Research Photos

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North Pacific humpback whales, a mother and calf pair swim closely together just under the surface of the ocean.  The calf will remain with its mother for about a year, migrating from Hawaii to Alaska to feed on herring, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whales, a mother and calf pair swim closely together just under the surface of the ocean. The calf will remain with its mother for about a year, migrating from Hawaii to Alaska to feed on herring.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00140  
Humpback whale breaching, near Molokai, Hawaii. Megaptera novaeangliae.  It is suspected the breaching often has a communicative purpose which depends on the behavioral context of the moment, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale breaching, near Molokai, Hawaii. Megaptera novaeangliae. It is suspected the breaching often has a communicative purpose which depends on the behavioral context of the moment.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00205  
Humpback whale breaching with pectoral fins lifting spray from the ocean surface, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale breaching with pectoral fins lifting spray from the ocean surface.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 03854  
Scripps Pier solstice, sunset aligned perfectly with the pier, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Scripps Pier solstice, sunset aligned perfectly with the pier.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28475  
Giant Black Sea Bass with Distinctive Identifying Black Spots that allow researchers to carry out sight/resight studies on the animals distributions and growth.  Black sea bass can reach 500 pounds and 8 feet in length, Stereolepis gigas, Catalina Island
Giant Black Sea Bass with Distinctive Identifying Black Spots that allow researchers to carry out sight/resight studies on the animals distributions and growth. Black sea bass can reach 500 pounds and 8 feet in length.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 39433  
Scripps Pier and Christmas Lights during holiday season, night exposure, La Jolla Coastline, Aerial view, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Pier and Christmas Lights during holiday season, night exposure, La Jolla Coastline, Aerial view.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38181  
SIO Pier, Scripps Pier, La Jolla.  The Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier is 1090 feet long and was built of reinforced concrete in 1988, replacing the original wooden pier built in 1915. The Scripps Pier is home to a variety of sensing equipment above and below water that collects various oceanographic data. The Scripps research diving facility is located at the foot of the pier. Fresh seawater is pumped from the pier to the many tanks and facilities of SIO, including the Birch Aquarium. The Scripps Pier is named in honor of Ellen Browning Scripps, the most significant donor and benefactor of the Institution
SIO Pier, Scripps Pier, La Jolla. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier is 1090 feet long and was built of reinforced concrete in 1988, replacing the original wooden pier built in 1915. The Scripps Pier is home to a variety of sensing equipment above and below water that collects various oceanographic data. The Scripps research diving facility is located at the foot of the pier. Fresh seawater is pumped from the pier to the many tanks and facilities of SIO, including the Birch Aquarium. The Scripps Pier is named in honor of Ellen Browning Scripps, the most significant donor and benefactor of the Institution.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 22286  
Holiday Christmas Lights on Scripps Pier, Blacks Beach and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, sunset, aerial, La Jolla, California
Holiday Christmas Lights on Scripps Pier, Blacks Beach and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, sunset, aerial.
