Palau

A snorkeller swims through a spectacular swarm of golden jellyfish in turquoise blue water. The harmless jellyfish surround the diver in large numbers while sunlight from the surface filters through the water, creating a magical underwater scenery.
Hundreds of golden jellyfish hover majestically through the turquoise water of a jellyfish lake. The harmless, sting-free jellyfish have developed their characteristic golden-yellow colouring through symbiosis with algae, creating a fascinating underwater landscape.
A grey reef shark swims elegantly through deep blue open water. The slender shark displays its characteristic bluish-grey colouring and typical long pectoral fins as it glides majestically through the blue water.
A large Mastigias jellyfish swims majestically beneath the water surface, while further golden jellyfish glide through the sun-flooded water in the background. The dramatic underwater perspective shows the characteristic bell-shaped form of the jellyfish against the bluish sky at the surface.
A historic aircraft wreck lies on the seabed, presumably from the Second World War. The wreck is heavily colonised by corals and marine organisms and shows clear signs of corrosion and decay over the decades.
A magnificently coloured mandarinfish displays its characteristic vivid blue stripes and turquoise-green patterns on an orange base. The small fish is in a typical reef setting among corals, showing the intense colour splendour this species is known for.
A grey reef shark glides elegantly through deep blue water, surrounded by smaller reef fish. The shark displays its characteristic slender form with clearly visible gill slits, while further fish swim in the blue water in the background.
A magnificent nautilus hovers freely in the blue water, displaying its characteristic striped shell and numerous white tentacles. The ancient cephalopod fossil shows its typical chambered shell with red-and-white stripes and fleshy catching arms.
Impressive stalactites hang from the ceiling of a flooded cave and are reflected in the crystal-clear water. The geological formations show the characteristic limestone structures of Chandelier Cave with dramatic light refraction.
A juvenile batfish swims elegantly through the blue water, displaying its characteristic orange-reddish colouring with dark spots. The fish is photographed in portrait style against the brilliant blue background of the open water.
Large school of barracudas in blue water, photographed from below. Individual dark surgeonfish swim among them.
A snorkeller swims among an impressive swarm of golden jellyfish in turquoise-green water. The harmless jellyfish have acquired their characteristic golden-yellow colouration through a symbiotic relationship with algae and float peacefully around the swimmer.
View from inside an underwater cave looking out into the open water, with incoming sunlight creating a spectacular blue light show. In the middle of the frame the silhouette of a diver is visible, gliding through the deep blue water.
A female diver swims alongside a magnificent coral wall with large yellow gorgonians and colourful soft corals in pink and red tones. The scene shows the impressive colour diversity of a tropical coral reef in clear blue water.
Two grey reef sharks swim elegantly through the blue water above a coral reef. The slender predators display their typical streamlined body shape and move calmly through their natural habitat.
A yellowish-transparent golden jellyfish hovers elegantly in the blue water, its bell-shaped medusa and characteristic oral arms clearly recognisable. The shot shows the delicate structure and transparency of the cnidarian with impressive clarity.
A magnificent mandarinfish displays its characteristic psychedelic pattern of turquoise, orange and blue wavy lines. The small reef dweller presents its widely spread pectoral fins in a typical ambush posture on the sandy seabed.
A beautiful Acropora hard coral with violet-pink spherical polyp tips presenting itself against turquoise-blue water. The coral displays its characteristic cylindrical branches with clearly visible extended polyps in their full splendour.
Two wire coral gobies sit on their host coral. The slender, translucent fish display their characteristic red eyes.
A female diver presents a beautiful nautilus above her outstretched hand. The spiral shell with its characteristic reddish-brown stripes is clearly visible, as are the yellow tentacles of the living animal.
A magnificent mandarinfish in its full colour splendour on the reef floor. The small, colourful animal displays its characteristic blue, green and orange patterns as well as the striking red eyes and spread fins.
Three anemonefish live in symbiotic relationship with a large sea anemone. The orange-and-white fish move safely among the venomous tentacles of their host anemone, while further small reef inhabitants are visible in the blue background.
