Category

Underwater Photography

Diving Isla San Pedro Martir in Baja California’s Midriff Islands, Mexico Aerial PhotographyMidriff IslandsSea of CortezUnderwater Photography

Diving Isla San Pedro Martir in Baja California’s Midriff Islands, Mexico

After two days diving Isla Angel de la Guarda, we made an overnight crossing to Isla San Pedro Martir, a spectacular and remote island in the middle of the Sea of Cortez. Isla San Pedro Martir is a critical habitat for sea birds, and indeed the island is covered in…
December 15, 2024
Sea Lions in the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico, Fall 2024 Islas CoronadoSea LionUnderwater Photography

Sea Lions in the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico, Fall 2024

I managed several trips in October and November to the Coronado Islands, in northern Baja California just south of San Diego, to dive with California Sea Lion pups (Zalophus californianus) at the "Lobster Shack" rookery. I try to visit each fall when the combination of dive conditions and sea lion…
December 9, 2024
Photos of Giant Sea Bass Courtship, Mating and Spawning Groups at Catalina Island CatalinaFishUnderwater Photography

Photos of Giant Sea Bass Courtship, Mating and Spawning Groups at Catalina Island

Giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) are an enormous species of wreckfish (not a true bass) found in the kelp forests of California. Once known as "jewfish" and later as "black sea bass", giant sea bass are one of the most thrilling fish species divers will encounter in California.  They are…
July 25, 2023
A Huge Mellow California Sea Lion Bull, and a Sea Lion Pup’s Odd Coat Islas CoronadoSea LionUnderwater Photography

A Huge Mellow California Sea Lion Bull, and a Sea Lion Pup’s Odd Coat

My efforts to photograph California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) this fall were not as productive as in the past, due to a combination of cancelled trips, poor weather, dirty water and a lack of sunshine.  But on my last scheduled day diving in the Coronados this year I did have a…
December 23, 2022
Guadalupe Fur Seal Photos Underwater, Isla Guadalupe, Mexico Fur SealGuadalupe IslandMexicoUnderwater Photography

Guadalupe Fur Seal Photos Underwater, Isla Guadalupe, Mexico

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi) can be found in small colonies along Guadalupe Island, resting in shallow water and hauled out on rocks. In fact, their coloration is such a fine match for the dark volcanic rocks that make up the coastline of Guadalupe Island that they are often hard to…
November 10, 2022
New Photos of Southern Right Whales in Argentina, Eubalaena australis ArgentinaUnderwater PhotographyWhales

New Photos of Southern Right Whales in Argentina, Eubalaena australis

After a three year break, I made it back to Peninsula Valdes with friends in September for another visit with Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis). There were two sessions planned and I was looking forward to both. The first was filled with sunny weather, inquisitive whales and generally great conditions.…
November 8, 2022
South American Sea Lions, Otaria flavescens, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina ArgentinaSea LionUnderwater Photography

South American Sea Lions, Otaria flavescens, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina

When I was in Argentina recently to photograph southern right whales, one of our secondary goals was to also photograph South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens), aka "southern sea lions".   In 2019 we had spent a little time with them near Puerto Madryn, but that rookery is heavily visited…
October 24, 2022
San Clemente Island Underwater: a Symphony of Sea Fans, or, Gonzo for Gorgonians CaliforniaSan Clemente IslandUnderwater Photography

San Clemente Island Underwater: a Symphony of Sea Fans, or, Gonzo for Gorgonians

San Clemente Island is one of my favorite places to dive. Maybe my favorite. I have almost certainly logged more time on a scuba tank here than anywhere else, hundreds of hours.  And almost all of those dives have been made jumping off the deck of the M/V Horizon and…
October 22, 2022
Kelp Forest Redux – San Clemente and Catalina Islands, and My Circular Fisheye CatalinaSan Clemente IslandUnderwater Photography

