I love to share the world that I visit within the oceans of our world. Although these pictures may not allow you to get a sense of the tranquillity that I find, perhaps you can appreciate the beauty that keeps me traveling to exotic diving destinations to photograph beautiful reef scenics and unusual sea animals. This page will evolve to contain additional information about the animals I photograph.
All of these images are copyright, with all rights retained by the photographer, Steven N. Norvich. These images may be made available without charge to certain not for profit organizations. In all cases, usage of these images require the permission of the photographer. These images may also be licensed to for-profit organizations for single or perpetual usage but only with the permission from the photographer.
Descriptions which are italicized are hyperlinks which will display an images; a right mouse click to open a new window is suggested.
The Scorpionfish family is characterized by bottom dwelling animals that eat other fish or animals, and which are relatively slow moving or even motionless. They are masters of camouflage and are difficult to see because they blend in perfectly with their surroundings. Although one does not often see them, in actuality, in tropical waters, they are actually quite common. Scorpionfish regularly shed their skin which rids them of algae growth and external parasites. This family of fish are considered ambush predators because they wait motionless until a meal approaches.
As you hardly ever see a Scorpionfish move, scientists assumed that their metabolism was extremely low. However, in recent research the physiological performance of tropical Scorpionfish was investigated and for the first time the activity and oxygen consumption of these fishes was recorded. It was found that the specimens were more active than expected, changing their position between 18 and 100 times per hour. The oxygen consumption at rest is the lowest ever measured for tropical fish. However, if you watch very closely you will find that the Scorpionfish moves its eyes as you or other creatures move about. This eye movement is sometimes a give away after you become accustomed to finding these animals.
As they are not difficult to approach by divers or by other animals because of their lack of mobility, Scorpionfish, in order to survive, have developed the ability to sting as a defensive mechanism. This stinging can be painful or even lethal. Some of these fish can be captured as images that lend themselves to suggesting other subjects such as "old men", turkeys, or as other unusual images.
Lionfish are beautiful and move regally along the reef looking for prey. In areas frequented by divers, lionfish have learned to hunt in the divers lights, waiting until a meal is illuminated by the light and then moving quickly to consume the unsuspecting animal. Great care must be exercised by divers in the presence of lionfish as their sting is excruciatingly painful. Lionfish are often found in wrecks where they tend to hunt nocturnally when their slow moving nature allows them to approach their prey more easily.
Leaf Scorpionfish are ambush predators that make a living by emulating a dead leaf rocking back and forth in the current. They swim very poorly and are normally seen walking along the bottom when they choose to move at all. They are found in a variety of colors including, orange, yellow, green, and brown. Like all scorpionfish, they have the ability to sting.
Caledonian Stingers are perhaps the ugliest fish I have ever seen in the ocean. They literally look like a pile of sand, gravel, and debris sitting on the bottom. However they have a potent sting so it is wise to be extra careful.
Originally made famous by Bob Halstead and then publicized by Carl Roessler, Rhinopias was first discovered in New Caledonia in 1964 and was named by William Eschmeyer in 1973 as Rhinopias aphanes. This form of Scorpionfish is difficult to find even when you are in the right area as they are exceptionally rare. Rhinopias aphanes may be endemic to the area around the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea where it has been found around Port Moresby and in Milne Bay. Rhinopias prefer reefs exposed to swells and currents. They mimic crinoids so to find one a diver should carefully inspect all the crinoids of the reef. I have found them in waters generally shallower than 45 feet but there was one in Milne Bay at 67 feet. There are four species of Rhinopias, two of which may be found in the Indo Pacific region: Weedy Scorpionfish, Rhinopias frondosa, and Merlot's Scorpionfish, Rhinopias aphanes which are pictured here. I have seen Rhinopias aphanes in green, black and pink and generally when you find one, there is likely to be the mate for the pair in the area. A head on shot of this fish emphasizes the lacy adornment.
Anemone fish exemplify a symbiotic relationship between a fish and an invertebrate animal. The anemone fish benefit from the relationship because the anemone, which would normally consume a fish by stinging it and then eating it, provides protection both for the fish and its eggs. The anemone fish has developed an immunity over time to the anemone sting by incorporating in its slime the proteins of the anemone itself. The anemone fish Amphiprion Ocellaris is also called a clownfish because of its constant bouncing around within the host anemone. Many people incorrectly call this fish a Percula Clown when in fact Amphiprion Percula is a different albeit similar species.
There are many more invertebrates than their are vertebrate animals. Some of the images I enjoy from this group are:
The arrow crab is a relatively common animal in the Caribbean and in some parts of the Pacific. When a male of the species encounters a female, he always mates with her. Then depending on how close she is to fertilizing the next batch of eggs, he either leaves to find an additional partner or stays until she fertilizes her eggs. Since the female uses the last batch of male sperm, by staying and protecting her, the male guarantees that he will be the father of the next batch of offspring. Male arrow crabs will fight to the death when they encounter each other. Given a choice between two females, the male would copulate with both and guard the female closest to fertilizing her eggs.
