Pacific photos

Plexauridae sea fan or gorgonian on coral reef. This gorgonian is a type of colonial alcyonacea soft coral that filters plankton from passing ocean currents.
Species: Gorgonian, Gorgonacea
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 34707  

Tracy swimming alongside beautiful Dendronephthya soft corals displaying incredible color on a Fijian coral reef. Soft corals swell when the current is running and extend outward to capture passing plankton and food.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Black sun coral, Dendronephthya, Tubastrea micrantha
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 41021  

Tracy and Chironephthya soft corals on the wall of Mount Mutiny, a spectacular deepwater sea mount in the Bligh Waters of Fiji.
Species: Chironephthya soft coral, Chironephthya
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 41022  

Tracy and one of the beautiful outcroppings of Golden Yellow Dendronephthya soft coral at the "Mellow Yellow" dive site. Beautiful Dendronephthya soft corals display incredible color on Fijian coral reefs. They swell when the current is running and extend outward to capture passing plankton and food.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 41025  

Purple is the new Black. Anthias swarm around a huge purple sea fan gorgonian which lies perpendicular to prevailing currents so that it can capture plankton passing by. Gorgonians and Hard Corals on Tropical Coral Reef, Fiji Islands.
Species: Gorgonian, Gorgonacea
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji
Image ID: 41026  

Humpback whales bubblenet feeding in Southeast Alaska. Coordinated bubble-net feeding is a specialized cooperative feeding technique used by humpback whales, where a group of whales works together to trap fish or krill in a net of bubbles then lunge through to feed.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Sitka Sound, Alaska
Image ID: 40921  

Brilliantly colorful coral reef, with swarms of anthias fishes and soft corals, Fiji.
Species: Anthias, Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya, Pseudanthias
Location: Bligh Waters, Fiji
Image ID: 34708  

Closeup view of colorful dendronephthya soft corals, reaching out into strong ocean currents to capture passing planktonic food, Fiji.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Bligh Waters, Fiji
Image ID: 34713  

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji
Image ID: 34715  

A beautiful golden-brown female California Sea Lion at the Coronado Islands, posing on a carpet of purple marine algae, Baja California, Mexico.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 38559  

Tracy admires a colorful cluster of Dendronephthya soft coral surrounded by schooling anthias on a spectacular coral reef in Fiji.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Anthias, Dendronephthya, Pseudanthias
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 41023  

Beautiful Dendronephthya soft corals display incredible color on Fijian coral reefs. Two crinoids (feather stars) cling to the top of the reef structure. Soft corals swell when the current is running and extend outward to capture passing plankton and food.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji
Image ID: 41028  

Spectacularly colorful coral reef, with swarms of anthias fishes and soft corals, Fiji.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Black sun coral, Anthias, Dendronephthya, Tubastrea micrantha, Pseudanthias
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 41029  

Giant black sea bass, endangered species, reaching up to 8' in length and 500 lbs, amid giant kelp forest.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 33354  

Sunlight streams through giant kelp forest. Giant kelp, the fastest growing plant on Earth, reaches from the rocky reef to the ocean's surface like a submarine forest.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 33433  

Sunset light and acropora table coral on pristine tropical reef. Table coral competes for space on the coral reef by growing above and spreading over other coral species keeping them from receiving sunlight.
Location: Wakaya Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago, Fiji
Image ID: 31315  

Adult male humpback whale bubble streaming underwater. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims behind a mother and calf. The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby male whales interested in the mother.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05925  

Garibaldi and golden gorgonian, with a underwater forest of giant kelp rising in the background, underwater.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus, Muricea californica
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 23432  

San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, the distinctive pyramid shaped southern end of the island. San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, showing geologic terracing, underwater reefs and giant kelp forests.
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 26003  

Galapagos penguin, underwater, swimming. Bartolome Island.
Species: Galapagos penguin, Spheniscus mendiculus
Location: Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Image ID: 16234  

California sea lion and diver consider each other, underwater in the clear ocean water of Guadalupe Island.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 02251  

A northern elephant seal hovers underwater over a rocky bottom along the coastline of Guadalupe Island.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 03505  

Humpback whales surface together during coordinated bubble-net feeding in Southeast Alaska. The whales use bubbles, sound, and movement to corral fish before capturing them in their open mouths.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Sitka Sound, Alaska
Image ID: 41601  

Closeup view of colorful dendronephthya soft corals, reaching out into strong ocean currents to capture passing planktonic food, Fiji.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Fiji
Image ID: 34709  

Crinoid (feather star) extends its tentacles into ocean currents, on pristine south pacific coral reef, Fiji.
Species: Crinoid feather star, Crinoidea
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 34710  

Leather coral, Sinularia sp., Fiji.
Species: Sinularia soft coral, Sinularia
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 34711  

Plexauridae sea fan or gorgonian on coral reef. This gorgonian is a type of colonial alcyonacea soft coral that filters plankton from passing ocean currents.
Species: Gorgonian, Gorgonacea
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Image ID: 34712  

Spectacular display of pristine cabbage coral, Turbinaria reniformis, in Nigali Pass on Gao Island, Fiji.
Species: Cabbage coral, Turbinaria reniformis
Location: Nigali Passage, Gau Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago, Fiji
Image ID: 34714