What are Coral Reefs? Coral colonies are composed of many tiny, cup-shaped animals called polyps, which are related to jellyfish. A single coral polyp may be as large as a saucer or smaller than the head of a pin. Millions of polyps working together in a cooperative colony generation after generation create the limestone skeletons that form the framework of the beautiful coral reef. Corals begin life in tropical waters as free-floating larvae. After a relatively short period of time, the larva eventually attaches itself to a hard surface and becomes a polyp. Polyps divide asexually and form colonies. Coral colonies reproduce both sexually and asexually. In sexual reproduction, the coral polyps release both eggs and sperm into the water. (This is also known as coral spawning.) One type of asexual reproduction occurs when fragments of coral are broken off as a result of storm action. The broken pieces of corals usually survive and continue to grow and produce a new colony. This process is referred to as "fragmentation".

Crustaceans are a large class (Crustacea) of mostly aquatic mandibulate arthropods that have a chitinous or calcareous and chitinous exoskeleton, a pair of often much modified appendages on each segment, and two pairs of antennae and that include the lobsters, shrimp, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles. Echinoderms are a phylum (Echinodermata) of radially symmetrical coelomate marine animals including the starfishes, sea urchins, and related forms. Jellyfish are typically free-swimming, bell-shaped, usually sexually-reproducing solitary or colonial form of a cnidarian in which the whorls of tentacles lined with nematocysts arise and hang down from the margin of the nearly transparent, gelatinous bell. This gallery includes underwater images of crustaceans, echinoderms, jellyfish and sea worms including shrimps, crabs, lobsters, brittle stars, sleepy sponge crabs, arrow crabs and rough-spined sea urchins from the Cayman Islands, Caribbean, Hawaii, the Pacific, the Atlantic, Asia and Europe. High quality print and stock images.

Underwater photography with featuring a variety of images from around world including shipwrecks, crustaceans, Manta Rays, Moray Eels, sea turtles and more. Come explore the fascinating world of our oceans.

Rays, such as skates, electric rays, guitarfishes, manta rays and stingrays are found in oceans around the world. They can be found in both temperate and cold-water. Rays are classified as Batoidea, a type of cartilaginous fish that have around 500 species in 13 families. Rays are also distant cousins to sharks. A dive with the magnificent Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Manta birostris, is something exceptional. The largest recorded Oceanic Manta Ray was more than 25 ft (7.6 m) across from wing-tip to wing-tip and weighed over 5,300 pounds (2,400 kg). Manta Rays have a short tail and no stinging spine. They are very acrobatic, and you can see them perform aerobatic flips and rolls as they glide through the water. Visit my blog @ http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews/hawaiian-dive-sites/scuba-diving-hawaii-manta-ray-dive/ for a detailed description of this incredible dive.

Underwater photography featuring images of Hawaiian fish pictures from the Big Island of Hawaii to Kauai. Explore the rich diversity of marine life amongst the Hawaiian islands. From the magnificent Oceanic Manta Ray to the beautiful Bandit Angelfish the Hawaiian Islands contain a marvelous diversity of marine species. Come enjoy and help us preserve this amazing marine habitat.

Mala Pier has to be the best shore dive on Maui and a great spot for underwater photography. It is hard to believe that not very many visiting scuba divers know about this Maui dive site. It can be accessed from land (enter on the west side of the old pier if you are more adventuresome, or enter via the boat ramp, but watch for boats) or from a dive boat. Typically, if you are diving on the Carthaginian II, Maui Divers will bring you to this site as a second dive. This is one dive that is not to be missed and can be followed up with a great dinner in Lahina. This is a great spot for underwater photography and is certainly one of my favorite scuba diving sites on Maui. So whether you are looking for pictures of fish or new shark photos this is a great dive. For a complete review of the dive site see my blog http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/2012/01/08/scuba-diving-mala-pier/

Underwater images of Moray Eels from the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean including Zebra Moray, Undulated Moray, Yellow Margin Eel, and Green Moray. High quality print and stock images.

Come enjoy the romance and adventure associated with Tall Ships. Wonderful photographs of sailing ships that will capture and inspire the imagination.

The Coral Reef Restoration Project in Pemuteran Bay, Bali Indonesia was started in 2000 with four initial underwater structures and now includes over 70 structures. This project shows the potential for reef restoration in locations that have traditionally had difficulty getting local fisherman and communities to support efforts to return a reef to health. The project has been replicated in numerous locations across Asia and may hold the potential to be more commercially utilized by bringing business interests together with those of local communities. Come explore this wonderful site located on the island of Bali, one of my favorite places on earth.

Landscape, seascape, fall foliage images from New England, Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, England, Haiti, Bali, and more. High quality print and digital images available

Beautiful photographs of Hawaiian sunrises and sunsets. Come enjoy the mystery of the Hawaiian islands and experience the meaning and spirit of Aloha in these wonderful images.

Sunset in Grand Cayman can be amazing. This September night literally looked like the sky was on fire. Enjoy exploring other amazing sunsets in this marvelous Caribbean paradise.

Select Fine Art Prints along with high quality digital, print and stock images from Europe, France, England, Denmark, Switzerland, Paris and London including Gross Munster, Lake Zurich, Le Tour Eiffel, Sacre Coeur, Fraumunster, Nyhaven Canal in Copenhagen and more.

Landscapes, seascapes and other inspiring images from Europe, Asia, England, France, Australia, China, Thailand, Denmark, California, Bangkok, Texas, Bali, and others including famous landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, Nyhavn Canal, Palo Duro Canyon and others. High quality print and stock images.

Underwater images of fish, shipwrecks, moray eels, anemone, shrimp, coral reefs and scuba divers including black durgons, silversides, white tipped reef sharks, trumpet fish and more from Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and Asia. High quality print and stock photos.