Known as “the soft coral capital of the world” Fijian reefs sport colorful displays of gorgeous Dendronepthyia, Gorgonians, and more particularly on healthy reefs. In the Namena marine reserve these beautiful soft corals are surrounded by thronging masses of fish thanks to years of successful implementation of a locally managed marine protected area
In the highlands of East New Britain, Papua New Guinea the Baining people perform a ritual dance in which masked figures charged through a massive bonfire. Beyond the general fervor , a mixture of oils and honey protect the dancers from the intense heat
After a long drift along a wall of coral off East New Britain, Papua New Guinea we ended in an eddy of current over a coral garden. Gathered here was a glittering cloud of juvenile anthias and chromis, no fish bigger than a few centimeters #kabairabeachhideaway #PapuaNewGuinea #png #southpacific #Nature #naturephotography #underwaterphotography #Diving #scuba #colors #fish
In Papua New Guinea, as in many parts of the Pacific, bird feathers are collected to make headdresses and in places were even exchanged as currency. This wonderful man in Deka Deka village on Ferguson island displays a mixture or the local eclectus parrot and what appear to be chicken feathers. As some local birds become more scarce people adapt often with the materials at hand.
Reef creatures quickly reclaim shipwrecks like this one off Pigeon Island in East New Britain when given half a chance #naturephotography #Nature #png #PapuaNewGuinea #wild #Underwater #underwaterphotography #Diving #scuba
Arriving at dawn flanked by frigates and war canoes to Banda island, it struck me that, were we calling into port in the 16th century, we would be more than likely to have a hail of cannonfire or spears being lobbed at us by way of greeting. The “Spice Islands,” however, have mellowed considerably with age.
It seems each blog I write these days comes from a new job. I suppose it comes with the territory when you’ve developed an acute allergy to sitting at desks and no one place on Earth feels like home.
Diving in the Kelp forest mostly brings me a tranquility I find hard to come by elsewhere. Yet in my past three months working at the Hopkin’s Marine Station of Stanford University first as the teaching assistant in a kelp forest Ecology course and then as a diving technician, I have observed strange stirrings and shifts in the kelp forest that give me anxiety.
Excited to be back in this land of wonders large and small (such as this Pygmy sea horse). Stay tuned for new pics and posts as I cruise around New Guinea then Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tahiti with National Geographic Lindblad expeditions as a staff naturalist! Dream come true! #NatGeo #NaionalGeographic #Indonesia #Photography #underwaterphotography #Nature #naturephotography #adventure #exploreindonesia #explore #Ocean
Harbor seals once had all but disappeared from Monterey Bay. Fur trappers had eliminated sea otters, urchin populations exploded, and the kelp forests were decimated.
