Ningaloo - wild Saturday & cruisey Sunday

[alcina]

Saturday was crazy. The seas were so topsy turvy while we moored that I was totally seasick. Even my crew and skipper were seasick! But underwater it was beautiful blue water with tons of baitfish and feeding action, tons of cool critters and more photo subjects than an 8GB card could handle

Sunday's topside conditions were direct opposites - calm, clear, smooth. Underwater was just as good and with less surge...always a good thing! I was still feeling the effects of being so sick on Saturday so I took it easy and enjoyed just relaxing, so I didn't end up shooting much over the two days, but I came home with some new creatures and some fun shots.

Enjoy...

One of my crew had told me about an angler, and I adore them, so I had to brave the conditions on Saturday to find him. He's huge and I had the 100 on so had to back way up - the problem with that was all the stupid bait fish swimming in front of him making it extremely frustrating to get a clean shot! I wish he had his lure out, but I'll take his little footsie...

Dive site - Blizzard Ridge 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

On another site, my crew told me about a pair of halequin shrimp who had dragged a blue sea star into a hidey hole

Dive site - Gulliver's Wall 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

This little mantis shrimp was so cool - he'd pulled off this bit of lace coral and was scurrying around with it. I grabbed this quick frame when he brought it out from under this ledge, almost like he was showing it off!

Dive site - Gulliver's 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

The velvetfish was hunkered down in some weed trying to pretend like he wasn't all colourful and bright!

Dive site - Gulliver's 12m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

It's only the second time I've really seen one of these amazingly bright yellow eels

Dive site - Razor's 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

A little tang guy swimming past

Dive site - Gulliver's 12m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Bubble coral shrimp checking me out

Dive site - Razor's 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Porcelain crab catching lunch

Dive site - Razor's 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Canon 40D, Canon 100mm macro, Subal housing & port, Inon strobes

 

[AndyT]

More fantastic images !!! The Frogfish is really cool.

 

[parabolic]

Magnificent Kristin!! With those subjects and your talent.....what a knockout combination!! WOW!!
++Ken++

 

[Larry C]

Lovely pictures, Kristin! The yellow eel is very cool, those Porcelain Crabs just don't ever seem to have a bad side, and likewise the Shrimp shots are terrific. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Dee]

Wow....great shots! I love the Angler and the little yellow eel, and the Tang, and the crab and the.....

 

[alcina]

Thanks, All. Here's a few more for fun!

Giant clam

Dive site - Gulliver's 12m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Blenny in his shell hidey hole

Dive site - Razor's 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Another triplefin coz they're just cute and I like their sparkly fins

Dive site - Razor's 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Reach for the sky!

Dive site - Razor's 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Triggerfish buzzing me

Dive site - Razor's 14m; Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia