Underwater Photography

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by southace

You can swim safely at Hopkins island south of Port Lincoln with Australian sea lions. Which is the name of your friends boat?

Claralan, a private yacht he built.

[Seaworthy Lass]

This is a Noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) with the occupant long gone:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinna_nobilis

"In recent years, Pinna nobilis has become threatened with extinction, due in part to fishing, incidental killing by trawling and anchoring, and the decline in seagrass fields; pollution kills eggs, larvae, and adult mussels. The noble pen shell has been listed as an endangered species in the Mediterranean Sea."

At about 50cm long, this one was less than half the length these giant molluscs can reach.

Covered in fine sand coloured algae, from the surface it would have been easy to dismiss, but curiosity tickled me and I went down to investigate. Down at seabed level with the low sun streaming through its relatively thin shell it was aglow. A mesmerising sight!

Freediving @ 7m, Sporades, NW Aegean, Greece, August 2015:

[Seaworthy Lass]

Plants are not nearly as interesting as animals to photograph, but there are some intriguing species here.

This bright green one is Cactus alga (genus: Halimeda, species possibly Halimeda tuna)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halimeda

Fascinatingly they are composed of one cell with lots of nuclei.
"Whole meadows may consist of a single individual alga connected by fine threads running through the substrate."

The height of this one was about 10 cm:

[Reach]

Really enjoy seeing all of the photos! Dug up a few more to share ~ these are lettuce sea slugs. The second one is a small juvenile with more delicate coloring.

(Panama)

[Reach]

Originally Posted by Gradient

Jellyfish - Ft Lauderdale - Panasonic TG2

Great shot! I always check in & around jellies for post-larval fish hitchhikers

[Reach]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Who says there isn't anything to see around here? Taken one hour ago snorkeling 30 meters off the stern at our anchorage in Sardinia.

Okay, this bass was intriguing me so just I had to try to identify it!!

It reminded me of the 2-3 inch sized harlequin bass or lantern bass that I see in the Carib... so I started searching in the serranidae family in the Mediterranean and found a resemblance with the comber fish.

Did you notice that blue spot on its side? So cool! This appears to be a painted comber fish.

Thx for the fun search ~ couldn't resist

[Kreef]

I do remember the giant grouper that I saw while diving around Skiathos in 1973.There were 3 of them hanging out in a cave .So they definitely used to be around.

[Kenomac]

Yesterday's pic 50 meters off the stern 4 meters down.

[Kenomac]

More underwater color from yesterday. Lighting makes all the difference, just looked like beige rocks without it. Also helps to just dive down and have a look.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Ken, we have similar coloured red coralline algae here too. It tends to be in shadier areas, so it is hard to spot unless I am close.

I am finding the fish challenging. Few of them stay put long enough for me to get a clear shot. You did well catching that bass.

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Kreef, interesting that groupers were seen here a few decades ago. I think they tend to only be found at greater depths now (30+ metres?).

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Reach, thanks for the tip about using a gloved hand to help with stability. That helped a lot the last dive.
That lettuce slug looks amazing!

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Internet is almost non existent currently, so I will have a batch of photos to post when it comes good. I have found several more octopuses and several types of tiny blennies (2-3 cm long). I am struggling photographing the tiny fish well though. They are in darker spots and with the camera about 10cm from them using the macro setting, there is insufficient light. The flash doesn't produce a good result. I will keep experimenting .

I have so enjoyed seeing everyone's photos. Please keep them coming .

SWL

[Kenomac]

I've seen Groupers while scuba diving off Sardinia, just last year. Maybe 20 meters down, a little too deep for free diving.

[JPA Cate]

Do keep the pictures coming, guys. So many of you have taken really impressive pics. Thank you all.

Ann

[LakeSuperior]

The Emperor slammed into Canoe Rocks off Isle Royale. A photo from a week ago.

[Reach]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Internet is almost non existent currently, so I will have a batch of photos to post when it comes good. I have found several more octopuses and several types of tiny blennies (2-3 cm long).

SWL

Can't wait to see your blennies - they are on the top of my list of favorite subjects!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Reach

Can't wait to see your blennies - they are on the top of my list of favorite subjects!

Blennies are cool. I used to do a lot of diving in the GOM and anytime you found a beer can there would be a blennie living in...like little blennie condos. ;-)