We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater images that showcase subjects found on the sea bottom, including sandy seafloor, reefs, seagrass beds and wrecks and they returned with an intriguing selection of macro to wide-angle shots featuring diverse subjects, from camouflaged species and slumbering sharks to crocodiles and ancient artifacts.
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Here, X-Ray Mag contributors share their favorite images from the tropical waters of the Philippines, Indonesia, the Maldives, Saba, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Honduras and Socorro Island in Mexico to the temperate waters of Türkiye, St. Lawrence River and North Carolina.
At the Bottom of the Sea
Text and photos by Anita George-Ares, Ph.D.
Apo Island is a marine reserve south of Dumaguete, Philippines. Sea turtles are among the protected species at Apo and are commonly found resting on the bottom or grazing on the reef. I came across a juvenile green sea turtle resting on the bottom (Photo 1). The turtle continued to relax as I took images.
Our dive guide in the Maldives hovers above the bottom, behind a school of redtail butterflyfish (Photo 2). The bold red and yellow colors of the fish provide a nice contrast to the surrounding blue water.
During the day, whitetip reef sharks can be found hiding in caves or under ledges. A pair of juvenile reef whitetip sharks rest on the bottom under a coral ledge in the Maldives in Photo 3. Only the dorsal fin of the second shark is visible. A juvenile whitetip reef shark rests under a ledge in Photo 4. The shark is accompanied by a pair of blotcheye soldierfish. Visit: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100016947967639
Near Bottom Creatures
Text and photos by John A. Ares
Normally, the bottom is something we, as divers, want to avoid. But, if we are careful with buoyancy, we can discover many creatures that either live on the bottom or near it.
Photo 1 shows a swarm of striped eel catfish (Plotosus lineatus). Swarms differ from fish schools in that individuals in swarms are in physical contact with each other. These catfish are not aggressive, but care should be taken to avoid their venomous spines. This image was given to Dr Eugenie Clark, Founder and Director Emerita of Mote Marine Laboratory. Clark, an expert on Plotosus species, had the image analyzed. It was estimated that more than 2,700 individuals were in the swarm. That number was believed by Clark to be a world record for the number of individuals in a Plotosus swarm.
Harlequin ghost pipefish are residents that live near reefs and seagrass (Photo 2). The males are smaller than the females. These fish are related to other pipefish and seahorses.
Grooved razor-fish (Centriscus scutatus) characteristically swim in a vertical position near the bottom, next to seagrass or coral. (Photo 3). They swim rapidly, which makes them difficult to photograph, but they are fascinating to watch. Visit: JohnAres.com
Reference: Clark E, et al. 2011. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology. 17(4): 211-239.
Life Resting on the Sea Floor
Text and photos by Sheryl Checkman
As a scuba diver, I get to observe what lies beneath the sea––literally. This issue’s feature in the series deals with life that rests on the sea floor. In Roatan, while we were preparing for a shark feeding photo session, a giant grouper, waiting for his turn with the leftovers, made for a great photo opportunity. The grouper hovered just above the sandy bottom, while a fellow photographer knelt in the sand below to get his photo of this giant fish from an interesting angle. I chose to capture this scene below me, telling my version of the story.
Nurse sharks find nooks and crannies in the reef to hide under, often resting in the sand to sleep. On a dive at Great Wall East in Little Cayman, I came upon this nurse shark with its remora companion, trying to catch a little shut-eye.
Many animals use the sandy sea floor as camouflage to hide from predators, like this southern sting ray that I came upon, also in Little Cayman.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for sea turtles. In Saba, at a site called Hot Springs, I saw two of the largest green sea turtles that I have ever seen. The one pictured here, swimming just above the grassy bottom, was definitely looking at me! Visit: Instagram.com/SherylCheckman
Artifacts and Caves
Text and photos by Larry Cohen
Kemer is situated on Türkiye’s southern Mediterranean coast. Beneath the warm, blue waters, I explored many interesting underwater sites. Numerous wooden-hulled vessels that sailed throughout the centuries were lost at sea. The hulls of many of these sunken ships have been consumed by marine worms, leaving their cargo on the sea bottom.
Local divers showed me the location of ancient amphorae that are partially buried. These clay vessels were used to carry wine, oils and other consumables. As I observed these age-old relics, I thought about the ship sinking in a storm, its cargo spilling onto the floor of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a humbling experience to think that these jars were in use at a time when the world’s two most powerful people, Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, were meeting in Alanya, a Turkish coastal town just 50 miles (80km) away from this dive site.
Amphorae are not the only artifacts to be found in the waters off Kemer. On the reef at Möweninsel (Seagull Island), a large anchor from the 17th century blends into the seabed. There are also fascinating caves. Entering the sea from a boat, you swim underwater toward the island, and there is a large hole in the island. Dramatic rock walls frame the rocky entrance to the cave, creating a unique and intriguing underwater experience. Visit: liquidimagesuw.com
A Whimsical Waltz on the Sea Bottom
Poem and photos by Lureen Ferretti
Visit: instagram.com/lureenferrettiphotography
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A multitude of marine life Tiny and twinkly, It wiggles, it jiggles, But fear not, my dear friend, Just don’t poke it or prod,
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Now meet a Frankenfish, Imagine you are hunting It blends like a ninja. Next up, a critter that resembles |
It’s lumpy and bumpy, Last but not least, It’s tiny and hairy, It clings to the coral. So, whether it’s octos |
Muck Diving
Text and photos by Matthew Meier
For this “Sea Bottom” theme, I decided to highlight a few of the many weird and wonderful creatures that can be found while muck diving. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of critters that call the sea floor home, and muck diving is akin to a “Where’s Waldo?” search for whatever looks out of place in a field of sand.
