RKH Photography

It’s always an ‘interesting’ experience when a 10 foot shark comes up close and smiles at you. Knowing which shark you are involved with and how to react is helpful. Lemons tend to be more curious than a real threat, but caution is always called for.

This Bomber was famous for many sorties in Papua New Guinea, before it made an emergency water landing, eventually resting at 154 feet at the edge of a coral reef wall. For awhile, it was an exciting, but risky dive for SCUBA divers. It was in amazing condition considering it was in the sea for over 75 years.

An underwater videographer 'shoots' Panda Butterflyfish on the Atoll ‘Lyang Lyang’ in the South China Sea.

Framed by a sea cave, this SCUBA diver enjoys the warm, clear waters near Mary Island in the Solomon Islands.

Few things are more fun for a SCUBA diver than being party to a group of exuberant sea lion cubs as they cavort around you.

Humpback whales and dozens of Pacific Common Dolphins were seen cooperating in a feeding frenzy between Santa Cruz Island and the California mainland.

Ship Rock, a rocky pinnacle a short distance off shore of Catalina Island, provides a home in a dense Giant Kelp forest for Garibaldi, California's State marine fish and schooling Jack Mackerels. Kelp is vital to to the well being of nearly all marine life in coastal North America and is sensitive to warm water temperatures.

The struts of oil rig "Eureka" provide shelter for a huge bait ball of Jack Mackerel, although Cormorants and Sea Lions harass them in the clear warm water in October.

Cormorants and Sea Lions were hunting Jack Mackerel beneath the oil rig "Eureka" in the San Pedro Channel.

Thousands of Jack Mackerel find protection in schooling under the oil rig "Eureka".

This large, imposing bottom-dweller can reach up to 5 feet in length and is prized by sport fisherman in California. Males guard their eggs and will aggressively defend against all comers, including unwary SCUBA divers.

It is always a treat to swim with sea turtles, but it is a very rare occurrence in California. Warmer than usual sea temperatures probably allowed this visitor from Mexico or Hawaii to venture off shore of Southern California.

Giant Kelpfish are elongated and mimic kelp fronds and adapt their coloration to the seaweed, so that as they sway in the surge off Southern California islands, they can become almost invisible. One color phase is a brilliant yellow.

Juvenile Garibaldi are brilliantly colored with electric blue and orange. As they mature and grow, they lose their blue spots. The adults are entirely golden orange with no blue. This beauty was found among the  Coryactis Anemones on the submarine supports of an oil rig off Long Beach, California.

The orange juvenile Sheepshead swimming alongside this five foot giant gives some perspective as to how massive these gentle giants really are. The little Sheepshead will pick off sea lice and dead skin off its companion. Both the Sea Bass and the Sheepshead benefit from this transaction.

One of the larger fish a SCUBA diver or a fisherman is likely to see off California is the the Giant Sea Bass, also called locally the "Black Sea Bass". The older adults can get over seven feet long and weigh hundreds of pounds. They were fairly common in Southern California waters until they were over fished to near extinction. In twenty plus years of diving, I only saw one juvenile, while diving off the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the early 1980's. At about that time, it became illegal to be in possession of these gentle giants, with a stiff fine for the fisherman or spear fisherman caught with one. In the last twenty years or so, they have become a fairly common site in the summer off Catalina and the channel islands. Each year, we have seen larger individuals and more of them. Apparently animals threatened with extinction can sometimes bounce back with help from enlightened conservation policies.

California's State marine fish, this large, colorfful damsel is very curious and usually unafraid of divers. Occasionally they have been known to mildly attack their reflection in the port of an underwater photographer's camera housing or nibble on fingers and hair of tolerant divers.

A curious young Sea Lion peers out of the kelp forest at Santa Barbara Island, California.

Sometimes seen in pods of hundreds to thousands of individuals, these graceful, athletic animals are seen worldwide in tropical and temperate seas. In the past all Common Dolphins were thought to be a single species, but now "Short-beaked" and a "Long-beaked" Common Dolphins are recognized. Off the California Coast, these up to seven foot long dolphins are seen off shore. A special treat for boaters is their habit to approach a fast moving boat and ride the bow wake. It is amazing to watch them swimming in front of a boat, effortlessly darting back and forth, apparently just for the fun of it. 

These energetic Sea Lions approached me and definitely wanted to "play". They barked in my face, nibbled on my fins and camera and performed underwater acrobatics to my delight. Sea Lions are the fastest aquatic carnivores; they can swim up to 25 MPH and can descend to over 400 feet  and stay underwater for up to 20 minutes. Once hunted for their oil in their blubber and for dog food, today they are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Once very diminished, they are returning to their pre-hunted numbers off the coast of North America.

