Spotted trunkfish (Lactophrys bicaudalis) are one of only three recognized members of the Lactophrys genesis. The others are the buffalo trunkfish (Lactophrys trigonus) and the smooth trunkf… Read More

As its name suggests, the giant hawkfish is the largest member of the hawkfish family, growing up to 60 cm/24 inches in length. They are seen regularly by divers around the Gulf of Californi… Read More

These fish are commonly found along the western Atlantic, particularly in warmer waters around the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Adults measure up to 60cm (23 inches) and can w… Read More

Pikachu nudibranch (Thecacera sp) - This colorful marine mollusk is named for the adorable character, Pikachu, from the Pokémon franchise. At just 2cm, the Pikachu nudibranch is not e… Read More

These lovely spotted fish are easily identified by their bright yellow tails and the dark vertical stripes across their eyes and gills. The three sharp protruding spines on either side of th… Read More

The orange-yellow color and dark spots that make these snails easy to see comes from their retractable mantles when wrapped around their shells. These small sea snails make their home in the… Read More

There are around 275 species of drum fish living in oceans and freshwater. One of the loveliest drums to encounter is the juvenile spotted drum. Spotted drums are most striking as juvenile… Read More

The Bullseye Round Stingray (Urobatis concentricus) is named for the circular shape of its flat spotted body and belongs to the round family of stingrays. This ray grows to a length of 19 in… Read More

The Thornback Cowfish (Lactioria fornasini) is a slow-moving fish due to the hexagon shaped plate scales that cover it to create a box-like armour. As a relative of the pufferfish, the thorn… Read More

Most hermit Crabs live their lives inside seashells and other salvaged objects that serve as armor to protect their soft spiral shaped abdomens from predators. There are two types of hermit… Read More

White-nosed coatis (Nasua narica), or “pizotes” in Spanish, are related to the racoon and found throughout the Americas. They are social animals who live in troops of three to 20… Read More

The Manta ray is the largest of more than 500 species of rays. The name manta means blanket in Spanish and was given to these animals due to their large, flat, diamond shaped bodies that res… Read More

Rusty Guard Crabs (Trapezia bidentata) grow to be no more than two inches wide. These tiny crustaceans live out their lives along the branches of small polyp corals like Pocilloporas and Acr… Read More

The Yellow Stingray (Urobatis jamaicensis) is a small stingray with a wingspan of up to only 14 inches. It is commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean from Trinidad to North Carolina and is non… Read More

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) can be found in the Indian, Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. Adults can weigh up to 1,000 lbs, but the average full grown adult weighs… Read More

Unlike many shark species, nurse sharks are able to move water through their gills independently without swimming, which enables them to rest along the ocean floor. This sedentary bottom dw… Read More

Placencia is located in the more relaxed, southern end of Belize; where everything gets done, but at a far less stressful pace than areas with higher tourist traffic. Good food and friendly… Read More

The Pacific Arrow Crab can grow to up to 4-6 inches in width, and is characterized by its triangular shell and 10 long spindly legs. This crab is a nocturnal hunter who feeds on algae, gast… Read More

The Pacific Seahorse (Hippocampus ingens) also called the Giant Seahorse, can be found from San Diego, California to Peru. This species has been documented at up to a foot long (30 cm), thou… Read More

Tikal was once one of the most important Maya cities in Mesoamerica. The city reached its height from 200 – 900 AD, with an estimated population of nearly 90,000 inhabitants. By the ti… Read More

Very little is known about the Translucent Gorgonian Shrimp. It likes to make its home on coral or Gorgonian sea fans in the Indo-Pacific and Australia at depths of 3-60 meters. Due to the t… Read More

The southern stingray is highly adapted to life on the seafloor. They are often found buried in the sand, nearly completely hidden with only their eyes and spiracles exposed. The spiracles a… Read More

The Jewel moray is a ornate moray eel found in the gulf of California, and eastern pacific through Central America. Though popular in the aquarium trade, Jewel morays are far more beautiful… Read More

The Durban dancing shrimp earned this name due to its sudden sporadic movements. It is also known as the Hinge-beak shrimp for its moveable angled beak. It is easily identified by the brigh… Read More