Kelp Forest Redux – San Clemente and Catalina Islands, and My Circular Fisheye

"Redux" is a bit of an overstatement, since Southern California's giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), which has not looked good in recent years, is certainly not recovered.  Spotty, stands of kelp here and there, but much of the vast, magnificent underwater forests at San Clemente Island and Catalina have been in…
January 8, 2022
Corynactis Californica, the Strawberry “Anemone”, California’s only Corallimorph CaliforniaInvertebrateNatural WorldUnderwater Photography

Corynactis Californica, the Strawberry “Anemone”, California’s only Corallimorph

Corallimorphs, the coral-like and anemone-like members of the order Corallimorpharia, hold a special place in my underwater photography career. Circa 1990, when I began taking a water camera on my dives, I only had equipment to photograph tiny critters. Of those, ones that did not move were best suited to…
August 19, 2021
Farnsworth Banks, Purple Hydrocoral, and Catalina Backside Kelp Forests CaliforniaCatalinaUnderwater Photography

Farnsworth Banks, Purple Hydrocoral, and Catalina Backside Kelp Forests

This is the fourth in my "Southern California Bight Sampler (Post-Covid?)" series: Coronado Islands Refresher San Clemente Island's Kelp Forests Catalina Island's West End Farnsworth Banks San Diego Wrecks Coronado Islands - Sea Lions in Fall JTNDaHIlMjAlMkYlM0U=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 had not been to Farnsworth Banks, a seamount on the backside of Catalina,…
July 21, 2021
Catalina West End – Kelp Forests and Garibaldi CaliforniaCatalinaUnderwater Photography

Catalina West End – Kelp Forests and Garibaldi

This is the third in my "Southern California Bight Sampler (Post-Covid?)" series: Coronado Islands Refresher San Clemente Island's Kelp Forests Catalina Island's West End Farnsworth Banks San Diego Wrecks Coronado Islands - Sea Lions in Fall JTNDaHIlMjAlMkYlM0U=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Much of the underwater terrain of Catalina Island has been bereft of kelp for…
July 11, 2021
San Clemente Island’s Kelp Forests CaliforniaSan Clemente IslandUnderwater Photography

San Clemente Island’s Kelp Forests

This is the second in my "Southern California Bight Sampler (Post-Covid?)" series: Coronado Islands Refresher San Clemente Island's Kelp Forests Catalina Island's West End Farnsworth Banks San Diego Wrecks Coronado Islands - Sea Lions in Fall JTNDaHIlMjAlMkYlM0U=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San Clemente Island, and in particular the southern end of the island, is where…
June 1, 2021
Young California Sea Lions at the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico Islas CoronadoMexicoSea LionUnderwater Photography

Young California Sea Lions at the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico

Fall is the best time to dive with young California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Most pups are born in May and June, and by September they have become strong enough to swim and will venture out from the rocks on which they live into shallow water. A sea lion colony…
November 22, 2020
Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) on Black Coral (Antipatharia), Sea of Cortez, Mexico MexicoSea of CortezUnderwater Photography

Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) on Black Coral (Antipatharia), Sea of Cortez, Mexico

The last time I was diving in the Sea of Cortez, I decided to try to photograph the longbill hawkfish in black coral. My friend Mike took us to dive on his namesake reef, a secret spot north of La Paz with reefs that are spectacularly lush and covered with…
April 30, 2020
California Sea Lions at Lobster Shack, Coronado Islands, Mexico Islas CoronadoMexicoSea LionUnderwater Photography

California Sea Lions at Lobster Shack, Coronado Islands, Mexico

I try to reach Lobster Shack at North Coronado Island each fall to dive with California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). Some years are better than others but generally the months of October and November offer superb encounters with these gregarious young pinnipeds.  I say young because in fact the gangs…
March 30, 2020
Underwater Photos of Steller Sea Lions, Eumetopias jubatus, British Columbia CanadaHornby IslandSea LionUnderwater Photography

Underwater Photos of Steller Sea Lions, Eumetopias jubatus, British Columbia

In January I made another trip to Hornby Island to photograph Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus).  This is some of the most exciting scuba diving that can be done anywhere in the world and is not for the faint of heart!  Steller sea lions are some of the largest pinnipeds in…
March 25, 2020