The Blue Desert Conundrum

Where we encounter marine megafauna, we see only a tiny slice of their habitats and lives, which rarely includes feeding. These animals may travel thousands of feet vertically or migrate a few thousand miles horizontally to meet their nutritional needs. Some of them — sperm whales, for example — must do both: descend to depths of up to a mile or more to feast on aggregations of squid and roam across large swaths of the Pacific to avoid depleting their food resources in any one area.

The Evolutionary Puzzle of Fish Colors

The wild, psychedelic colors of reef fish are often what first enraptures divers. Is there an evolutionary explanation for why small, tasty animals adorn themselves in vivid colors instead of camouflaging themselves from hungry predators?

Milletseed butterflyfish

Marine Biogeography

Marine biodiversity is vast and each river, lake, ocean and reef has different life. But what underlies regional diversities in marine biodiversity? How can one place support more life compared to others? Learn more about this kind of biodiversity.

An outcrop of colorful coral and a diver swims in the background

Going Up

Every night as the sun slips below the horizon, countless aquatic creatures begin migrating up from the deep in what is quite possibly the greatest show on Earth. Seeking nourishment […]

Orcas in Norway

Learn how orcas in Norway adapt their hunting skills to thrive in diverse ecosystems and follow the herring migration.

A freediver photographs an orca

Diving in a Drop of Water

Plankton are fascinating critters and are critical in keeping our oceans healthy. There is wide diversity amongst plankton. Learn more about plankton.

A blue larval bristle worm has creepy legs

Imps of Darkness

IT IS DAY FIVE OF THE VOYAGE, and our liveaboard has finally finished the overnight crossing south from the warm waters of Darwin and Wolf islands to Cape Douglas, Isla Fernandina. Although we don’t travel a great distance …

Among Harp Seals

Harp seals are adorable sea critters, adapted perfectly for living in cold climates. Diving with them is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Read more about one diver’s adventures with harp seals.

A cuddly, white harp seal looks at the camera with a sunset behind it

The Edge of Extinction

I WAS HOOKED THE FIRST TIME I saw a southern sea otter bobbing in the surf off the coast of California’s Big Sur. I didn’t know then that I would be as spellbound by these rare creatures decades later as I was at that very first sighting.

Just Born

Sperm whale photography can be challenging to the photographer as the whales can be evasive. However, it can be incredibly rewarding. Learn more about one photographer’s experiences with sperm whales.

A pod of sperm whales gather underwater. They look like they're cuddling