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39879  
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater.  Only male humpbacks have been observed singing.  All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater. Only male humpbacks have been observed singing. All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02796  
Humpback whale mother, calf (top), male escort (rear), underwater.  A young humpback calf typically swims alongside or above its mother, and male escorts will usually travel behind the mother, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale mother, calf (top), male escort (rear), underwater. A young humpback calf typically swims alongside or above its mother, and male escorts will usually travel behind the mother.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02819  
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 female (left) during a competitive group.  The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other male whales interested in the mother, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
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 female (left) during a competitive group. The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other male whales interested in the mother.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02828  
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, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
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  
North Pacific humpback whale, escort in competitive group makes fast close pass, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale, escort in competitive group makes fast close pass.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 06057  
Full Moon Setting Over SIO Pier in the moments just before sunrise, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Full Moon Setting Over SIO Pier in the moments just before sunrise, Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37509  
Scripps Pier solstice, surfer's view from among the waves, sunset aligned perfectly with the pier. Research pier at Scripps Institution of Oceanography SIO, sunset, La Jolla, California
Scripps Pier solstice, surfer's view from among the waves, sunset aligned perfectly with the pier. Research pier at Scripps Institution of Oceanography SIO, sunset.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30150  
Two satellite tags, below dorsal fin of great white shark.  The tags record the sharks movements, relaying data to researchers via satellite, Carcharodon carcharias, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Two satellite tags, below dorsal fin of great white shark. The tags record the sharks movements, relaying data to researchers via satellite.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 21391  
North Pacific humpback whale showing extensive scarring, almost certainly from a boat propeller, on dorsal ridge.  This female North Pacific humpback whale was first seen with the depicted lacerations near the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands in the mid-90s, and is the original humpback to bear the name 'Blade Runner'. This female has apparently recovered, as evidenced the calf she was observed nurturing. A South Pacific humpback whale endured a similar injury in Sydney Australia in 2001, and bears a remarkably similar scar pattern to the above-pictured whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
North Pacific humpback whale showing extensive scarring, almost certainly from a boat propeller, on dorsal ridge. This female North Pacific humpback whale was first seen with the depicted lacerations near the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands in the mid-90s, and is the original humpback to bear the name 'Blade Runner'. This female has apparently recovered, as evidenced the calf she was observed nurturing. A South Pacific humpback whale endured a similar injury in Sydney Australia in 2001, and bears a remarkably similar scar pattern to the above-pictured whale.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05909  
Humpback whale breaching, pectoral fin and rostrom visible, Megaptera novaeangliae, San Diego, California
Humpback whale breaching, pectoral fin and rostrom visible.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 27955  
North Pacific humpback whale, peduncle throw, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale, peduncle throw.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02153  
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier at night, lit with stars in the sky, old La Jolla town in the distance
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier at night, lit with stars in the sky, old La Jolla town in the distance.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28451  
Humpback whale breaching, pectoral fin and rostrom visible, Megaptera novaeangliae, San Diego, California
Humpback whale breaching, pectoral fin and rostrom visible.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 27958  
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier at sunset, with Christmas Lights and Christmas Tree, La Jolla, California
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier at sunset, with Christmas Lights and Christmas Tree.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 36615  
Conjuction of Saturn and Jupiter over Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier at sunset, with Christmas Lights and Christmas Tree, La Jolla, California
Conjuction of Saturn and Jupiter over Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier at sunset, with Christmas Lights and Christmas Tree.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 36616  
Giant Black Sea Bass with Distinctive Identifying Black Spots that allow researchers to carry out sight/resight studies on the animals distributions and growth.  Black sea bass can reach 500 pounds and 8 feet in length, Stereolepis gigas, Catalina Island
Giant Black Sea Bass with Distinctive Identifying Black Spots that allow researchers to carry out sight/resight studies on the animals distributions and growth. Black sea bass can reach 500 pounds and 8 feet in length.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 39437  
Broad Tail of a Black Sea Bass in the California Kelp Forest showing distinctive unique black spots that allow researchers to identify individual giant sea bass, Stereolepis gigas, Catalina Island
Broad Tail of a Black Sea Bass in the California Kelp Forest showing distinctive unique black spots that allow researchers to identify individual giant sea bass.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 39438  
Aerial Photo of San Diego Scripps Coastal SMCA. Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier, La Jolla, California
Aerial Photo of San Diego Scripps Coastal SMCA. Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30626  
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater.  Only male humpbacks have been observed singing.  All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater. Only male humpbacks have been observed singing. All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02794  
Humpback whale competitive group, underwater, swimming quickly and one trailing a stream of bubbles, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale competitive group, underwater, swimming quickly and one trailing a stream of bubbles.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02854  
Large competitive group of humpback whales seen underwater, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Large competitive group of humpback whales seen underwater.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04462  
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, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
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: 05928  
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.