Very little is know about this colorful sea slug. They are found in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific oceans and are believed to be simultaneously hermaphroditic. We tripped out on this 4… Read More

Huatulco's tropical climate, warm ocean waters and peaceful scenic beaches make it too inviting too pass up. This laid-back beach town is ideal for a relaxing diving vacation. The dive sites… Read More

Nudibranch (Thecacera picta) This species of nudibranch was first discovered in Japan but has since been confirmed to live as far south as Australia and the Maldives. These tiny sea slugs fe… Read More

The Poison Ocellate Octopus is a type of blue-ringed octopus. They are highly venomous, with yellowish skin and a distinctive blue ring under each eye that can be displayed rapidly when the… Read More

The hairy frogfish are covered in dermal spinules resembling hair that provide them with the ability to change their color and pigment pattern in order to blend with their environment. Ther… Read More

The plains zebra (Equus quagga) is the most common of the three distinct species of zebra. In case you are wondering, zebras have totally black skin, only their hair has white stripes.Like h… Read More

The Pelican is easily recognizable by its pronounced beak and gular pouch that connects the lower jaw to the neck. When the bird gathers its prey, seawater is drained into the pouch so the… Read More

Unlike other lobsters, spiny lobsters do not have large claws. However, they do possess hefty front walking claws, and a very long pair of antennae, which they rely on for defense. For th… Read More

The Spiny tiger shrimp is a small colorful creature that grows to only about 2 cm and goes by many names. These shrimp typically live in pairs or small families under sponges and coral. They… Read More

The satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) is endemic to the island of Madagascar, and can be found no where else on earth. This mostly nocturnal species uses its camouflage to h… Read More

Bullseye electric rays (Diplobatis ommata) are solitary, nocturnal bottom-dwellers, who bounce along the ocean floor on their pelvic fins, feeding on bristle worms and small crustaceans, lik… Read More

California sea lions are furry marine mammals that live along the southern coast of Alaska to Central Mexico. They can be easily distinguished from other seals in their range because they ha… Read More

California sea lions are furry marine mammals that live along the southern coast of Alaska to Central Mexico. They can be easily distinguished from other seals in their range because they ha… Read More

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is an excellent scuba diving destination largely due to its location at the southern-most point of Mexico’s Baja peninsula where the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Oc… Read More

Baja’s tranquil seaside capital, La Paz, is one of the most charming cities for R&R on the Baja California Peninsula. It is also one of the best places on the Sea of Cortez for scu… Read More

Baja’s tranquil seaside capital, La Paz, is one of the most charming cities for R&R on the Baja California Peninsula. It is also one of the best places on the Sea of Cortez for scu… Read More

Cowries (Cypraeidae) are marine gastropod mollusks with large egg-shaped shells. Unlike most gastropods, the exterior of the cowrie is cloaked by its dorsal body wall, called a mantle, durin… Read More

Public buses in Baja are cheap, easy and safe. Here is a short article on where to catch the Ruta del Desierto bus in Cabo Lucas to take it to the Los Cabos International Airport Read More

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea, and despite their name, they are not related to whales. They are the largest living species of sharks and can be found in all warm ocean waters… Read More

Salps are sometimes mistaken for jellyfish. However, a salp is a tunicate, they do not sting and are totally harmless. Newly born salps are hermaphroditic clones linked together like a chain… Read More

Dromedary single-humped camels make up most of the camels alive today. They have an organ called a dulla in their throats they inflate and hang from their mouths like a tongue during mating… Read More

Squids are marine cephalopods and one of the most highly developed invertebrates. They maneuver their way around the ocean tail first, primarily through jet propulsion. This also aids in pus… Read More

The ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris), is one of the most common clownfish among the 30 separate species known of at this time. Like many reef fish, they are sequential hermaphrodit… Read More

Verreaux's sifaka lemur. Lemurs are close relatives of monkeys and other primates, that can only be found on the island of Madagascar. There are over 100 separate species of lemur in Madagas… Read More

The yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicus) was the inspiration for the modeling of the Mercedes-Benz Bionic, a lower emissions concept car released in 2005. Yellow boxfish are quite agile despit… Read More

