Indonesia

A majestic manta ray, surrounded by further specimens, glides elegantly through the blue water, with the characteristic gill slits on the underside clearly visible. The shot shows the imposing animal from below against the bright surface light, creating an impressive silhouette.
Two majestic manta rays glide elegantly through the blue water while further mantas are visible in the background. The characteristic white undersides with dark spot patterns and the imposing wingspans of the animals are clearly visible.
A group of small mysid shrimps moves across a tassled scorpionfish, with one sitting directly on its eye. The transparent crustaceans with their characteristic striped bodies and long antennae are seen in a typical setting.
A magnificent Nembrotha nudibranch with characteristic turquoise-blue gills and orange-and-black rhinophores crawls over orange sponges. The sea slug displays its typical folded dorsal appendages in vivid blue and black tones.
A colorful squat lobster in purple and yellow sits between the arms of a crinoid.
The image shows Costasiella kuroshimae, a tiny sea slug species also known as the "leaf sheep". They grow to only about one centimetre and have structures called cerata on their backs that give them a leaf-like appearance.
A false clownfish shelters protectively in the tentacles of its host anemone. The characteristic orange colouration with white stripes contrasts clearly with the pale, almost white anemone tentacles — a classic example of the famous symbiosis between anemonefish and sea anemones. The anemone shows signs of bleaching caused by water temperatures that were too high.
Two beautiful chromodoris nudibranchs crawl closely entwined over the reef, displaying their characteristic cream base colouration with violet dots and bluish-violet mantle border. The delicate gills and rhinophores are clearly visible as the slugs glide over the sponge- and coral-covered substrate.
A detailed macro shot of the underside of a blue sea star shows the characteristic ambulacral grooves with white tube feet and the central mouth opening. The bluish colouration and typical anatomy suggest a Linckia sea star.
A fascinating macro shot shows a candy crab in perfect camouflage among colourful soft corals. The yellowish-transparent crab blends almost completely with its surrounding pink and orange branching structures.
A fascinating macro shot shows a candy crab in perfect camouflage among colourful soft corals. The yellowish-transparent crab blends almost completely with its surrounding pink and orange branching structures.
An orange-yellow frogfish (Antennariidae) sits camouflaged among sponges and coral growth on the seafloor. The small, rounded animal with its characteristic knobbly body shape and clearly visible eyes shows perfect adaptation to its environment.
A whip coral goby sits on an orange-reddish whip coral against deep blue water. The small fish displays a greenish-blue colouration with striking yellow eyes and uses the coral for shelter or foraging.
This macro shot shows the characteristic bluish-violet gill appendages of a file clam with golden dots on the body.
Two sexy shrimps (Thor amboinensis) with characteristic white-and-blue spots on their brown carapace are visible on the sandy seafloor. The small crustaceans display their typical behaviour with their rocking tails and long antennae as they move through their natural environment.
A majestic manta ray glides elegantly through the blue water while the sun shines from above through the water surface. The characteristic dark spots on the white underside of the manta are clearly recognisable, as are the prominent gill slits.
The image shows a painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus), also known as the round-spot frogfish. These fish are masters of adaptation, mimicking sponges in both shape and colour to become nearly invisible to prey and predators alike. As ambush predators they remain motionless for hours. With a modified dorsal fin ray that acts like a fishing rod with a lure, they attract prey directly in front of their large mouth.
Close-up of the eye of a sole. The delicate iris fringes (lappets) and the perfect sand camouflage are visible in fine detail.
An impressive group of devil rays glides majestically over the reef, with one large ray dominating the foreground and several others hovering in formation behind. The elegant ocean giants display their characteristic black appearance with the distinctive broad pectoral fins above a coral-covered seafloor.
A pink-reddish pygmy seahorse (approx. 1 cm) sits in its host coral.
A majestic reef manta swims elegantly over the sandy seafloor with its mouth wide open while filter-feeding on plankton. The characteristic cephalic fins and the dark upper side with white underside are clearly visible as the animal engages in its typical feeding activity.
