wildlife
Adventures in the wild do not end at the water’s edge. This archive broadens the scope, documenting the animal kingdom both above and below the surface. While the logbook is heavily saturated with marine life, the journey to remote dive destinations often provides opportunities to witness terrestrial giants during the surface interval. Here, you will find a collection of species profiles and behavioral observations that span from the silent drift of a shark to the heavy tread of an elephant, united by a shared respect for the natural world.
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This Time Last Year – Tiger Shark
We arrived at the on-premise dive shop at Waidroka Bay Resort and were told our first dives would be at a dive site called “Shark Reef.” Divers from around the world visit Fiji to dive with up to 8 different species of sharks. Mostly Bull Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Lemon…
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11:44AM Christmas Scuba Dive
How time flies! Last Christmas, we explored the colorful and healthy coral reef off the coast of Fiji. Happy Holidays!
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Christmas Tree Worm
The Christmas tree worm, known scientifically as Spirobranchus giganteus, is a tube-building worm native to tropical oceans between the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific. The worms’ most distinct features are two “crowns” shaped like Christmas trees. The multicolored spirals are highly derived structures for feeding and respiration. Christmas tree worms average about 1.5 inches in length, and their…
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Crocodilefish and Turtle
This was a super cool moment! I was diving along a sea wall in front of an island called Bunaken. Sitting on a ledge was a resting Sea Turtle with two Remoras on its shell. As I positioned to take the photo, a Crocodilefish quickly jumped into the frame. It caught me off guard as…
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Diving the Coral Coast of Fiji
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji. The island is about 91 miles long and 66 miles wide, covering over 4,000 square miles. The island is so large and diverse that I had to divide my dive trip into two parts. On the first leg of my trip, I dived on…
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Mini Me – Anemonefish Edition
Anemonefish or Clownfish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. These Anemonefish were spotted in the Bunaken National Park in Indonesia. The marine park is located in the north of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. Thanks to the fantastic dive team at the Siladen Resort & Spa.
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Sneaky Shark on Reef Patrol
This Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) circled us several times. Each time, the shark circled closer and closer. On this pass, the sneaky shark approached us from the bottom of the reef and came in for a closer inspection. I was not planning on filming this shark. I was attempting to film several different species…
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Yellow-Spotted Flatworm (Thysanozoon nigropapillosum)
This is a Yellow-Spotted Flatworm (Thysanozoon nigropapillosum). It is a species of polyclad flatworms belonging to the family Pseudocerotidae. We spotted this lovely creature while diving off the coast of Fiji. Our dive guide referred to this enchanting invertebrate as a Yellow-Spotted Flatworm. However, it is also referred to as Gold-Speckled Flatworm, Yellow Papillae Flatworm,…
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Pacific Ocean Sharks
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island part of the Revillagigedo Archipelago. Scuba divers visit this remote island chain in the Pacific Ocean to see big animals underwater. The nutrient-rich ocean currents attract a wide variety of animals like Manta Rays, Sharks, Dolphins, Whales and large schools of fish.
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Trunkfish Tuesday
One of my favorite fish to observe in the Caribbean is the Smooth Trunkfish. For some reason it remind me of a disco. 😀 The Smooth Trunkfish is also known as Lactophrys triqueter. It’s a species of boxfish commonly found along coral and rocky reefs in tropical waters. The smooth trunkfish is normally solitary but…