1058

Caribbean Reef Octopus          

At the very end of a night dive on Grand Cayman, I spotted this Octopus along the shore wall, almost at the surface. We had already photographed several others during the dive but this one seemed so calm just sitting there. After cropping and some cleanup, the result was the image at left.

1059

Grey Angel          

This grey angel was taken on the reef near the Sunset House dive resort on Grand Cayman. At the beginning of the first of two night dives, several grey angels were seen swimming above us on the reef. I was able to capture this close-up as this large angel was turning after seeing us approaching. After the dive, the image was cropped and cleaned up to leave this image.

1060

Caribbean Reef Squid          

Night dives are my favorite because they reveal the hidden magnitude of life on the reef. Shrimp, squid, octopus, sea hare, crabs, and more come alive when the lights go out. Swimming alongside the reef over a sandy bottom, my light caught something swimming above me. In a flash, it seemed to disappear. I started a slow turn while looking up and saw this squid hanging out between me and the surface. I approached slowly and carefully, taking a photograph every few feet. After some cropping and cleanup, the image to the left was the fortunate result.

1061

Spotted Scorpionfish Face          

When diving in Cozumel, Yellowline Arrow Crabs seem as plentiful as pigeons in New York. Wherever coral or a sponge meets the sandy bottom, you can expect to find these otherworldly looking crabs.

1062

Goatfish Slippers          

On a dive off the coast of West Palm Beach Florida, I spotted this pair of Goatfish sitting together on top of a wreck of the Princess Anne. (www.aquaexplorers.com/PrincessAnne.htm) I simply could not resist the Husband and Wife look of these two fish.

1063

Spiny Puffer in Sponge          

This Balloonfish (aka Spiny Puffer) seemed to be posing for this photograph. Hanging out inside this large barrel sponge, it watched me as I set up to take this photograph. Usually quite friendly, this puffer was no exception and stayed around in the sponge until after I left the scene.

1064

Green Moray          

A very common inhabitant of the reefs in Grand Cayman, this large Green Moray Eel looks more imposing than it really is. A very curious creature, this moray will usually let divers get really close before it retreats back into the reef. Watching it's large jaws open and close makes it even more scary but this is due to the need for the eel to pump water through the gills for respiration.

1065

YellowLine Arrow Crab          

When diving in Cozumel, Yellowline Arrow Crabs seem as plentiful as pigeons in New York. Wherever coral or a sponge meets the sandy bottom, you can expect to find these otherworldly looking crabs. While swimming along a reef, I spied this crab sitting inside this sponge posing for a picture. The brilliant color and texture of the sponge is softened by the delicate arms of the crab. This image required very little cleanup and was cropped to show-off the crab inside.

1066

Octopus in Motion          

Again, night dives are my favorite and this photograph is one of the reasons why. Almost never seen during the day, this magnificent creature is one of the Night Crawlers seen regularly after dark. As we were swimming along the reef, this octopus was swimming along as well. A very friendly creature, we didn't have any effect on the direction or speed it was moving. The only sign of anxiety was the constant curling and stretching of different arms as it moved along the reef.

1067

StarEye Hermit Crab          

Swimming along the shallow grass in Cozumel, I cam across this brightly colored hermit crab eating a small fish. Check out the bright blue colored eyes and the vivid red stripes along the arms. Not a bad looking creature considering the drab look of it's borrowed shell.

1068

Lavender Sponges          

Divers with cameras dart around the reef capturing images of fish, crabs, and often anything that moves. Sometimes, you can miss the splendor and beauty of the slow or non-moving reef dwellers. Corals and Sponges blanket the reef in colors that cover the entire spectrum of visible light..

1069

Dancing Arrow Crab          

On a night dive in Cozumel, this Yellowline Arrow Crab was dancing along the sand moving away from the Sea Anemone you can see on the left. This otherworldly looking creature is one of the most frequently seen crabs in these waters and is usually calm enough around divers to allow photographs to be taken easily