water. Very lucky divers or snorkelers may encounter a whale shark or mola mola, but these sightings are rare.

Macro photographers will find plenty of subjects to capture, including electric clams, a variety of nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, dartfish, jawfish, and a wide range of crabs and shrimps. Currents surrounding the island are generally mild, making it an excellent location for lining up that perfect shot.

Pygmy Seahorse- photo courtesy of Abyss Ocean World

A favorite dive site at Menjangan Island is Eel Garden, which includes a sprawling vertical coral wall giving way to a sandy bottom home to thousands of garden eels. The wall itself is captivating, however, looking out into the blue divers can spot huge schools of mackerel, fusiliers, and surgeonfish as well as groups of giant trevally darting in amongst the fish as they hunt. Across the sandy bottom is a beautiful coral reef where schools of barracuda, turtles, octopus, and titan triggerfish are often seen.

Another great dive site is Underwater Cave, which is known for its interesting topography. A plunging wall with numerous crevasses and overhangs, the “cave” itself is worth entering to experience the sunlight shining through openings in the reef and illuminating the interior. The walls of the cave are dotted with electric clams, and baby whitetip reef sharks sometimes take shelter in the cave until they are bold enough to explore the blue.

Underwater Cave – photo courtesy of Abyss Ocean World

There are several dive sites on the north side of the island with gentle sloping reefs, so divers who feel uncomfortable on walls can be easily accommodated. The marine biodiversity is incredible and the visibility typically ranges from 30 to 100 feet (10 to 30+ meters), so it really should be a must-visit when diving in Bali. Nearby Pemuteran Bay, Secret Bay, and Puri Jati are also hidden gems in Bali’s dive scene and home to some of the best shore diving in the world, making the area’s diving diverse enough for even the most discerning diver.

Whether you dive with a smartphone in an underwater housing or a huge underwater rig, pack your lenses and head to Northwest Bali on your next dive trip!

Watch a short documentary about Menjangan Island and the efforts to protect the area here.

Read about other off the beaten track dive areas in Indonesia here.

Learn how to take great photos on wall dives here.

The post Photographing Menjangan Island, Bali first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

If anyone has heard about Aliwal Shoal, it will shortly be followed by some comments about sharks. South Africa’s East Coast is well known for its shark populations, with Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks being the most well-known and dived areas. When it comes to general diving, Aliwal Shoal is probably the most dived and offers the more accessible option, and with the better chance of seeing sharks on a dive. We have been diving this reef system for more than 20 years and have developed some great dive plans and exciting days out on the water to maximize what we photograph, and the conditions in which to photograph these incredible creatures of the oceans.

Aliwal Shoal is a world-renowned dive site located off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The shoal is named after the near sinking of the vessel, the Aliwal, in 1849, and is a narrow rocky reef that stretches for about 5 km along the coast. The reef is situated about 5km directly offshore from Scottburgh, and the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and is home to an abundance of marine life, including a diverse range of fish species, sharks, rays, and turtles. One of the main attractions of diving at Aliwal Shoal is the opportunity to see the Ragged Tooth Sharks, which migrate to the area during the winter months. These magnificent creatures, also known as Sand Tiger Sharks, are the most commonly encountered shark species at Aliwal Shoal, and they are well-known for their distinctive appearance and docile behavior.

Sharks swimming near the surface at Aliwal Shoal

There are a number of locations in which to find these sharks as they escape the currents during the day. The most sought-after dive locations are Raggies Caves and Cathedral. Most days one will find anywhere from 3-15 or more sharks taking refuge in these caves and overhangs.

The other diving experience for which Aliwal Shoal has become well known is the oceanic black-tip shark dive. Here a bait drum is immersed into the bleaters just off the Shoal itself, where it then drifts in the current, sending an oil slick downstream, hopefully catching the attention of the resident sharks in the area. Often this “baiting” is not even required, as these sharks have been used to the boats and arrive not long after the boats have settled into the area. One can often get a variety of shark species on these dives, with the Blacktips being the more common (anywhere between 2 to 20 sharks at a time), but with Tiger Sharks often appearing, and even a Great White if one is lucky enough.

