Underwater Photography

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography

Photographs of Namena Marine Reserve, Fiji Islands

The Namena Marine Reserve is one of the most spectacular marine areas in the Fiji Islands. Since it is located between the two main islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, Namena Marine Reserve is bathed with strong ocean currents that pass through that gap. It was established in 1997 and…

Phil CollaApril 14, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography Vatu i Ra Passage

The Spectacular Coral Reef Walls of Mount Mutiny, Bligh Waters, Fiji

One of most spectacular underwater sights I saw while in Fiji was the incredible wall at Mount Mutiny, a huge coral bommie in the Bligh Waters near the middle of the Fiji Islands. Mount Mutiny is surrounded by deep water and typically bathed in strong ocean currents rich with plankton,…

Phil CollaFebruary 3, 2016

Mexico Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions at Los Islotes, Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico

California sea lions underwater, Sea of Cortez, Mexico Image ID: 31205 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico In October, Tracy and I joined our friends Mike and Sherry, Skip, Shirley, Barb and Walt for 9 wonderful days diving in the Sea of Cortez…

Phil CollaJanuary 29, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography

Dendronephthya Soft Corals

In my experience Dendronephthya soft corals are the most spectacular and photogenic of the myriad invertebrate denizens of tropical coral reefs. "Soft coral" is a broad term, often used to describe gorgonians, leather corals, cup corals, sea whips, octocorals, etc etc that are found in all oceans of the world. The…

Phil CollaJanuary 24, 2016

Alaska Antarctica Bald Eagle California Fiji Hawaii Mexico Ocean Sunfish Penguin Surf Underwater Photography

Seven of my Favorite Images #challengeonnaturephotography

In December a Facebook "challenge" was making the rounds named #challengeonnaturephotography. One of my favorite underwater photographers, Allison Vitsky Sallmon, nominated me to give it a try, and these are the seven images I plucked from my files to share. Each bears a special place in my personal history of…

Phil CollaJanuary 16, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography

Chironephthya, Fiji’s “Other” Soft Coral

Fiji's Coral Reefs are known as the "Soft Coral Capital of the World" for good reason. Spectacular displays of colorful soft coral, usually Dendronepthya, are found on Fiji's coral reefs in abundance. I had done a fair bit of research before the trip and thought I knew what types of…

Phil CollaJanuary 6, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography Vatu i Ra Passage

Diving the Vatu-I-Ra Passage in Fiji’s Bligh Waters

See also: Photos of Fiji's Beautiful Coral Reefs The ocean waters between Fiji's Viti Levu and Vanua Levu islands are called the Bligh Waters after Captain William Bligh and his flight from mutineers. The Bligh Waters are famous among divers as they are home to some of the most spectacular…

Phil CollaJanuary 4, 2016

California Underwater Photography

Underwater Photos of Southern California Oil Rigs

Recently I did some diving underneath three of Southern California's offshore oil rigs: oil rig Eureka, oil rig Ellen and oil rig Elly. It was a lot of fun, and I hope to do it again soon. The amount of invertebrate life on the oil rig beams was impressive --…

Phil CollaAugust 2, 2015

California Underwater Photography

SCUBA Diving Beneath Oil Rigs Eureka, Ellen and Elly in Long Beach, California

I recently made a few dives underneath the oil rigs "Eureka", "Ellen" and "Elly", about 8 miles off Long Beach, California. Oil rig Eureka is located in about 700' of water, so from the perspective of recreational divers it is a bottomless dive. Ellen and Elly are in shallower water,…

Phil CollaJuly 28, 2015

La Jolla Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Photographing Macrocystis in La Jolla’s Beautiful Forests of Giant Kelp

I have been photographing kelp forests in California with a passion for 25 years, from the Mexican border on up to Monterey including all the Channel Islands. Usually when I go diving in kelp its to San Clemente Island, which arguably has the most beautiful underwater scenery anywhere in California.…

Phil CollaJuly 6, 2015

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Photography

Sport Diver Cover, June 2015, Sea Lion in the Sea of Cortez

I love diving in the Sea of Cortez in the Fall. The water is warm, the weather is often serene, the diving easy and fun. And there are some amazing rookeries of sea lions, including the world famous Los Islotes island in the Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve. So I was…

Phil CollaJune 12, 2015

California Underwater Photography

Underwater Photos of Marine Algae in Southern California and Baja California

I dive in Southern California and Baja California, and one of the most appealing things about the underwater landscapes I see are the many species of marine algae. Marine algae cover the reefs in most places with a lush, colorful, vibrant carpet of life. Following are photos of some of…

Phil CollaMay 31, 2015

Blue Whale Icons Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Blue Whale Full Body Photo

Blue Whale Full Body Photo For more, see Blue Whale Photos, Balaenoptera musculus I made my first underwater photo of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) about 18 years ago, and over the intervening years I have struggled to make a perfect image of an entire blue whale, rostrum to fluke,…

