Coral Kingdoms

A Fijian reef explodes in color as a school of anthias swims past. If a soft coral hosts zooxanthellae (the algae that give coral the nutrients it needs to grow) and the water becomes too warm, the algae leave and the soft coral die. Unlike hard corals, soft corals don’t leave a limestone skeleton behind [...]

Mekong Giant Catfish-Pangasianodon gigas

Fast FactsType: FishDiet: HerbivoreAverage lifespan in the wild: More than 60 yearsSize: Up to 10 ft (3 m)Weight: Up to 650 lbs (295 kg)Group name: SchoolDid you know? The largest freshwater fish ever recorded was a Mekong giant catfish caught in northern Thailand in 2005. It was nearly nine [...]

Underwater Creatures, Photos

The rush is on for silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) and yellowtail snappers (Ocyurus chrysurus) to get their share of food tossed out of a dive boat into Cuba’s coastal waters. Aggressive and considered dangerous to humans, the silky shark is nevertheless fished for human consumption. Its meat is eaten fresh or salted. Its skin is [...]

What are Corals and Coral Reefs?

Appearing as solitary forms in the fossil record more than 400 million years ago, corals are extremely ancient animals that evolved into modern reef-building forms over the last 25 million years. Coral reefs are unique (e.g., the largest structures on earth of biological origin) and complex systems. Rivaling old growth forests in longevity of their [...]

What is it? Beautiful Underwater Photos

The Biggest Snakes in the World-Anacondas

Shrimp Landing Photos

Captain Kirby on the Scamp

Lumpys Birthday

Underwater Pumpkin Carving

Not content to carve their pumpkins in the traditional way, several divers carved jack-o’-lanterns more than 30 feet below the ocean’s surface.Ken and Linda Smith of Sebring, Fla., took top honors Saturday for their “scary pumpkin” at the 10th annual Amoray Dive [...]