The Scallop’s Eyes

The iridescent blue eyes of the Doughboy Scallop, (Mimachlamys asperrima), are little optical marvels. They are in fact more like tiny Schmidt telescopes than conventional eyeballs. The back surface of the scallop’s eye is like a mirror which reflects the incoming light back towards the lens opening. The light sensitive cells of the retina are […]

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Headshot

This Leafy Seadragon headshot was taken during a recent daytime dive at Rapid Bay. This is another example of extreme separation normally associated with a night shot but instead done through strong strobes and removal of the blue luminance. I expect he’ll be wearing dark sunglasses next time I return. Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Headshot’, 1/200s […]

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I Sea Dragons

This beautiful Leafy Seadragon posed for stills and video at Rapid Bay this afternoon. Despite big tides and a strong current the water is getting warmer, up to 14degC here now, and an 8-10m visibility dive day is was welcome change from the soup we have been diving in lately. Looking forward to more days […]

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Right Under their Feet

It’s the end of a Rapid Bay dive and as all well executed dive plans end, another slow safe ascent back up to the entry point. Except this time I spent a little while under the entry platform and it is a microcosm teaming with life. Hard coral’s, sponges, snails, crabs, blennies and gobies all […]

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