Mantis Shrimp images include the following:
Odontodactylus scyallarus head
on shot
Odontodactylus scyallarus side
shot
Lysiosquilla
and an excellent link to a site dedicated to mantis shrimp.
Pair of Coleman Shrimp on a Fire Urchin (Periclimenes Colemani Bruce)
The most difficult animal I have ever tried to capture as an image underwater is the pygmy seahorse. These animals, recently discovered in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, are literally the size of a grain of rice, less than 2 cm tall. And they are definitely camera shy. They are chubby little critters with red bumps, called tubercles, and pig-like snouts. They belong to the family Syngnathidae, and like other seahorses, have an upright posture, 90 degree head angle, and a prehensile tail used to tether themselves to the gorgonian upon which they live. I have found these animals in two colors, purple and yellow matching the host gorgonian, Muricella sp., the only species on which they live. However they have the ability to change color to match the color of their host gorgonian. Their diet is not certain but it is likely that they feed on small crustaceans or perhaps detritus found on the host gorgonian. In addition to these small pygmies, I have photographed many seahorses in St. Vincent including an orange one, a black and silver, and yellow one in Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi Indonesia.
A rare, but delightful group of fish to photograph are the Pipefish family. The Harlequin ghost Pipefish is a gorgeous fish that I have seen in colors which include: black and red pair, as well as an individual pink and white. A pair of Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus), are difficult to photograph because the depth of field makes getting both pairs in focus problematical coupled with their desire to be in an environment with which they blend in. These animals are very delicate in that they do not swim easily and cannot evade predators so it is very important not to move these animals when photographing them.
Frogfish are ambush predators that make a living by remaining motionless until a suitable meal swims by. Because of their ability to camouflage themselves they are relatively difficult to find. There are certain locations that I have been where they are relatively common: St. Vincent in the Caribbean and the Lembeh Straits in Sulawesi Indonesia. I have photographed these fish in green, pink, striated, yellow, black, orange and red.
One of the most beautiful eels is the blue ribbon eel which is found in the Pacific. Although eels often look like they are being aggressive with their mouth open to strike, in actuality this is simply how they breathe. There are exceptions to that such as the snake eel which buries itself in the sand totally motionless waiting for prey to come by. It is very easy to miss for divers or for potential prey. In the caribbean, the common White Spotted Moray Eel stays hidden during the day but hunts by night mostly by smell. This species is very flexible and can whip around and bite any foolish hand that pulls on its tail. One of the more striking eel images is this closeup showing the exceptionally sharp teeth.
Octopods intrigue us for the ability to squeeze into incredibly small spaces and their capacity to change their appearance seemingly at will. The Mimic Octopus is unusual in that it has the ability and interest in mimicking other marine animals. Mimic Octopus are characterized in their normal state by light and dark bands. I have seen two different species but the ones pictured here are about 3 inches across or perhaps slightly less. There may be as many as four different species of Mimic Octopus. They all have the ability to manipulate their body shape, color, texture, and arm positions to attempt resemblance to other animals. I have personally seen them mimic a flounder, mantis shrimp, and brittle star. When they mimic a flounder it flattens its body and brings its arms around to point in one direction. It then undulates over the sand as a flounder would. Other species mimic but more often than not their repertoire is that of a single animal. For example, a Mimic Valentini mimics a toxic sharp nosed pufferfish. I have seen Mimic Octopus only on sandy bottoms and usually a fairly shallow depths. It is possible that these animals are venomous similar to the Blue Ringed Octopus.
Nudibranchs have always fascinated me as they look like the creations of talented painters who enjoy using bright colors. Delicate, they seem unprotected and they are the underwater analogs of butterflies. They survive in an eat or be eaten world despite, or perhaps because of, their bright coloration. All nudibranchs are carnivores consuming slow-moving or stationery prey. In most species the gills or branchial plumes are outside. All sea slugs have the rasplike tongue called radula and all have a fleshy foot that propels them forward by muscular contractions or by the concerted movement of hairlike cilia. Nudibranchs often get their color from what they eat. Nudibranchs defend themselves by secretion of noxious chemicals that predators find distasteful.
Nudibranchs sense those of their own kind chemically and mate by positioning themselves head to toe so that their right sides are close together. They then extend their gonads and exchange sperm through their gonads. While nudibranchs are hermaphroditic, they segregate their own sperm from that of their partner. Nudibranchs then lay fertilized egg coils on the reef. The eggs hatch into planctonic veligers, the swimming and feeding larval phase. At this stage they do have the shells common for their class but after a variable length of time they settle to the bottom often directly onto an individual of the species upon which they will feed as adults. One can find Nudibranchs almost anywhere on the reef but more often than not near what they eat. As such if you know what they forage on, you can find them most easily. Although I have nearly 400 images of nudibranchs, all cannot be displayed here. Some of the nudibranch images I enjoy include:
Chromodoris Bullocki with eggs
Mating Pair Nembrotha Nudibranchs
Nembrotha kubaryana
Nembrotha cristata
Notodoris Minor
Chromodoris Risbecia
Chromodoris Ceratosoma trilobatum