To maximize our time on the ocean, and to create images both in reef and in the blue water, we plan a whole day on the water, starting with an early morning boat launch through the waves, either from Umkomaas or Rocky Bay. First stop is the Shoal itself, with some deep dives to either Raggy Caves or Cathedral, those fully capture those iconic “grinning teeth” images for the Ragged Tooth Sharks as they drift around the caves and overhangs. These dives are often a hit or miss, as the one variable one cannot account for is the visibility on the Shoal, which can be 5m one day, and 35 the next, depending on the currents.

A shark at Aliwal Shoal

After 2 exploratory shark dives on the Shoal, we move off the reef and into the blue water and start our real shark photography. Drifting with sharks in the blue is an incredible experience, playing with light reflecting off the surface of the ocean, as well as experiencing their behavior, is something to savor, and something one will never forget. Working through the afternoon with the changing light conditions is the most rewarding part of the day, shooting into sun, as well as away, offers two different scenarios in which to get totally different results. Then the prime lighting arrives around sunset, with the oranges and soft lighting both above and below the water line. Overunders become our target shots, and we work this “sunset hour” to the max, as many shots are hit or miss, but just hoping for that one image that stands out from the rest.

A shark just under the surface at sunset.

After the sun has set, gear is packed away and we head for home, navigating using the lights on the shore, and experienced skippers that know the local water the best.

Recommended gear from these type of trips generally include cameras with a high shutter rate, including you top end DSLR’s such as the Nikon D850 or Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, other as technology moves more to the mirrorless cameras, the Sony A7R V, Nikon Z7ii, or the Canon EOS R5. As for lenses, obviously this is wide angle territory, fisheye lenses being your best option, otherwise a wide rectilinear lens such as the 16-35mm F4. For the over under images, we would recommend the fisheye as a minimum, together with a large dome port, such as the Nauticam 230mm optical glass dome port II, Marelux 230mm optical glass port or the Sea & Sea Fisheye dome port 240. The other essential items are strobes. As sharks are fairly fast-moving animals, you will require strobes with a fairly high power output (high Guide Number), and a high recycle rate. The recommended strobes would be something along the lines of the Sea & Sea YS-D3ii, as your best option.

Sharks at Aliwal Shoal

If you wish to join us on one of these ocean adventures, don’t hesitate to make contact, and we can ensure a memorable day on the ocean.

The post Diving with Sharks on Aliwal Shoal first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

This article is the first of a series on “my favorite dives”. I’ve been lucky enough to dive at some of the best dive locations in the world, with some of the most fantastic aquatic animals. Picking just one is not possible – hence the need for a “my favorite dive” series.

Flashback to Wolf Island, Galapagos. Wolf Island is one of, if not the best, places in the world to see hammerhead sharks. Wolf Island, along with nearby Darwin Island, are the two most remote islands of the Galapagos Islands. In fact, you can go days without seeing another boat or human there, except for the ones on the boat with you.

Two hammerhead sharks making a close pass at Wolf Island

It takes about 14 hours to travel to Wolf from San Cristobal Island. The water is warmer at Wolf and Darwin than at the other Galapagos Islands, the marine life is prolific, and the currents are strong. Dolphins, whale sharks, eagle rays, and several shark specials are seen on a regular basis. Red-lipped batfish are found on the back side of the island. Wolf Island is named after a German geologist Theodore Wolf, who studied the Galapagos Islands in the late 1800s. There are no wolves or wolf eels here.

But the main attraction is the schools of hammerhead sharks. The hammerheads are there year-round, often coming to shallow water to get cleaned by butterfly fish. They are also very skittish.

Hammerhead shark getting cleaned in the Galapagos. You can see the butterfly fish that does the cleaning at the bottom of the photo.