Anemonefish have a unique relationship with sea anemones; they develop an immunity to the anemone's stinging tentacles and live their entire lives swimming in and near their host. This apparently provides protection to the fish and also provides potential food to the anemone.

The island nation of Fiji is noted for its vibrantly colored coral reefs and abundant sea life. This school of fusiliers flashes over the reef in a display of electric blue and yellow.

Looking a little ominous, these 8 foot Lemon Sharks approached me and gave me a little thrill, then went on their way. Not considered very dangerous to divers, they look the part but are generally curious but not aggressive.

I hope this photo conveys the great pleasure I have received by being fortunate enough to visit beautiful undersea worlds. This was taken in the Somosomo Strait Between Vanua Levu and Taveuni, Fiji.

Photo by Lawrence Fealy

This beautifully bizarre looking marine predator has its eyes on the outer edges of its "hammer". This apparently gives it good vision above and below it at all times. Hammers are unusual because they tend to school in the daytime and become solitary hunters at night. We saw hundreds of schooling hammerheads, generally below 100 feet deep at Cocos Island. This remote island is over 40 hours by boat from the nearest harbor in Costa Rica. 

Like all large sharks, millions of hammerheads are slaughtered for the "shark fin soup" trade. They are critically endangered, mostly to provide a thickener for soup in Asia.

One of the prettier "clownfish", the Spinecheek  hovers over its host anemone, aggressively fending off other fish that come nearby. Some clownfish will even try to attack SCUBA divers who get too close. I've been nipped once or twice. No pain, but a little startling.

Raja Ampat, the "four kings" referring to the four main islands in the area, is in the "coral triangle" off the Northwestern tip of West Papua. This area is considered the epicenter of sea life biodiversity. This coral bommie illustrates the intense profusion of life found in these waters.

SCUBA diving in Raja Ampat is often an exercise in over stimulation. The profusion of life is astounding. The colors are often unbelievable and Its hard to decide where and what to photograph.

Tiger sharks are large, up to 16 feet long, and one of the most important "macro-predators" in the oceans of the world. With a diet that includes most sea life, from turtles and fish to other sharks and rays, to inedible objects it finds interesting to swallow, it provides a control in the ocean that terrestrial predators like tigers, lions, wolves and bears  supply on land. Much like all of these large predators, sharks are greatly threatened by human activity. Perhaps their decimation by the "shark-fin" trade for a soup thickener, is the most heinous of all marine barbarities. It is estimated that many millions are killed by finning each year.

Jellyfish Lake is in the center of Eil Malk Island in the Rock Islands of Palau, Micronesia. Snorkelers can swim with millions of golden jellies and moon jellies that generally are not harmful to touch. It is thought that they have evolved over the 12,000 years the lake has existed, to rely on photosynthesis of the algae in them for nutrition. Thus, they have lost the need to sting small marine animals. 

These baleful looking fish are rarely see in the daytime. On "night dives", they can occasionally be found mostly buried in the sand. They are ambush predators. They wait patiently until an unsuspecting fish swims over them. They can explode from their hiding place to devour their prey in seconds.

With the sun overhead on a calm day, a shallow amber-colored reef is mirrored on the ocean's surface. 

Seamounts like the remote Island of Malpelo in the eastern Caribbean are magnets for ocean going animals. This huge school of "Silkys" was circling the island at about 40 to 60 feet below the surface. Normally schooling sharks are not feeding and we were happy to enjoy this amazing spectacle.

Brilliant pinks, purples, oranges and reds are hallmarks of vibrant Fijian coral reefs. 

Brightly colored anemonefish and their host anemones are common sights on coral reefs around the world. 

Coral Reef Snakes, also called Sea Snakes are highly adapted to living in the sea. They are air-breathing reptiles, but spend most if not all of their lives in the ocean. Highly venomous, most are not aggressive unless provoked, like most wild animals. 

One of the most exotic, beautiful eels in the world, the Ribbon Eels are usually seen by SCUBA divers shyly sticking out of a sandy burrow. They are favorite subjects for underwater photographers and salt water aquarists due to their gaudy colors and elegant good looks.

Found in both  the Atlantic and Pacific subtropical and tropical oceans, these large turtles are famous for their long annual migratory journeys. Many islands around the world are called "Turtle Island" because these hardy reptiles lay their eggs on their beaches every year. Like most sea creatures, they are threatened by over fishing and habitat destruction.

Lemon sharks are fairly large, up to ten feet in length, and sleek denizens of shallow, sub-tropical seas. Their yellowish coloration provides camouflage as they swim over sandy sea floors.