A fascinating macro shot shows a small crab that has hidden in a vivid pink sea feather. The transparent crab with its characteristic striped legs and claws uses the anemone for protection, while the whitish tentacles of the anemone float elegantly in the water.
A tiny violet nudibranch with orange projections sits on a pale sponge or coral. The delicate nudibranch displays its characteristic cerata and is a perfect example of the fascinating microfauna of the reefs. A human thumb is included for scale.
A sea urchin displays its intense red and orange colouration with characteristic blue dots distributed in regular rows across the body. The long, dark spines frame the colourful body and create an impressive contrast.
A perfectly camouflaged frogfish sits among colourful corals and sponges on the reef. The animal demonstrates its impressive ability to camouflage by mimicking the colour and texture of its surroundings, making it nearly invisible.
A juvenile red lionfish swims elegantly among pink sponges and corals on the reef. The characteristic striped pectoral fins are widely spread as the fish adopts its typical majestic posture. A human finger is included for scale.
The image shows a whip coral goby (Bryaninops yongei) resting on a whip coral (Cirrhipathes anguina). The body is semi-transparent, allowing the fish to blend perfectly with the colour of the coral.
A juvenile red lionfish with its prey in its mouth.
Several reef mantas at a cleaning station above a reef. A large dark manta in the foreground with clearly visible underside markings, a second lighter manta in the background. Small reef fish surround the scene.
A swimming crab with characteristically red-and-white striped claws and legs sits on sandy ground among corals and an anemone. The crab displays a defensive posture with raised claws and is photographed face-on.
A juvenile scorpionfish on dark sandy ground.
A small striped goby with characteristic red longitudinal stripes and golden-yellow eyes rests on a yellowish coral. The delicate goby displays its typical fine fins and striking striped pattern.
A four-eyed blenny peers curiously out of its hole in the reef. The small fish displays its characteristic orange-greenish colouration with striking yellow eyes and the typical elongated body shape of blennies.
A small Ladybug amphipod with characteristic white base colouration and black and yellow-orange spots sits on a translucent sea squirt. The delicate structure of the host animal shows a glassy, almost transparent surface in pink-violet tones.
Close-up of the eye of a cuttlefish with its characteristic slit-shaped pupil. The detailed macro shot reveals the fine dotting and patterning of the skin and the distinctive pupil shape.
A beautiful sea slug with characteristic blue dots and white lines on a dark background crawls over a colourful coral or sponge. The orange-red rhinophores are clearly visible and the slug displays its typical striped pattern.
Two majestic manta rays hover elegantly through the blue water, their characteristic white underside markings clearly visible. The silhouettes of the animals stand out dramatically against the bright sunlight filtering down from the water surface.
A delicate Pseudoceros flatworm with a bluish-white body and characteristic orange-red lines crawls over a vivid red sponge. The elegant marine flatworm displays its typical elongated form and coloured markings.
A blue sea squirt is inhabited by several small amphipods with characteristic black spots and orange patches. The tiny crustaceans with their red eyes use the interior of the sea squirt for protection, presenting a fascinating example of symbiosis in the coral reef.
Macro shot of the surface of a sea urchin. The detailed spines in their green-blue-violet tones stand out strikingly from the red-orange skin.
The image shows a common spider crab (Macropodia rostrata) on a sponge. This crab species is known for its extreme camouflage ability and often decorates itself with algae or sponges to resemble seagrass.
A magnificent tube worm species displays its fan-shaped spread tentacles in vivid pink and violet tones. The fine, feathery structures of the filter tentacles are visible in great detail and radiate from the central body.
A tiny fish hides among the arms of a feather star.
An orangutan crab sits on an anemone.
A fascinating macro shot of an arm of a sea star. The warty, yellow protrusions stand out from the otherwise violet skin.
A spectacular underwater scene with several majestic manta rays gliding elegantly over a colourful coral reef. In the foreground, a large manta ray with characteristic white underside swims while further mantas are visible in formation in the background.