Lionfish (Pterois) are aposematic animals, meaning their color and characteristics are meant to warn and repel predators. Lionfish come in a variety of beautiful colors; they are recognizabl… Read More

The sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis) gets it's common name because it is often observed shaking its tail in a raised position. They look a little bit like they are twerking. This tiny inverte… Read More

Potato groupers (Epinephelus tukula) are some of the largest predators in the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, reaching a maximum length of 2.6 meters (8.5 feet). While they are known to dis… Read More

Remora fish (Echeneidae) are also known as “sucker fish.” Their first dorsal fin, located on their back, works as a sucker which they use to attach themselves to large marine ani… Read More

This colorful nudibranch, commonly found in the Indo West-Pacific, is called Trinchesia sibogae. Like other nudibranchs, Trinchesia sibogae is hermaphroditic, meaning it has both male and fe… Read More

For many, Madagascar is a far-off, exotic destination reserved for bucket lists and daydreams, but perhaps it's time to make your dreams come true. Pristine waters, white sand beaches and wh… Read More

For many, Madagascar is a far-off, exotic destination reserved for bucket lists and daydreams, but perhaps it's time to make your dreams come true. Pristine waters, white sand beaches and wh… Read More

For many, Madagascar is a far-off, exotic destination reserved for bucket lists and daydreams, but perhaps it's time to make your dreams come true. Pristine waters, white sand beaches and wh… Read More

Despite their appearance, moray eels are not related to snakes, they are actually fish. Moray eels have very small gills, which require them to open and close their mouths frequently to aid… Read More

Octopus breeding is one of the greatest romantic tragedies of the sea, with both females and males typically dying soon after they mate. Female octopuses have even been known to kill and eat… Read More

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to go on Safari in South Africa. At Kruger National Park, spotting the “Big 5” game animals can be as easy as renting a car and… Read More

We paid a visit to the laid-back town of Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique, where we enjoyed a week of relaxation, scuba diving, delicious meals and inviting culture. This lovely seaside town has ex… Read More

An overview on how to get from Maputo to Ponta do Ouro by car, bus and chapa Read More

An overview on how to get from Maputo to Tofo Beach by car, bus and chapa Read More

Scuba Diving in Tofo Beach, Mozambique during humpback whale season was one of our greatest experiences. These amazing whales can be spotted frequently, even from the beach. Add to this some… Read More

Scuba Diving in Tofo Beach, Mozambique during humpback whale season was one of our greatest experiences. These amazing whales can be spotted frequently, even from the beach. Ad to this some… Read More

Just a short drive away from downtown Cairo, you can see the proving grounds where the Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom developed the technology that allowed them to build the py… Read More

Just a short drive away from downtown Cairo, you can see the proving grounds where the Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom developed the technology that allowed them to build the py… Read More

The Great Pyramid at Giza is the last survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient Wold. Built nearly 4,600 years ago, the pyramids are a marvel ancient human achievement. A visit to Giza sh… Read More

The Great Pyramid at Giza is the last survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient Wold. Built nearly 4,600 years ago, the pyramids are a marvel ancient human achievement. A visit to Giza sh… Read More

The white-spotted pufferfish (Arothron hispidus) is commonly spotted in the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea. These fish have four teeth that grow continuously, and fuse into a beak shape. They us… Read More

This is an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). Until 1998, all bottlenose dolphins were thought to be the same. Today they are divided into three distinct species, the common… Read More

The humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), also called Napoleon wrasse, can be found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and the Red Sea. The males, who are larger than the females, can grow t… Read More

Pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) include more than 120 species of worldwide, though some are currently endangered due to overfishing, habitat loss and pollution. Most live in the sea, but some sp… Read More

Whether it be wrecks, hammerheads, or stunning reefs, there is a lot to see when diving the world class waters of the Red Sea, so much so, that it is difficult to know where to go first. Fro… Read More

Whether it be wrecks, hammerheads, or stunning reefs, there is a lot to see when diving the world class waters of the Red Sea, so much so, that it is difficult to know where to go first. Fro… Read More

