Jacks behind crinoids

This huge school of literally thousands of trevally jacks circles a seamount called Loma Shoals (nicknamed Krackafat Reef).

Rhinopeas Scorpionfish

One of the most exotic looking fish in the sea, this rare fish lies in wait for small unsuspecting fish to venture too close. Its venomous dorsal spines keep it safe from all predators except divers with cameras.

Bubble coral feeding

By day, these bubble corals just look like clusters of...well, bubbles. But at night, they extend tendrils to feed on plankton carried by in the current.

Harlequin Ghost Pipefish

This rare and delicate fish, only a few inches long, is perfectly camouflaged. It spends its life among weeds or crinoids, and is seldom noticed by passing creatures, human or otherwise.

Cuttlefish at night

The football-sized cuttlefish, whose resemblance to its relatives, the squid and octopus, typically hovers just above rough brown corals or jagged wreckage. Like its cousins, it can instantly change color and/or texture to match its surroundings or show emotion. The intelligence of this creature seems readily apparent in its eyes.

Easy meal

While following and taking pictures of this cuttlefish, my dive light briefly illuminated a fish in its path on the sand. In a flash, the cuttlefish shot over and grabbed the dazed fish, and wouldn't let go. With his mouth full and tendrils occupied with holding his prey, he suddenly found himself unable to move quickly, so he decided not to. Instead, he just hunkered down on the sand for the all-night job of consuming his meal!

Japanese Zero

Only recently discovered in a sandy cove in 50 feet of water, this Zero was in amazingly good condition, leading us to think its pilot might have made a controlled landing.

Zero cockpit with butterflyfish

Irritated clown in carpet anemone

Leaf scorpionfish

Resembling a leaf, and swaying in the current like one, the 4-inch long leaf scorpionfish -- like larger scorpionfish, lies in wait to gulp down small fish that venture too close.

Lionfish on wreck

Blennie on coral

Nudibranchs

This is a colorful paif of 5-inch nudibranchs. Nudibranchs - sometimes referred to as "sea slugs" - are so named because the feathery tufts on their backs are actually external/exposed (nudi) gills (branc).

Porcelain Crab

One of many small creatures that live among the protective tentacles of anemones.

Flatworm on coral

Scorpionfish

Looking at this menacing face, some of the monsters in sci-fi movies don't seem nearly as strange!

Skunk Clownfish

This clown snuggles into its host anemone, an unusual blue-tipped white one.

Skunk Clownfish trio

Spinecheek (or Maroon) Clownfish

Turban

Hawksbill turtle & fan corals

PNG Sunset

We had some amazingly beautiful sunsets. (And yes, this is totally unretouched color!)