Phil CollaJanuary 29, 2015

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions at Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico

Los Islotes, the small island just off the northern end of Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez, is my favorite place in the world for photographing California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). These wonderful pinnipeds are very comfortable with the presence of, and famous for the willingness to interact with,…

Phil CollaMarch 3, 2014

Islas Coronado Mexico Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Garibaldi Fish, Coronado Islands, Mexico

The most easily recognized, and typically the most prolific, fish at Mexico's Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado) is the brilliant orange Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus). Some underwater areas of the Coronado Islands are urchin barrens (reef areas taken over by fields of sea urchins and devoid of most other marine life) so…

Phil CollaFebruary 10, 2014

Galapagos Diaries Marine Life Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Sea Turtle, Galapagos, Black and White

I have made a lot of dives in the Galapagos Islands, and one of my favorite creatures to see underwater is the sea turtle. The ungainly-looking animals are actually quite hydrodynamic and can navigate the surge, currents and waves to graze on algae along the reef. These two turtles were…

Phil CollaJanuary 25, 2014

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Great White Shark Portrait

This great white shark photo (Carcharodon carcharias) was shot under dark skies, in early morning. These are tough conditions to shoot underwater with only available light. I prefer to shoot without strobes whenever possible but in the days of film this particular morning would have required I use artificial lights.…

Phil CollaApril 15, 2013

Environmental Problems Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

International Conservation Photography Awards 2012

Art Wolfe hosts the biennial International Conservation Photography Awards ("ICP Awards"). One of my images was honored in the 2010 edition of the competition, so I decided to try again this year. My photograph of a young California sea lion entangled in monofilament fishing line, taken in the Espiritu Santo…

Phil CollaAugust 15, 2012

California Underwater Photography

Asferico Photo Competition Segnalato Il Mondo Subacqueo!

I love Italy. And I love photography. What could be better than an Italian Photography competition? Molto Bene! The Asferico photography competition, sponsored by Asferico Magazine in Italy, is an annual display of incredible images by many of the finest photographers in Europe. I have long admired the annual Asferico…

Phil CollaAugust 14, 2012

Environmental Problems Sea Lion Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Wildlife Entanglement: Sea Lion and Monofilament, Pelican and Shopping Bag

Photos of Wildlife Entanglement in Plastic Unfortunately, I have had a number of opportunities to photograph wildlife entangled in plastic debris. Plastic Debris. We make it, we use it and then we leave it behind. This stuff is killing animals and causing problems everywhere. I find it dismaying every time…

Phil CollaMarch 22, 2012

Marine Life Mexico Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Panamic Green Moray Eel

Photo of Panamic Green Moray Eel, Gymnothorax castaneus While I was in Mexico's beautiful Sea of Cortez doing some diving last November, I spent time photographing the Panamic Green Moray eels (Gymnothorax castaneus). These eels are quite common, often found underneath large boulders and overhangs. They are typically content to…

Phil CollaFebruary 15, 2012

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Los Islotes, Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico

Los Islotes is a small island at the northern end of Isla Espiritu Santo, near La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. Espiritu Santo Island and Partida Island are two beautiful desert islands, scalloped with gorgeous white sand beaches. Bird nest on their rugged slopes, and cardon cacti grow in…

Phil CollaFebruary 10, 2012

Galleries Sharks Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Stock Photo Gallery: Blue Shark Underwater Photographs

Underwater stock photos of Blue Sharks (Prionace glauca) I've updated my collection of blue shark underwater photos. Most of these blue shark photographs were taking freediving (breathhold diving) with a few friends in the open ocean near San Diego or just below the border in Mexico. In days gone by,…

Phil CollaNovember 18, 2011

California Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Salps, Pelagic Tunicates, Cyclosalpa Affinis

Photos of Salps, Pelagic Tunicates, Plankton This summer I've been fortunate to get out on the ocean a few times, and each time we have seen an incredible abundance of pelagic tunicates, in particular the species Cyclosalpa affinis. These open ocean planktonic animals largely drift with ocean currents, although they…

Phil CollaAugust 11, 2011

California Dolphin Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Pacific White-Sided Dolphin Photos

Pacific White-Sided Dolphin Photos The first dolphins I ever photographed were Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). This extremely fast moving species of dolphin often appears around San Diego in winter, but is normally found much further north ranging as far as Alaska and around to Japan. We would freedive in…

Phil CollaMay 3, 2011

California San Clemente Island Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Giant Kelpfish, Master of Camouflage

One of my favorite California fishes is the giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus). Giant kelpfish are camouflage masters, blending into the brown and green kelp blades perfectly. Many times I have found myself hovering over a clump of kelp for a few minutes, not aware of a giant kelpfish only a…

Phil CollaApril 14, 2011

California San Clemente Island Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Sea Fans and Gorgonians at San Clemente Island