The image shows a hairy squat lobster, scientifically known as Lauriea siagiani. They are characterised by their vivid pink or violet colour and a dense covering of white hairs. They are often found on giant barrel sponges, where they filter nutrients from the water.
A majestic reef manta glides elegantly through the blue water, photographed from below with dramatic lighting. The characteristic dark spots on the white underside and the imposing wingspan are clearly recognisable.
Two clownfish live in symbiotic community in a white sea anemone. The characteristically orange-and-white striped anemonefish are perfectly visible among the protective tentacles of their host anemone.
A porcelain crab with characteristic red spots on a white body lives in symbiosis among the tentacles of a sea anemone. The small crab uses the protective tentacles as its habitat and filters plankton from the water.
Two zebra crabs ride on a fire urchin. The red skin with the striking, vivid and highly varied spines of the sea urchin form the habitat of this crab species.
A magnificent mantis shrimp with its characteristic large compound eyes and vivid raptorial claws is visible in its hiding place among corals. The vivid colours of green, blue, red and orange demonstrate the impressive colour range of these highly evolved crustaceans.
Two clownfish live in a symbiotic relationship in a large sea anemone with whitish-pink tentacles. The larger fish above is likely the dominant female while the smaller one below is the male — a typical example of the fascinating symbiosis between anemonefish and their host anemones.
The image shows the open mantle cavity of a clam with its characteristic vivid colouration in orange, violet and white tones. The serrated mantle edges and typical spot patterns are clearly visible as the clam has opened, presumably to filter plankton.
Multiple majestic manta rays glide elegantly through the deep blue water. The leading manta displays its characteristic white underside with striking dark spot patterns and horn-like cephalic fins, while a second manta is visible in the background.
A group of manta rays glides majestically through the blue water above a cleaning station on the reef. The large rays display their typical behaviour of being cleaned by small cleaner fish, as they hover elegantly above the coral-covered reef.
A family of true clownfish lives in perfect symbiosis with their white host anemone. The vivid orange-and-white anemonefish swim protected among the stinging tentacles, while the colourful coral reef with various hard and soft corals is visible in the background.
A beautiful nudibranch with a black body and green spots, and characteristic gills on its back, sits on colourful soft corals. The vivid colours of the pink and orange corals form a striking contrast to the elegant pattern of the sea slug.
A whitish warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) rests on the encrusted reef floor. These fish have warty skin with variable colouration to perfectly adapt to their surroundings, such as sponges or corals, and wait for passing prey.
A spearing mantis shrimp sits in its sandy burrow, waiting in ambush for unwary passing prey. The striking compound eyes are clearly visible.
A colourful warty frogfish sits perfectly camouflaged on algae-covered reef substrate. The small anglerfish displays its characteristic warty skin protrusions in pink-violet tones, blending masterfully with its surroundings.
The image shows a whip coral shrimp (Pontonides ankeri or similar species) on a whip coral. It is a small shrimp that lives in a commensal relationship with whip corals.
A vivid yellow boxfish with characteristic black spots hovers in front of a coral backdrop. The small fish clearly displays its typical box-shaped appearance with large eyes and forward-facing mouth.
The macro photo shows the delicate, feathery arms of a feather star in warm orange-golden tones. The fine pinnulae (lateral branches) are perfectly structured, showing the characteristic feathered anatomy of these echinoderms. Due to their structure they provide an ideal habitat for various symbionts, including the shrimp visible here.
A blue ribbon eel with a vivid blue body and yellow fins glides elegantly over the colourful coral reef. The moray displays its characteristic snake-like movement between the pink and reddish coral rocks.
A magnificent colony of orange tube worms with their fully extended, feathered tentacle crowns rising like small Christmas trees from their tubes. The fine, feathery structures serve to filter plankton from the water.