Getting a close-up or a silhouette shot is not easy. They are afraid of divers, bubbles, and cameras – and they often swim quite deep, meaning you are looking down at them, into the dark depths.

On this particular dive, the schools were thick. They were coming slightly shallower over large rocks, and when I got below them, their beautiful silhouettes would fill the sky. I watched these majestic beasts dive after dive – we had 4 full days of diving at Wolf and Darwin.

Some of my most memorable dives ever were in the Galapagos. I can’t wait to go back. Stay tuned for “My Favorite Dives”, part II, featuring a huge manta ray!

For another great dive destination, read about the best diving in Africa here!

The post My favorite dive series – Hammerheads at Wolf Island, Galapagos first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Perhaps one of the oldest and greatest traditions of ocean-going folk is to debate which of the ocean’s vast selection of odd-ball creatures is the ugliest. In the Pacific Northwest, however, the debate has long been put to rest – everyone agrees that the world’s ugliest fish is the wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus). Known fondly by divers as “wolfies,” wolf eels are the second most charismatic underwater creature accessible to divers in the Northwest (after the Giant Pacific Octopus). Despite the name, wolf eels are not true eels, though they do have long, slender bodies and sharp canines. Though predatory, most of their diet consists of shellfish like crabs and urchins. They break these apart with their strong back molars. Most actually have very friendly dispositions. In fact, some wolf eels have been known to allow divers to play with them and pet them (though this might be exacerbated by a history of feeding them). Though one might not expect it, wolf eels are actually very loving creatures. When a wolf eel finds a mate, it will find a suitable home – usually a hole among boulders on a rocky reef – and mate for life, living in the same hole year after year. The female coils around its eggs and takes care of them as they incubate, and the male will coil around the family and stand guard. Many wolf eels are curious about divers and can come out tor great you. However, each fish has its own disposition – some get nervous and retreat into their holes. Though relatively common, wolf eels can be difficult to spot for the inexperienced wolf eel spotter, and they are frequent at only a few sites around the Puget Sound. Wolf eel dens are often found in two different types of terrain – they are found in small holes in rock and clay walls (usually from a depth of 40-80ft), or they are found on rocky slopes with medium to large boulders in the holes between the boulders. Often their bodies can span two or three different holes, so you might find a tail before you find a head! The best sites in the Puget Sound are arguable Day Island Wall and Sund Rock. At Day Island Wall, some divers feed the wolf eels so they are very nice to divers. Many will swim out of their holes to great you. At Sund Rock they are shyer, but almost guaranteed if you know where to find them. I’ve seen about 10 in a dive there before. Just speak with the staff at Hood Sport ‘n Dive and they’ll put you in the right direction!   Be sure to check out our guide to Diving the Pacific Northwest! Wide angle photos were shot with an Olympus Mirrorless Camera  , Panasonic 8mm fisheye lens, and dual Sea & Sea Strobes. Now I use Sony gear.

To get shots like this I recommend:

• The Olympus E-M1 Mark II
• Sea & Sea YS-D2J strobes
• Reefnet fiber optic snoot
• Kraken Sports Hydra 3500

Check out Bluewater Travel to book West Coast dive trips in California. Though rare, wolf eels have been known to show up as far south as Southern California!

The post In Search of the World’s Ugliest Fish first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Swimming with sailfish is a special experience. But it’s different from most dive trips because you need to mix hard work with planning and luck to get a shot. There’s no guarantee that you will see the fish, there’s no guide to help you capture the perfect shot if you do find the fish, and the weather can make or break your entire day. But this is exactly what I loved about the experience on the Bluewater Photo small group trip to Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula the week before last.

–> Check out Bluewater Travel’s ‘Best of the Yucatan Travel Special‘.