The muck is often used as a holdfast to keep the likes of tube anemones, soft corals and sea pens anchored to the sea floor. Bobbit worms, sea cucumbers, garden eels, bulldozer shrimp, bobtail squid and mantis shrimp burrow into the sand to create a home or a hiding place.
Other critters, such as frogfish, scorpionfish, waspfish, dragonets, sea moths and seahorses, walk or hover over the sea floor as they move about in search of food or a mate.
I have witnessed the sea bottom pulsing with movement, as the black sand was seemingly alive with thousands of tiny skeleton shrimp. There is no limit to what you may find on the sea floor if you simply slow down and take a closer look. Visit: MatthewMeierPhoto.com
Sand Critters
Text and photos by Brandi Mueller
Contemplating the sea bottom, I think about all the amazing creatures that live in the sand or use the sand, or sea floor for protection, be it to live in, hide below or to camouflage with. On a recent trip to Anilao, Philippines, there were many such critters using the sea floor as a home or a distraction.
I came across a coconut octopus that was mostly buried in the sand, only sticking its head out. A tiger mantis shrimp, wider than a soda can, was almost completely disguised, and it kept its body level with the sand so as not to stick out. Occasionally, it shifted its eyes, revealing itself to us.
A flounder could only be identified when it moved, as it completely blended in with the textures and color patterns of the sand, while the bright yellow of the Napoleon snake eel gave away its position almost as soon as we saw it. It slowly retracted its head back into the sand and disappeared. Visit: brandiunderwater.com
Bottom Time
Text and photos by Gary Rose, MD
As divers, we usually swim forward with our gaze angled down toward the bottom. Swimming in the water column, separated from the bottom, be it sand, reef or wreck, we often miss the beauty and individual details that are offered as we glide by. I strongly urge you to slip to the bottom, within safe diving limits, and slowly drift with the current and make frequent stops. Look around, take your time and perceive your surroundings. An added dimension comes alive on the bottom.
On a dive in Jupiter, Florida, I was drifting over the sand and enjoying its wavelet pattern when I came across a two-foot-long whelk egg case (Photo 1). One end was anchored to the seafloor. The perfection of this twisting helix, its complex simplicity, was staggering. It housed thousands of eggs. To capture this geometry and maintain its 3D feeling, it was necessary to keep the camera lens as close to the sand as possible, stay motionless and gently float a few inches off the bottom so as not to kick up any sediment.
On low visibility days, one can very successfully and safely navigate by threading through the spur and groove reef systems of many Caribbean reefs. The coral spurs rise above the bottom, and the sandy grooves develop into clearly delineated pathways. I always fin slowly, with my head on a swivel so that I can find wonderful sea creatures lurking within the protection of small overhangs. A beautiful green sea turtle (Photo 2) was waiting for me in the warm waters of Saba.
I was patiently lying on the bottom sand on a dive at Bimini, Bahamas, waiting for hammerheads to approach, with the very strong tide. My motionless outline attracted a very curious nurse shark (Photo 3). She slowly approached me, and with a slight downward glance, she posed motionless for this lovely photo capture.
It is always fun to dive with new shark divers and observe the awe they display, especially on shallow water sand dives. There is a lot of organization that must be in place to keep these dives safe. Sometimes these dives look so organized that they take on the appearance of a group of worshippers on the bottom. I photographed a group of divers (Photo 4) gazing in wonderment at the beautiful reef sharks that were passing through. The multiple streams of bubbles rising to the surface, along with the shadows on the sand, add an additional sense of 3D to this capture. There is also a single tiger shark swimming toward the camera.
It is always enjoyable to glide along the bottom. Each occasion provides a new and unique opportunity. Look ahead, to the right, to the left and straight up. Contours change, patterns emerge, light and color entertain and wonderful creatures will come and join you. Visit: garyrosephotos.com
Crocs, Wrecks and Reefs
Text and photos by Olga Torrey
There are many interesting subjects to photograph on the sea bottom. During my visit to Cuba, my dive buddy, Larry Cohen, and I photographed American crocodiles in the mangroves of the Gardens of the Queen site. We arrived at the site in a small boat with two local guides. A chicken carcass handout lured two crocodiles to come close. Cameras in hand, we jumped into the water to face the animals. These crocs had an impressive body size of 8ft (~2.4m) long, and their sharp teeth were intimidating. I kept my camera at eye level to photograph them.
At the USS Indra shipwreck, part of the Artificial Reef Program in North Carolina, I noticed an anchor on the sandy bottom surrounded by debris and small fish resting on it. To fit the large anchor in the frame, I pointed my wide-angle lens downward and opened the strobe arms wide to light it properly.
At another wreck, the steel freighter SS Keystorm in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River, Larry and I photographed the propeller, which lies at a depth of about 115ft (35m) and is half-buried in the silt. At this depth, it was dark, so I moved closer to the propeller to show its details, with Larry in the frame for scale to show its huge size. It was so large that it did not fit inside the wide-angle frame.
At Socorro, in Mexico, I saw a group of six giant manta rays circling a pinnacle. I noticed a diver below 50ft (~15m), on the ledge of a rocky formation, sitting as if he were in a movie theater, watching the mantas and divers interacting above him. Visit: fitimage.nyc