A beautiful mandarinfish displays its characteristic vivid pattern with blue lines and orange rings on a brownish background. The small reef dweller sits among corals and shows its typical shy behaviour in its hiding place.
A colourful Chromodoris nudibranch with vivid yellow-violet colouration and characteristic blue spots sits on encrusted coral substrate. The white gill tufts and rhinophores are clearly visible, showing the typical appearance of this tropical sea slug.
A detail shot of soft corals shows several star-shaped polyps with brightly glowing yellow-green centres. The individual tentacles are clearly visible, forming characteristic eight-armed structures typical of soft corals.
An orange-and-white striped wire coral crab hides among the tentacles of a whip coral. The symbiotic relationship shows the small crab seeking shelter in the coral while simultaneously feeding on plankton.
A false clownfish lives in perfect symbiosis with its host anemone, whose cream-coloured tentacles with characteristic thickened tips are visible. The orange-and-white striped fish displays the typical behaviour of its species, safely nestled among the stinging tentacles.
A masterfully camouflaged octopus lies motionlessly on the sandy seafloor. The body shape and perfect adaptation to the sediment colour make the animal nearly invisible — an impressive example of camouflage in the underwater world.
A small nudibranch crawls over a reddish-brown coral surface. The delicate nudibranch displays a translucent body with characteristic undulating body margins and feathered gill tufts at the rear end.
The image shows a Nembrotha chamberlaini, a species of colourful sea slug from the order Nudibranchia. These sea slugs have a cream-coloured body with prominent brown spots and are distinguished by striking, vivid red tentacles (rhinophores) and gills.
Two pink anemonefish hide among the white tentacles of their host anemone. The fish display the typical symbiosis with the anemone, which offers them protection while they in turn clean it of parasites.
A whitetip reef shark glides elegantly through the deep blue water. The slender shark displays its characteristic grey colouration and typical gill slits as it swims majestically through the open water.
Super-macro shot of the compound eye of a crustacean.
A polychaete worm displays its magnificent, feathery gills in full extension. The fan-shaped tentacles shimmer in pink, white and brownish tones and serve both for respiration and food capture.
A majestic manta ray glides elegantly through the blue water, displaying its characteristic cephalic fins and the typical dark spots on the white underside. The frog's-eye perspective emphasises the imposing size and grace of this ocean giant.
A sea turtle swims elegantly in the blue open water, looking directly into the camera. The characteristic green-brown colouration of the shell and the distinctive facial features are clearly recognisable as sunbeams penetrate the clear water.
A dark cockatoo waspfish (Ablabys taenianotus) lies perfectly camouflaged on the sandy seafloor. The brown colouration with characteristic white dots and patches provides excellent camouflage in the sand.
A majestic manta ray glides elegantly through the deep blue water while the sun shines through the sea from above. The characteristic silhouette with the distinctive white spot patterns on the underside is clearly identifiable as a reef manta.
A vivid orange nudibranch with characteristic bluish-white cerata (dorsal appendages) crawls over a pale coral and deposits its egg mass on the coral. The elegant nudibranch displays its typical finger-like projections that serve both for respiration and digestion.
A small reddish shrimp sits on an orange sponge or coral. The shrimp displays the characteristic long antennae and transparent body parts typical of many cleaner shrimps.
The image shows Costasiella kuroshimae, a tiny sea slug species also known as the "leaf sheep". They grow to only about one centimetre and have structures called cerata on their backs that give them a leaf-like appearance.
An elegant nudibranch glides across the coral reef, displaying its characteristic dark rhinophores and typical cream-white colouration with striking black borders. The nudibranch moves gracefully over the colourful reef sand.
The image shows a juvenile black and white snapper (Macolor niger). Juveniles have a striking black-and-white pattern that changes as they grow older.
A majestic hawksbill sea turtle swims elegantly over a colourful coral reef, while in the background a school of small reef fish moves through the sun-filled blue water. The reef displays an impressive diversity of hard corals, soft corals and yellow butterflyfish, forming a vibrant underwater landscape.