A common cuttlefish rests on a colourful coral reef, displaying its characteristic brown-and-white colouring with striking large eyes. The animal is perfectly camouflaged among the corals and the encrusted substrate.
A spectacular underwater scene shows the wingtip of an aircraft wreck with vivid red and orange soft corals hanging like a natural curtain into the deep blue water. The intense colour of the corals forms a dramatic contrast against the clear blue background of the open water.
A large black feather star colony has settled on a colourful coral block encrusted with pink and yellow soft corals. The elegant feathery arms of the crinoids are spread wide, filtering plankton from the water column, while the clear blue water in the background underlines the health of the reef.
A diver hovers as a silhouette against the spectacular blue light of a cave opening. The dramatic lighting creates an impressive contrast between the dark cave and the brilliant blue water in the background.
A colourful reef wall with various gorgonians in pink and orange tones extending elegantly into the deep blue water. The fan-like gorgonians and branching soft corals form a vibrant coral reef biotope.
The image shows the eye of a crocodilefish (Cymbacephalus beauforti).
A blue water scene shows a large shark gliding elegantly through deep blue water, accompanied by various reef fish. Sun rays penetrate the clear water, creating a peaceful underwater atmosphere with individual coral formations at the edge of the frame.
View from inside an underwater cave ooking up towards the cave exit, through which brilliant blue light penetrates. The dramatic lighting shows the contrast between the dark cave and the bright open water, with small particles visible in the beam of light.
An orange-red anemonefish shelters protectively among the tentacles of its host anemone. The symbiosis between fish and anemone is clearly visible, with the vivid orange tones of the fish forming a beautiful contrast against the pink-violet anemone tentacles.
A feather star sits on a large orange gorgonian in a tropical coral reef. The soft coral displays its typical fan-like structure while the feather star has its feathery arms extended to filter food from the water.
A juvenile batfish swims elegantly through the blue water, displaying its characteristic orange-reddish colouration with dark patches. The fish is photographed in portrait style against the radiant blue backdrop of the open water.
A magnificent red gorgonian extends its fan-shaped branches against deep blue water. The soft coral displays its characteristic net-like structure with finely branched polyps, surrounded by colourful coral growth on the reef.
A magnificently coloured mandarin dragonet sits on sandy ground. The vivid colours in blue, orange, green and yellow with the characteristic undulating patterns are clearly recognisable, as are the large pectoral fins and the striking eyes.
A golden mastigias jellyfish (Mastigias papua) photographed from below in backlight. The transparent bell and the yellow-brown appendages are clearly visible — typical of the jellyfish lakes of the Coral Triangle.
A blenny hides inside a tubular structure of a coral cave. The small fish displays the typical orange-and-white colours and uses the natural shelter as protection.
A grey reef shark swims elegantly through the blue water, surrounded by a school of smaller reef fish. The scene shows the typical open-water atmosphere with several sharks and fish at various depths.
View from the depths towards the water surface with brilliant sunlight penetrating through the crystal-blue water. Small air bubbles rising to the surface are visible on the right of the frame, emphasising the underwater perspective.
A colourful Flabellina nudibranch with transparent, violet-edged cerata (dorsal projections) crawls across red soft corals. The sea slug displays a beautiful colour combination of pink, orange and violet and is a typical example of the species diversity of small reef inhabitants.
A macro shot shows a sea anemone with its characteristic central mouth opening, surrounded by fine tentacles in pink-whitish tones. The red-orange oral disc is clearly visible, while violet tentacles are visible.
A magnificent mandarinfish displays its characteristic vivid colouring with wavy lines in blue, green, orange and yellow. The small, colourful fish rests on the sandy seabed and presents its spectacular colour pattern.
An impressive gathering of golden jellyfish swims in the warm, sun-flooded waters of a jellyfish lake. The translucent, yellowish-golden jellyfish drift in various sizes through the turquoise-blue water while sun rays penetrate from above through the water surface.
A dive boat photographed from below against the sun.
A colourful Christmas tree worm with its characteristic feathery gill crowns in vivid pink and orange tones protrudes from its calcareous tube. The fine, feather-like gill structures are clearly visible and show the typical spiral arrangement of these filter-feeding tube worms.