These handsome sharks reach a length of up to 8 feet. They are seen in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil and rarely near Florida. Although wary of divers, they are considered dangerous, especially if spearfishing is occurring in the vicinity.

Even though Lemon Sharks are not thought to be very dangerous to man, it is easy to appreciate the potential threat such dental hardware presents to anyone in their vicinity.

This very large Tiger Shark and an underwater photographer meet "eye-to-eye" in the Bahamas. Although sharks are generally portrayed as vicious killers by the media, SCUBA divers have often found them to be curious, not always threatening,  and magnificent to behold. Of course, such courageous divers need to  understand that these impressive predators can be very dangerous and should not be taken lightly. 

Papua New Guinea is one of the most remote and interesting places in the world. It is home to some of the most pristine coral reefs as well as little explored and relatively untouched forests and mountains. New species of marine animals as well as birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals are still being discovered in these areas even today.

This tiny polka-dotted fish will lose its bright colors as it ages. It usually hides within rocky or coral-encrusted reefs for protection and is a favorite of underwater photographers.

This gaudily-colored grouper demonstrates how bright colors can be an advantage for breeding and possibly camouflage in a colorful coral reef.

The name "nudibranch" translates to "naked gill". The yellow feathery gills on the back are exposed, hence the name. These relatives of garden slugs and snails are exquisitely colored and favorite photo subjects of underwater photographers. Many are brightly colored to warn potential predators that they carry an unpleasant wallop if eaten. They eat smaller organisms and incorporate their toxins and stinging cells for defense.

This female anemone fish is larger and less brightly colored than her male counterparts. The second largest, a male, is her mate. The pair bully the other smaller fish that live within their host anemone. If one of the larger fish dies, a smaller one grows and takes its place, even changing its sex, if necessary.

These large rays are graceful acrobats that are amazing to behold. Found worldwide in warm oceans, they are now considered "vulnerable" or "threatened" (for extinction), because of entanglement in fishing nets and "harvesting", especially for their gills, which are used for Chinese medicine. 

Also called Blue-line Snappers, these schooling fish are widespread in the Indian Ocean and extend from the coast of Africa and the Red Sea to the central Pacific Ocean.  

The Republic of Maldives, southwest of India, is a huge archipelago extending for over 35,000 square miles. It's highest point above sea level is less than 8 feet. The country is therefore understandably very concerned about the changing climate and its accompanying rising sea level.

This vibrant male coral fish was seen near Sulawesi, Indonesia on a sloping coral reef wall. Sometimes hundreds of brightly colored coral fish can be seen hovering near sea fans and soft corals, feeding on plankton in the current.

These tiny bennies are common throughout the Galapagos Islands, but are found no where else. They usually live in empty barnacle shells and perch with just their heads jutting out. They dart outside the shell to feed on food floating by.

These small, nocturnal shrimp are rarely seen by divers in the daytime. Only with a 'dive light' and patience on a night dive, can you find this beautiful, secretive little shrimp.

These bizarrely beautiful little shrimp are fierce predators of certain species of sea stars. They are often seen feeding on a leg of a victim, after paralyzing it with a toxin. These shrimp have been known to feed on a sea star for many days, eating only the legs, one at a time. They apparently need this specific prey to survive.

Lembeh Strait in Kungkungan Bay is a world famous site for SCUBA divers who love to look for small, weird sea creatures hiding  on the sea floor. This 'desert' of dark sand is home to hundreds of strange, beautiful and amazing creatures. This snake eel is waiting to make a meal of some small fish that might swim by and provides a temporary perch for a pair of shrimp. These 'cleaner' shrimp may provide some service to the eel by removing parasites or dead skin.

Like most Cephalopods, (Octopuses, Cuttlefish and Squid), these little underwater speedsters can change colors rapidly, conveying alarm, aggression and fear. This one was seen near Isla Mujeres in the Caribbean Sea.

The largest fish in the world, the aptly-named Whale Shark is a gentle filter-feeder, much like many true whales. Thus the largest animals in the sea eat the smallest. In this case, many Whale Sharks congregate in the Caribbean near Isla Mujeres in the summer to feast on the eggs of spawning Little Tunny, providing a great opportunity to swim with these incredible giants.

The largest fish in the world, the Whale Shark can reach almost 50 feet in length. 

Living mostly in a vertical hole in the sandy bottom, these jawfish are named for their over-sized jaws. The males brood their eggs and fry in their mouths for a week or more, before releasing the tiny fish to their fate on the sea floor.