How do you find the bait ball and hunting sailfish? Easy. You watch the frigates. By carefully observing their flight and maneuvers, a trained eye can tell what type of fish the birds have found. When their movements are just right, we went full throttle towards the action, often racing fishing boats who have spotted the same thing.

Over three days scheduled to look for sailfish, we got out on the water for 2.5 days. One of the days was pretty rough, but all were enough that you had to be very careful moving about the boat.  And of 5 or 6 baitball sightings we jumped in the water a total of 4 times. We saw the sailfish on 3 of those jumps for a combined total of maybe 30 seconds with the fish and baitballs. The photos below are from our brief encounters.

A big thanks to a really fun group on this trip!

– Brent Durand

Sailfish Photos

All photos shot with Bluewater Photo’s rental Sony a7R II and mirrorless lenses like the Sony 28mm lens + fisheye converter in Nauticam a7R II housing.

Two sailfish work to keep the bait ball contained. Sony a7R II, 28mm lens + fisheye converter, ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/320

A sailfish eyes the bait ball, ready to strike. Sony a7R II, 28mm lens + fisheye converter, ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/320

A sailfish passes close enough for a detail shot. Sony a7R II, 28mm lens + fisheye converter, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/320

Looking at the bait ball from the sailfish perspective, with sail up. Sony a7R II, 28mm lens + fisheye converter, ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/320

The post Sailfish with the Sony a7R II first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Took the Canon G7X out for a spin in the new Fantasea housing. It performed great, though I was once again reminded to always take a test shot, especially when borrowing gear, as it may not work 100%. Since I forgot to do my test, I ended up on the first dive with a camera flash that would not pop up fully and was rendered inoperable.

However to make the best of the situation I enjoyed shooting some video with the new Canon G7X to see how the larger sensor would perform over all. We were diving at the Rock Quarry off Catalina Island, California which is home to a very rare (only found at this site), warm water fish, the Scythe Butterflyfish. This fish made its way over here years back during an El Nino season and managed to keep going ever since. Its often very shy and found among the boulders at the Rock Quarry, so seeing it out and about feeding in the open sand was quite a treat.

The Fantasea G7X was a breeze to use, with easy drop in loading for the camera and full camera functionality. It was easily to control my settings, change my modes, white balance, aperture, shutter, etc and overall I enjoyed using the housing. However, it doesn’t provide quick the streamlined use that the higher end aluminum options do and one handed control is nearly impossible. Overall though it’s a great little housing, perfectly priced for those on a budget.

Check out the video I captured from that first dive, since I was planning to shoot photos I had no video lights with me, so the footage below was shot using the Canon UW white balance, which didn’t do too much. Before editing the video I did some color correcting (this can be achieved in your editing software such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut, there is also a neat workout that you can perform in Lightroom by creating a still image from your video, editing that .jpg image in lightroom and syncing the edit settings to the video clip).

Fantasea Canon G7X & Elusive Scythe Butterflyfish

The post Rare Scythe Butterflyfish video with the Canon G7X first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

The Glasseye Snapper; Grumpy Loner of the Reef

The Glasseye Snapper (Heteropriacantus cruentatus) is not a true snapper at all. Most snapper fit into the genus Lujantus with a few exceptions, but all these fish have the same general body shape, habits and behavior. The Glasseye Snapper, on the other hand, looks and behaves much more like a squirrel or soldierfish, or the even more elusive Bigeye (Priacantus arentus), which it certainly looks a great deal like but is also not related to in any way. Fish that look similar and occupy the same habitats are, more often than not, not related by genus and/or species but have developed under concurrent or parallel evolution; developing many of the same characteristics over the millennia, as they have filled the same niche.

The Glasseye is a largely noctural fish and so its body is red and its eyes are large. It is very hard to see red in low light. It is the first color to disappear at depth – in fact, it disappears within the first fifteen feet. This makes the Glasseye’s job of being cryptic, whether hunting or hiding, much easier. Obviously, the bigger the eye the easier to see others in the dark. Often, as you are swimming along on your dive you will happen upon a Glasseye tucked under a coral head or behind a sponge looking rather grumpy with an underslung jaw, always alone and seeming to prefer it that way. The other “red, big-eyed fish” (Squirrel & Soldierfish) will sometimes be alone and sometimes be in small polarized schools, but our Glasseye is a true loner.