Photos of gorgonians and sea fans at San Clemente Island. I spent three days diving at one of my favorite spots on Earth: San Clemente Island. The island, about 60 miles offshore of southern California, is home to some of the world's most beautiful kelp forests. Swimming through these kelp…

Phil CollaJune 2, 2010

California Catalina Marine Life Underwater Photography

California Golden Gorgonian, Muricea californica

The California golden gorgonian (Muricea californica) is a common gorgonian species in southern California. It is typically found growing on rocky reefs from 40' to 200' deep. The California golden gorgonian is a colonial organism composed of thousands of individual polyps, each of which secretes calcium to form the structure…

Phil CollaNovember 28, 2009

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography Wildlife

Tiger Shark Pictures (Galeocerdo cuvier)

See my new tiger shark photos! My first tiger shark pictures (Galeocerdo cuvier) are were made with friends Skip Stubbs, Ken Howard, Keith Grundy and Jim Abernethy. These tiger sharks are really impressive fish, capable predators and in control of their surroundings. It was a real pleasure spending hours in…

Phil CollaSeptember 21, 2009

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography Wildlife

Caribbean Reef Shark Pictures (Carcharhinus perezi)

My Caribbean reef shark pictures (Carcharhinus perezi) are now on this website. These were also taken on the same trip with Skip, Ken Howard, Keith Grundy and Jim Abernethy. These dives were a lot of fun. Jim took down a few milk crates filled with fish heads, put them on…

Phil CollaSeptember 20, 2009

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography Wildlife

Lemon Shark Pictures (Negaprion brevirostris)

My lemon shark pictures (Negaprion brevirostris) are now on this website. I spent about 10 days in the Bahamas with Skip, Ken Howard, Keith Grundy and Jim Abernethy to shoot a few different kinds of sharks. When we got to the tiger shark spot, we found more lemon sharks than…

Phil CollaSeptember 18, 2009

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography

Bull Shark Pictures (Carcharhinus leucas)

My bull shark pictures (Carcharhinus leucas) are now on Photoshelter (in addition to the bull shark photos on this website). These underwater photos were taken in the Bahamas. And if you are curious, the answer is "yes"; the bull shark is one of the more dangerous sharks in the world…

Phil CollaSeptember 17, 2009

Abstract Bahamas Underwater Photography

Beneath the Sea, Abstract Photo

As a compliment to the photo of the ocean floor I posted a few days ago, here is a view taken from the same location and depth but instead looking up toward to the surface. A simple enough image, but unfortunately it is a view that too few people experience,…

Phil CollaMay 7, 2009

Abstract Bahamas Underwater Photography

Light Rays on Ocean Bottom, Abstract Photo

I made a number of trips to the Bahamas to film Olympic champion swimmers and wild dolphins. While we were roasting in the Bahamian sun, waiting for dolphins to appear, we could swim as much as we wanted in the clear shallow waters of the Little Bahama Banks. I really…

Phil CollaMay 1, 2009

California San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

Photo of a Giant Kelp Forest with Clean Blue Water

I used to do an awful lot of diving at San Clemente Island, primarily to spend my time hovering in the middle of the water column amidst a thick forest of kelp. San Clemente Island combines the most magnificent kelp forests (Macrocystis pyrifera) in the world with pretty clean water.…

Phil CollaDecember 15, 2007

California San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

Photo of Macrocystis Kelp Fronds

These kelp fronds are at the tip of a stalk of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) which is anchored to the ocean bottom and grows up toward the ocean surface. New growth such as this occurs at the tip of the stalk. Gas filled pneumatocysts provide bouyancy to the kelp plant,…

Phil CollaDecember 12, 2007

California San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

Photo of an Underwater Photographer in a Kelp Forest

Here is a snap of my good friend Mike Johnson swimming through a forest of kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) at San Clemente Island. Most underwater photographers like to spend their time diving alone, pursuing their own particular subjects and angles and not wanting to be bothered with keeping track of a…

Phil CollaDecember 10, 2007

Abstract Bahamas Underwater Photography

Underwater Light

Much of my time underwater is spent looking for simple, available light photographs. These are not sexy photos, but they tend to sell well and are typically used as backgrounds or screened back with text or inset photos laid over the top. The best part is they are simple to…

Phil CollaMay 21, 2007

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography

Caribbean Reef Shark Photo

This Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) was shot late afternoon on a seamount in the Northern Bahamas. There were so many reef sharks it was crazy. They smelled the small bait box that I was sitting on and were quite bold, bouncing off my shoulders, tank, my head and arms…

Phil CollaNovember 14, 2006

Guadalupe Island Mexico Underwater Photography

Roca del Skip, Isla Guadalupe

Roca del Skip (Skip's Rock) is a dramatic spire at the southern end of Isla Guadalupe (Guadalupe Island) named in honor of the man who has videotaped and explored the submarine haunts of Guadalupe Island more than anyone else. Church Rock (left) and Roca del Skip (Skips Rock, right), near…

Phil CollaApril 13, 2006

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