Capturing the Moment

Red margin spanish dancer nudibranch swimming Spanish Dancer and reflection Sometimes you just get lucky, but it helps to know what you are looking for. Even though this nudibranch is bright red and yellow it can still be easy to pass right by. Heidi and I have come to look for these after the sun has set. And if we are lucky enough we might even get to see one dance its way through the water like we did this night. With a very fast shutter speed and a bit more luck we got some shots of this Spanish Dancer nudibranch mid-action. When it would swim up close to the surface of the tide pool I could capture its reflection as well. fits right in the palm of your hand  While this spanish dancer could easily fit into the palm of your hand it will someday grow into the largest nudibranch in the world. Adults lay eggs attached to rocky reefs in the shape of a rose...which are bigger than this juvenile. Of course thousands of babies even smaller than this will...

Red Margin Nudibranch unfurling It always amazes me what can be found in the little pools in the rocks that form when the tide goes out. These tidepools can be treasure troves of all sorts of rare and unusual sea creatures. I have seen juvenile octopus, moray eels, and cleaner shrimp at night in tidepools. But the real reason I am always checking for low tides shortly after sunset is to find nudibranchs! Heidi and I have seen nudibranchs in tidepools that we have never seen snorkeling or scuba diving. And to think, people walk right by these pools all the time, not realizing what might be lurking nearby. Dendrodoris carunculosa  This nights foray into some of our favorite tidepools was incredible. My nudibranch hunting partner Heidi and I didn't have really high hopes since the tide was not a very low tide, but all that changed when she shouted she found something. We first thought it was a tuberculos nudibranch ( Dendrodoris tuberculosa ) but when we identified it later...