A nautilus swims elegantly through the blue water, displaying its characteristic striped shell and the numerous tentacles protruding from the shell opening. The orange-and-white striped shell contrasts beautifully with the deep blue of the surrounding water.
A magnificent mandarin dragonet displays its characteristic vivid colouring with vivid blue, orange and green stripes and patterns. The small fish rests on the sandy seabed among coral fragments and presents its typical stocky body shape and the conspicuous pectoral fins.
A colony of Christmas tree worms displays its characteristic spiral filter crowns in vivid blue tones. The fine, feathery tentacles are spread fan-like and serve for feeding by filtering plankton from the water.
A diver swims above a huge coral formation of plate corals, whose undulating, layered structures form an impressive underwater landscape. The brownish-yellow coral plates extend like a natural staircase across the entire seabed.
The image shows a whip coral shrimp (Pontonides ankeri) resting on its host coral. These small shrimps live in a symbiotic relationship with whip corals and are perfectly adapted to the colour and structure of their host coral, providing extremely effective camouflage.
A magnificent mandarin dragonet displays its spectacular colour splendour with vivid blue, green, orange and red patterns. The fish rests on the sandy seabed and presents its characteristic undulating fins in full beauty.
A diver hovers as a dark silhouette in the deep blue water of an underwater cave and looks up towards bright light rays penetrating from the water surface. The atmospheric scene shows the contrast between the dark depths and the bright sunlight from above.
A female diver swims alongside a spectacular red gorgonian holding its fan-shaped branches in the current. The vivid red soft corals form a dramatic contrast against the deep blue water and show the typical growth form of fan corals on a reef wall.
Two magnificent giant clams lie embedded in a colourful coral reef, surrounded by vivid red and violet soft corals. The characteristic wavy shell edges of the Tridacna are clearly recognisable while the reef shows an impressive diversity of hard and soft corals.
Several grey reef sharks swim elegantly through deep blue open water. The slender sharks with their characteristic form display their typical behaviour in the open ocean.
A school of slender shrimpfish swims above the rocky seabed. The elongated fish with their characteristic tube-like snouts move in their typical synchronous formation, heads pointing downward.
A beautiful pygmy anthias swims elegantly above the coral reef. The vivid pink to violet colouring with orange-yellow accents and the characteristic bluish fin margins make this small reef dweller one of the most colourful fish in the tropical ocean.
A small transparent goby sits on a wire coral.
A diver swims above a colourful coral reef on which a large group of feather stars has spread their characteristic feathery arms. The violet-pink feather stars form an impressive contrast against the orange and red soft corals in the foreground.
A grey reef shark swims elegantly through the blue water while various smaller reef fish congregate in the background. The shark displays its characteristic streamlined silhouette and typical grey colouring with distinctive fins.
Two divers with cameras explore a heavily colonised wreck on the seabed. The aircraft wreck is covered with corals and other marine organisms and provides habitat for various reef animals visible among the rusty structures.
An expansive coral formation of large plate corals dominates the reef image. The flat corals form characteristic undulating structures and display the typical yellowish-green colouring of healthy stony corals in shallower water.
A diver swims through an impressive underwater cave, with the intense blue light from the cave exit creating a dramatic silhouette. The scene shows the majestic dimension of the underwater landscape with its natural rock formations.
A reef shark swims elegantly above a colourful coral landscape in blue water. The shark displays the typical streamlined form and moves calmly through its territory while small fish populate the reef.
Sunken Japanese WWII aircraft wreck with propeller and engine visible from the front, encrusted with corals. Diver in the background.
A golden jellyfish swims near the water surface, with sunlight shining through its transparent bell-shaped umbrella and creating a golden colouring. The gelatinous structure and characteristic tentacles are clearly recognisable, while light reflections create a dramatic underwater atmosphere.
A fascinating underwater scene shows hundreds of golden jellyfish hovering in the water column. The jellyfish form an impressive formation in the turquoise-blue water, with sunlight shining from above through the water surface and creating a mystical atmosphere.
Diver hovers above a sunken Japanese aircraft wreck from World War II. Giant clams and corals colonise the wreck. Wide-angle shot.