As mentioned, the Glasseye Snapper is much more commonly seen than the very similar Bigeye and can be distinguished from it by wavy, broken-up, and sometimes very faint, silvery, body bars that the Bigeye will never have. The Glasseye also has a shorter body and prefers shallower water and is therefore more frequently seen by divers. During the day, the Glasseye will be found peering out at you from a safe distance cautious but curious, and always looking grumpy.

The Glasseye is a great fish for the beginning underwater photographer, as they are always stationary and looking right at you. Shots one and two show the right and left lateral views of two different fish, showing just how much bounce you can get from your strobes (even at a low setting) due to the unusually reflective quality of the fish’s scales. The third shot in three quarter view with the fish’s body running from bottom left to top right and the eye framed by the rope sponge is, in my opinion, a superior shot for its composition and the story it tells. Always keep your eye pealed for the different or atypical shot. Knowing as much as you can about an animal’s behavior, habits and habitat will alert you to when you’re seeing something unusual can make the difference between a good shot and a great shot. And the next time you swim by a Glasseye Snapper on your favorite Caribbean coral reef, wave “hello” or snap a shot. He may look grumpy but I’m sure, deep down, he’ll appreciate the gesture.

Enjoy this blog? Check out our scuba blog at Bluewater U.

By: Jonathan Lavan

Jonathan Lavan: The owner/operator of Underpressure Diving & Nature Photography is a citizen scientist and wildlife expert and has been SCUBA Diving for thirty years and taking photographs both above and below the water for about 10. He was pleased to have been made Volunteer of the Year for 2012 by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. As a SCUBA Diver he has been a photographer, teacher and research associate for many different organizations.He is a staunch environmentalist and educator of young people. Jonathan is committed to making a difference on this planet through his images and his message of good will to all creatures. www.underpressurephotog.com.

The post Caribbean Creature Feature: The Glasseye Snapper first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

The Opportunistic Omnivores – 

There are Goatfish in all warm water oceans and some temperate waters as well. In the Caribbean we find the Spotted Goatfish, the Red Goatfish, the Dwarf Goatfish (seldom seen) and the Yellow Goatfish that we will be looking at today. Not unlike the barnyard animal that is their namesake, Yellow Goatfish will eat just about anything. This is always a good strategy when trying to survive, and while the sand flats may be where you tend to find Yellow Goatfish, they will often explore all areas of the reef in search of food. Typically, you see smaller schools of larger adults sifting through the sand with their barbels (chin whiskers), a single fish shadow feeding (two different species) or nuclear hunting (three or more species) with other kinds of fish. In Bonaire, where photos 1 & 2 were taken, there seems to be a preponderance of schooling juveniles exploring the upper part of the reef, and during my trip I never saw them feeding in the sand like their adult counterparts, which is unusual.

From the “neck” down Yellow Goatfish look exactly like Yellowtailed Snappers, but there is little room for confusion if you compare their faces. Yellowtailed Snapper have the typical fish face – pointed snout and a small eye. Yellow Goatfish on the other hand, have what can only be termed a schnozolla – a large, prominent nose, a much larger red eye and those unforgettable barbels on their chin. These chin whiskers are a major sensory organ of touch for the Yellow Goatfish and you will see them constantly wiggling them across the ground or through the sand in search of any type of food they can find. If you’re lucky, you may also see two of them approach each other head to head and wiggle their barbels together as if shaking hands Yellow Goatfish style!