These tiny, translucent shrimp live almost exclusively in Bubble Corals. Bubble Coral Shrimp often live in pairs in one protected corner of the coral. They are almost invisible to SCUBA divers, especially during the day. They venture out to feed at night, when they may be more easily spotted.

When I spotted this pair of little fish perched  in a Mushroom Leather Coral, I immediately thought of the Muppets. They get an "A" for cute!

Unfortunately, the gigantic, amazing Great Barrier reef is currently undergoing a major coral bleaching event. Causes are many including ocean acidification and a rapidly changing climate. Hopefully the reef and all its inhabitants will survive for many years to come.

Colorful nudibranchs are the little jewels of the ocean and a favorite subject for underwater photographers; they come in an amazing variety of shapes and colors and they are VERY slow! (Easy to photograph, unlike fish, which tend to move around a lot).

Off the Northwest of Borneo are a number of tiny islands that are wonderful places for SCUBA divers. Sipadan and Mabul are two of the most famous.

One way to describe a close encounter with a ten foot apex predator like this beautiful Tiger Shark is “breathtaking”. Although considered very dangerous and known to bite just about anything it comes upon, very few SCUBA divers have been attacked worldwide.

Unfortunately, this very important part of the warm oceanic food chain is being severly threatened by human activity including over fishing, especially for the disgusting and ridiculous “Shark fin soup” trade and various threats to the oceans due to changes in the climate.

Sometimes sea creatures are as interested in you as you are them. This little pup gets the prize for cute.

Marbled Rays are fairly large, getting up to ten feet in length. Usually seen resting on the bottom in the daytime, at night, they are aggressive hunters of bi-valves, crabs and shrimp. Locally prized for their meat, but not usually commercially fished, they become wasted ‘by-catch’, caught in nets and lines from pirate shark finners.

Not all sharks are scary and this little shark is often seen in schools of dozens, circling the rocky pinnacles and paying little attention to divers.

There are few experiences for me as exciting and awe inspiring as swimming alongside a 50 feet, giant like a whale. I was lucky to be on one of only two small boats allowed to enter the Silver Banks each week when the whales were present.

These colorful little fish get their name because they are lightning quick. A SCUBA diver that isn’t very careful will rarely get within ten feet of them. When disturbed (and they are easily disturbed!), they ‘dart’ into a burrow in the sandy rubble of a coral reef.

These odd-looking puffers are fairly common in the islands of the South and Indo Pacific. We unfortunately alarmed this one on a night dive. When frightened, they gulp water and swell up, likely to make it difficult for any predator that might want to eat it, to get a mouthful.

Raja Ampat in West Papua, Indonesia is possibly the world’s most pristine coral reef environment and is home to more species of marine life than almost any other place on earth. This beautiful anemonefish swims in the protective tentacles of a large sea anemone.

It’s always a little shocking to be exploring a tropical reef and have a Sea Snake come swimming by. Although their venom is very poisonous, most sea snakes have very small mouths, making it hard to bite a human except in the webbing between fingers and toes or ear lobes. That and generally docile temperaments mean they aren’t much of a threat to divers. They are beautiful and intriguing to watch as they hunt for small fish.

Can you see it? About as big as your little fingernail, these cryptic seahorses are a treasured find for underwater photographers. I’ve seen divers use a magnifying glass just to be able to see them clearly. (See next page)

Looking closer, you can see that these seahorses mimic their chosen seafan very well.

Hundreds of Pearly Cardinalfish seek food while being protected in a sheltered reef near Kri Island in the Raja Ampat area.

Similar to the more well known nudibranch sea slugs, these ‘sap-sucking’ slugs are an interesting find for underwater explorers.

When you are looking closely at corals, sponges and other tropical reef animals that adhere to the substrate, you can occasionally find tiny shrimps and crabs that make their living among the branches and crevices of their host animals. This little shrimp rarely leaves the protection of this soft coral ‘tree’.

Fewer little animals have a safer home than the very dangerous, (to potential predators), spines of this Variable Fire Urchin. This tiny urchin crab stays put and thrives without leaving its host.

This tiny little ‘ambush predator’ waves a lure in front of its head to attract small fish. When the hapless victim comes near, it inhales it in just a split second. Frog fishes are found through the warm tropical oceans and are as colorful as their coral reef homes.

Maybe as big as your thumb nail, this tiny lobster makes an imposing display for me as I try to take its portrait. Coral reefs are great places to slow down and look closely for all the little hidden gems that can be found there.

Of all the beautiful and amazing fish I’ve been fortunate to see while diving, this little beauty may be one of my favorites. Shy and rarely seen, this Dottyback always delights when it favors me with a few seconds of its presence.