A Sampling of Fiji Marine Creatures

Aerial View of Vatu-i-Ra Coral Seascape, Fiji, Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island

Aerial View of Vatu-i-Ra Coral Seascape, Fiji
Image ID: 34691
Location: Vatu I Ra Passage, Bligh Waters, Viti Levu Island, Fiji

On my last trip to Fiji the goal was to make expansive wide-angle images of the spectacular coral reefs of the Fiji’s Bligh Waters, of which the Vatu-i-ra Seascape aerial view above is a part. Of the 40 or so dives I made, all but a few were made with either a fisheye lens or a very wide 16mm rectalinear lens. I do not often set up my camera to shoot small creatures, and for many years didn’t even own a macro lens. But in the last year or so I have made a concerted effort to devote a least a little time to photographing the ocean’s smaller things and have made some images that I am pretty happy with. My last blog post was about the “small stuff” in the cold Pacific Northwest waters of Vancouver Island. Here is a selection of critters from the warm waters of Fiji. Cheers, and thanks for looking!

Sarcophyton leather coral polyp detail, close up view, Fiji, Sarcophyton, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Sarcophyton leather coral polyp detail, close up view, Fiji.
Image ID: 34730
Species: Sarcophyton Soft Coral, Sarcophyton
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji, Dendronephthya, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji
Image ID: 34731
Species: Dendronephthya Soft Coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Blue ribbon eel, Rhinomuraena quaesita, leafnose moray eel, Fiji, Rhinomuraena quaesita, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Blue ribbon eel, Rhinomuraena quaesita, leafnose moray eel, Fiji
Image ID: 34732
Species: Blue Ribbon Eel, Rhinomuraena quaesita
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Cardinalfish, Fiji, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Cardinalfish, Fiji
Image ID: 34733
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Bignose Unicornfish, Naso vlamingii, being cleaned by a small wrasse, Fiji, Naso vlamingii, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Bignose Unicornfish, Naso vlamingii, being cleaned by a small wrasse, Fiji
Image ID: 34735
Species: Bignose Unicornfish, Naso vlamingii
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Fiji Barberi Clownfish, Amphiprion barberi, hiding among anemone tentacles, Fiji, Amphiprion barberi, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Fiji Barberi Clownfish, Amphiprion barberi, hiding among anemone tentacles, Fiji
Image ID: 34736
Species: Fiji Barberi Clownfish, Amphiprion barberi
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Parrotfish detail, Fiji, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Parrotfish detail, Fiji
Image ID: 34737
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji, Dendronephthya, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji
Image ID: 34738
Species: Dendronephthya Soft Coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Bubble coral polyp detail, Plerogyra sinuosa, Fiji, Plerogyra sinuosa

Bubble coral polyp detail, Plerogyra sinuosa, Fiji
Image ID: 34745
Species: Bubble Coral, Plerogyra sinuosa
Location: Fiji

Pink Skunk Anemone Fish, Amphiprion perideraion, Fiji, Amphiprion perideraion

Pink Skunk Anemone Fish, Amphiprion perideraion, Fiji
Image ID: 34746
Species: Pink anemonefish, Pink Anemonefish, Amphiprion perideraion
Location: Fiji

Crinoid feather star closeup view of tentacles, which it extends into ocean currents, Fiji, Crinoidea, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Crinoid feather star closeup view of tentacles, which it extends into ocean currents, Fiji.
Image ID: 34756
Species: Crinoid Feather Star, Crinoidea
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Coral Hind, Cephalopholis miniata, also known as Coral Trout and Coral Grouper, Fiji, Cephalopholis miniata, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Coral Hind, Cephalopholis miniata, also known as Coral Trout and Coral Grouper, Fiji
Image ID: 34757
Species: Coral Grouper, Cephalopholis miniata
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Phyllidia coelestis nudibranch, Fiji, Phyllidia coelestis, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Phyllidia coelestis nudibranch, Fiji
Image ID: 34758
Species: Phyllidia coelestis
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Blackside hawkfish on hard coral, Paracirrhites forsteri, close-up, Fiji, Paracirrhites forsteri, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Blackside hawkfish on hard coral, Paracirrhites forsteri, close-up, Fiji
Image ID: 34759
Species: Blackside Hawkfish, Paracirrhites forsteri
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Crinoid (feather star) extends its tentacles into ocean currents, on pristine south pacific coral reef, Fiji, Crinoidea

Crinoid (feather star) extends its tentacles into ocean currents, on pristine south pacific coral reef, Fiji
Image ID: 34767
Species: Crinoid Feather Star, Crinoidea
Location: Fiji

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji, Dendronephthya

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji
Image ID: 34771
Species: Dendronephthya Soft Coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Fiji

Reef lizardfish, Synodus variegatus, Fiji, Synodus variegatus

Reef lizardfish, Synodus variegatus, Fiji
Image ID: 34772
Species: Reef Lizardfish, Synodus variegatus
Location: Fiji

Bluestripe clownfish, Amphiprion chrysopterus, Fiji, Amphiprion chrysopterus

Bluestripe clownfish, Amphiprion chrysopterus, Fiji
Image ID: 34775
Species: Bluestripe Clownfish, Amphiprion chrysopterus
Location: Fiji

Spiral-gilled tubeworm, Christmas tree worm, Blue Christmas Tree Worm Spirobranchus giganteus, Fiji, Spirobranchus giganteus

Spiral-gilled tubeworm, Christmas tree worm, Blue Christmas Tree Worm Spirobranchus giganteus, Fiji
Image ID: 34777
Species: Christmas Tree Worm, Spirobranchus giganteus
Location: Fiji

Golden Damselfish, Fiji, Amblyglyphidodon aureus

Golden Damselfish, Fiji
Image ID: 34779
Species: Golden Damselfish, Amblyglyphidodon aureus
Location: Fiji

Ring-tailed cardinal fish, Male tending eggs in his mouth, Ostorhinchus aureus, Fiji, Ostorhinchus aureus, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Ring-tailed cardinal fish, Male tending eggs in his mouth, Ostorhinchus aureus, Fiji
Image ID: 34786
Species: Ring Tailed Cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus aureus
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Anthias fish school around green fan coral, Fiji, Pseudanthias, Bligh Waters

Anthias fish school around green fan coral, Fiji
Image ID: 34793
Species: Anthias, Pseudanthias
Location: Bligh Waters, Fiji

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji, Dendronephthya, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Dendronephthya soft coral detail including polyps and calcium carbonate spicules, Fiji
Image ID: 34799
Species: Dendronephthya Soft Coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Coral polyp detail, Fiji, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Coral polyp detail, Fiji
Image ID: 34800
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

Golden Damselfish, Fiji, Amblyglyphidodon aureus, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island

Golden Damselfish, Fiji
Image ID: 34927
Species: Golden Damselfish, Amblyglyphidodon aureus
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!