Our last photo is fairly unusual. Here we see a Yellow Goatfish infiltrating a school of Tomtate Grunts. Notice also that it is wearing its night colors. Many fish will change color or pattern at night to aid in protective camouflage. Red is a particularly good color as it is almost invisible in the dark. That is why many nocturnal fish are red, including Squirrel, Soldier and Cardinalfish.  But back to our Goatfish. It’s swimming around in brightly sunlit water at midday, so why is this fish in the middle of a school of a different species wearing its pajamas? Does it think like a small child covering its face with its hands that it can’t be seen? Does it think it’s “making a hole in the water”? Only the Yellow Goatfish knows for sure.

When they are not feeding, which tends to be quite a quick activity, Goatfish will often drift around in large lazy schools or aggregations over the sand or nearby reefs. This gives the beginner or intermediate photographer a good opportunity to get some good shots. As always, start shooting on the approach but no farther away than four feet or so. In conclusion, the fish that you see on every dive during your liveaboard trip and perhaps take for granted or barely notice, can be one of the more interesting and charismatic fish swimming around your favorite Caribbean coral reef.

By: Jonathan Lavan

Jonathan Lavan: The owner/operator of Underpressure Diving & Nature Photography is a citizen scientist and wildlife expert and has been SCUBA Diving for thirty years and taking photographs both above and below the water for about 10. He was pleased to have been made Volunteer of the Year for 2012 by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. As a SCUBA Diver he has been a photographer, teacher and research associate for many different organizations.He is a staunch environmentalist and educator of young people. Jonathan is committed to making a difference on this planet through his images and his message of good will to all creatures. www.underpressurephotog.com.

The post Caribbean Creature Feature: Yellow Goatfish first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

The Bumble Bees of the Reef – 

This month we look at the Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) [gaster meaning belly and rostratus meaning long-snouted]. The Sharpnose is one of the most frequently seen pufferfish on the reef and a favorite of many divers for their hovering and curious, although slightly timid, behavior. With its well-rounded body and the fluttering action of its rear placed dorsal, anal and particularly its pectoral fins, the Sharpnose truly looks like a bumble bee visiting the garden. All Puffer/Porcupinefish have the unique and marvelous defense of being able to inflate themselves with water, ballooning to many times their original size. Growing to a maximum length of 4.5 inches, the larger inflated size can make the difference between becoming lunch and not becoming lunch for the diminutive Sharpnose.

Usually solitary but inquisitive, they will be seen buzzing around the reef on virtually all Caribbean dives. In the above photograph, taken at the Blue Heron Bridge, we see the typical solitary Sharpnose, perhaps checking out its reflection in the camera’s flat port. Note how variable the color and pattern can be among this species. Sharpnoses are virtually unique among puffers for their pointed snouts, and the only other Caribbean pufferfish they might be confused with is the Goldfaced Toby (Canthigaster jamestyleri), which is a close cousin.

Misidentification, however, is unlikely for two reasons: first, Sharpnose Puffers rarely range below fifty feet, while the Goldface Toby ranges to three hundred feet and is generally found well below recreational dive limits, and as a result is seldom seen. The second reason is simply a question of body markings: Sharpnose will always have a dark border on the top and bottom of their caudal (tail) fin while the Goldface Toby will not.

I am often asked: “what is the difference between a ‘Puffer’ and a ‘Porcupine’ (also ‘Burr’) fish”. Porcupine (spines lay flat unless inflated) and Burrfish (spines always erect) have true spines while Pufferfish like our Sharpnose have much smaller spines called spinules that are generally found only on the abdomen and lower head rather than covering the entire body.

In our three group photos we see some unique Sharpnose behavior. There are three Sharpnose circling around each other and exhibiting bright, dynamic colors and markings. I took these shots in Cozumel, and it was the first and last time I was lucky enough to witness this behavior. This was undoubtedly some sort of precursor to mating, however other than zooming around each other in little circles for an extended period of time, no other specific behavior was witnessed – but boy was it fun to watch.