Discovered in a pit at the foot of the Great Pyramid in Giza, this boat was intended to carry the Pharaoh Kufu in the afterlife. At 4,600 years old, It is the oldest boat in existence. It i… Read More

Luxor Temple was the place where pharaohs held their coronation ceremonies during the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. Visiting the temple complex, located right in the center of the city of Lu… Read More

The Leopard flounder (Bothus pantherinus), is a lefteyed flounder. Its right eye migrates to its left side during a metamorphosis that takes place between its larval and juvenile stages. Dur… Read More

The Large-spotted Snake Eel (Ophichthus polyophthalmus) AKA Many-eyed Snake Eel, prefers the bottom of the sea, where it uses its pointed nose to nestle beneath the sand, waiting for prey wi… Read More

These Nembrotha Lineolata nudibranch breath through pronounced branchial plumes branching from the rear of their bodies. These plumes surround the anus, meaning that the nudibranch breath an… Read More

Zebra urchin crabs (Zebrida adamsii) spend their lives riding on the backs of sea urchins in the Indo-Pacific region. Females usually stay on a single urchin, while males move from one urchi… Read More

Despite their name, ornate ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) are not really pipefish. They differ from true pipefish because they have dorsal fins along with enlarged pelvic fins, whic… Read More

Frogfish are highly effecient ambush predators who use a special organ which consists of two parts, the rod (illicium) and the lure (esca), to attract prey. Once the target is within range… Read More

The paddle-flap scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) is an extremely rare variety of scorpionfish that can be found throughout the Indo-West Pacific. These ornately decorated scorpionfish are… Read More

The Coleman Shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) has a unique symbiotic relationship with the rainbow urchin (Asthenosoma varium). The urchin provides a mobile home for the shrimp, complete with p… Read More

Despite its name, the flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) is not a fish, but a cephalopod. Due to the short size of its cuttle bone, the flamboyant cannot swim; instead it walks along… Read More

Why is this fish swimming around inside a salp? This holocentrid fish lives in the open ocean during its larval stage. It has taken up residence inside the salp until it can grown big enough… Read More

Juvenile Harlequin Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides) escape predation by swimming erratically to mimic the movements of the poisonous flatworm. Their large white spots are believed b… Read More

There are four distinct species of blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena) that can be found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. When threatened, they are capable of quickly changing pigmentation… Read More

The devil scorpionfish, or goblin fish, (Inimicus) is a highly venomous ambush predator. Spending the majority of its time lying in wait for prey on the seafloor, it has adapted to use the f… Read More

Mimic octopus get their name because they have been observed imitating a wide array of other species in order to evade predators. They achieve this by changing their body shape, color, and s… Read More

Octopus are among the most intelligent invertebrates on the planet, but they have a relatively short lifespan. Males usually die shortly after delivering their sperm to females. Females care… Read More

Though the stonefish is known as “the world’s most venomous fish,” it is its ability to blend perfectly with rocky reefs that allows it to capture prey. The patient predato… Read More

Green sea turtles spend most of their time submerged, but must return to the surface to breathe air. They can hold their breath for hours at a time unless stressed or hunting, during which b… Read More

The Coconut Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) earned its nickname when marine biologist observed the species collecting each half of a broken coconut from the seafloor to carry about and hid… Read More

Bobtail squid grow to only 8-cm. They have a symbiotic relationship with the bioluminescent bacteria that live in a light organ in their mantle. The bacteria is fed by the squid and in retur… Read More

Bobbit worms (Eunice aphroditois) bury themselves in the sand then extend their bodies to ambush prey who trigger the sensor on their antennae. They attack with extreme force, using their p… Read More

Striped eeltail catfish (Plotosus lineatus) can be found in brackish waters, lagoons, and coastal reefs. They frantically sift through the sand looking for crabs and small fish to eat. The s… Read More

The hairy frogfish is an extremely effective ambush hunter. Their skin is covered in irregular dermal spindles which resemble hairs and they can change color to disappear in their surroundin… Read More

The crocodile fish is a large member of the scorpionfish family that can grow to nearly 20 inches in length. Effective ambush predators, they lie on the bottom waiting for an unsuspecting pr… Read More