Sandy bottom on a cloudy day reminds me of a desert, there is nothing there just sand. I feel alone yet so alive, perhaps because the lack of presence of other living creatures allows me to fully appreciate the fact ‘I am’. Keywords: undersea desert “undersea desert” sandy bottom underwater barren sand deep ocean “sea […]

Blue cod, along with some other fish, is a bird of the sea. It doesn’t float, it’s “heavier” than water. It has to use its “wings” (read fins) to gain lift force to get off. When it stops flying it lands on the bottom or whatever happens to be under it … kelp for example. […]

They are everywhere. You can see a well camouflaged moving shell from a distance … it moves faster than its original owner would be able. If you get closer you can see legs and antennae. But you must get really close to be able to admire the details … the “fur”, the beautiful combination of […]

Look at these colour varieties. The same skin (it looks prickly but is relatively soft) but such a contrast of colour and pattern. Though I usually find cucumbers that are dark brown-red, covered with a layer of silt and overall blend with the surrounding environment, some individuals are of a bright colour and pattern and […]

I usually meet clown nudibranches crawling on rocks or algae so was quite surprised when I met them on the sandy bottom of Mahurangi Harbour for the first time. They didn’t seem to be happy though, I thought they could not get a proper grip on the fine sand / mud so could not fight […]

Mahurangi Harbour with its fine sandy (sometimes muddy) bottom is a good place for comb sea stars to live in … and for divers to observe them. Keywords: sea star “sea star” starfish comb “comb sea star” “comb star” Astropecten polyacanthus “Astropecten polyacanthus” arm spiny spine underwater undersea Pacific ocean temperate echinoderm bottom “bottom dwelling” sandy […]