As mentioned earlier, these fish tend to be a bit shy but inquisitive, so they are usually easily approached, making them a perfect subject for the beginner to intermediate underwater photographer. Always remember to start shooting on the approach, within four feet of the subject, and just keep shuttering as you move in. It is always fun to personify fish with all their quirky behaviors and habits, and the Sharpnose Pufferfish is definitely up there as one of the cutest fish to watch and enjoy on the reefs of the greater Caribbean.

By: Jonathan Lavan

Jonathan Lavan: The owner/operator of Underpressure Diving & Nature Photography is a citizen scientist and wildlife expert and has been SCUBA Diving for thirty years and taking photographs both above and below the water for about 10. He was pleased to have been made Volunteer of the Year for 2012 by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. As a SCUBA Diver he has been a photographer, teacher and research associate for many different organizations.He is a staunch environmentalist and educator of young people. Jonathan is committed to making a difference on this planet through his images and his message of good will to all creatures. www.underpressurephotog.com.

The post Caribbean Creature Feature: Sharpnose Pufferfish first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.

Not What You Think They Are!

Some of the most visible, photogenic and beautiful creatures on the reef, Flamingo Tongues are snails (specifically Cyphona gibbosum in the phylum Mollusca (Mollusk) meaning “soft body” and the class Gastropoda (Gastropod) meaning “stomach foot”).

Most gastropods have the typical spiral-like shell we envision when we think of shells, while Flamingo Tongues and kin have a shell more reminiscent of a tongue being curled into a “c” shape. Many beginner shell collectors have taken the beautiful Flamingo Tongue shell only to find upon the death of the animal that the shell is a plain, uniform white color. The beautiful leopard-spotted pattern is the mantle, which is part of the animal’s foot and is extended out of the shell slit from both sides to cover the shell and act as camouflage. It can be extended and retracted at will. If you look carefully at the photo above you can clearly see both sides of the mantle where they have extended over the shell. You can also see the siphon at the top, used for breathing and the antennae, used for sensing food and predators. The end of the walking foot can be seen at the bottom of the shell.

Flamingo Tongues feed on gorgonians like Sea Fans and will be found in many different Caribbean habitats wherever gorgonians are present. In the second photo we find several Flamingo Tongues mating. During the breeding cycle you will find one or more males linking with the female in an attempt to mate. As you can see, the female must retract her mantle in order for the male to gain proper access. Once the eggs are fertilized the female will lay them on an exposed area of the gorgonian (photo 3) which has been made bare by the Flamingo Tongue’s radula (scraping tongue) while feeding. The eggs will hatch after approximately a week and half. The young are planktonic (feeding in the water column) for an undetermined amount of time and then will settle on the nearest gorgonian. Often, like many sea creatures, current and weather conditions may take planktonic Flamingo Tongues many miles from their birthplace.

For the beginning underwater photographer the Flamingo Tongue is the perfect subject. Stationary, colorful and almost always in ample light, it makes a great subject to spend some time shooting. Like many common names, it is not known why the Flamingo Tongue is called a Flamingo Tongue. It looks nothing like a flamingo or its tongue. Jaguar Snail would seem more appropriate as the spots are very reminiscent of a jaguar or leopard. It’s a cool name none the less, and yet another beautiful creature to be admired on a sunny day on the Caribbean coral reef.

By: Jonathan Lavan

Jonathan Lavan: The owner/operator of Underpressure Diving & Nature Photography is a citizen scientist and wildlife expert and has been SCUBA Diving for thirty years and taking photographs both above and below the water for about 10. He was pleased to have been made Volunteer of the Year for 2012 by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. As a SCUBA Diver he has been a photographer, teacher and research associate for many different organizations.He is a staunch environmentalist and educator of young people. Jonathan is committed to making a difference on this planet through his images and his message of good will to all creatures. www.underpressurephotog.com.

The post Caribbean Creature Feature: Flamingo Tongues first appeared on In Focus Underwater Photography Blog.