Solomon Islands Album

Feather star resting on top of a blue sponge.
Macro view of Acropora.
Here is a gorgeous giant clam. Notice the two openings called siphons. These siphons allow the clam to filter feed.
This worm-like creature is actually a sea cucumber (Synaptula lamperti).
Fellow Badi Samaniego conducting a fish survey.
Scientists boarding the Calcutta after returning from a dive.
This ‘Halgerda batangas’ nudibranch (sea slug) almost looks more like a sponge than a sea slug.
A macro view of cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae).
Researcher Renee Carlton hard at work studying the effect of ocean acidification on corals.
Here is one animal that we often find on our dives called the blue sea star (Linckia laevigata).
This is the underside of a cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae).
Scientists Monteiro and Anderson Mayfield ascending from a dive.
We Nemo AKA the clown anemonefish (Amphiprion percula).
Looking up from the underwater world below.
Ken Marks ascending from a dive after taking photo transects.
Crown thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) eating an Acropora coral.
A beautiful blue-spotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) resting on the bottom of the reef.
Here is a photo of two different ‘Acropora’ species.
Spotfin squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara) hanging out in staghorn coral.
Freckled hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) perched on coral.
Double-bar goatfish (Parupeneus crassilabris).
Close-up view of Symphyllia coral.
Side view of a lue elephant ear sponge.
A school of blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena qenie).
Phyllidia elegans, a type of dorid nudibranch.
This day octopus (Octopus cyanea) was trying to camouflage itself near a rock.
Fellow, Joao Monteiro photographing a blue, elephant ear sponge.
Crocodile flatheads (Cymbacephalus beauforti) usually try to camouflage themselves; however, we saw this fish in its black phase.
A crocodile flathead (Cymbacephalus beauforti) blending in with its background.
Top view of a lue elephant ear sponge.

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