Taveuni, Fiji 2026
A tiny dark morph Pontoh's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus pontohi) tucked among the colorful sponges and corals of Fiji. Unlike the Bargibant's pygmy seahorses I photographed in Lembeh, Pontoh's pygmy seahorses are free living and often found clinging to algae, hydroids, and other small structures on the reef. I love how this photograph captures just how incredibly small this little seahorse is compared to its surroundings. Finding one is exciting enough, but photographing such a tiny, well-camouflaged animal among all the textures and colors of the reef was a wonderful challenge!
Fiji is known as the soft coral capital of the world, and scenes like this make it easy to understand why! I loved how this brilliant red gorgonian sea fan stood out against the vibrant blue water, creating such a beautiful contrast. After spending so much time photographing tiny critters in Lembeh, switching to wide angle photography in Fiji was a wonderful change of pace. Capturing the scale, color, and beauty of an entire reef presents a completely different challenge, and this photograph is one of my favorite reminders of just how spectacular Fiji's underwater landscapes can be.
A gorgeous golden mantis shrimp peeking out from its rocky hideaway in Fiji! I've always been fascinated by mantis shrimp, especially their extraordinary vision and lightning-fast strikes. I loved the brilliant orange coloration of this little character and how its unusual eyes seemed to be watching my every move. Photographing animals tucked into small crevices can be challenging, especially when you're trying to illuminate the subject without losing all the surrounding detail. Encounters like this remind me that even on Fiji's spectacular coral reefs, some of the most fascinating discoveries are hiding in the tiniest spaces.
A beautiful wavy bubble snail (Micromelo undatus) making its way across the seafloor in Fiji. I absolutely love the contrast between its delicate white body, brilliant blue edges, and intricately patterned shell. Unlike most sea slugs, bubble snails retain an external shell, although their soft bodies can extend well beyond it. Finding unusual little creatures like this is one of my favorite parts of diving. Even surrounded by Fiji's spectacular coral reefs, I can't resist stopping to photograph the tiny marine life hiding right beneath our fins!
A lizardfish giving me a rather toothy stare while resting on the reef in Fiji! I love photographing marine life from this perspective, getting down to eye level and capturing the little details that give each animal so much character. Lizardfish are ambush predators, relying on camouflage and patience before lunging at unsuspecting prey with their sharp teeth. I especially love how this photograph captures those tiny teeth and intense eyes. From this angle, such an ordinary reef resident suddenly looks like a rather intimidating little predator!
Octopuses will always be among my favorite animals to encounter underwater, and this beautiful day octopus (Octopus cyanea) was no exception! I love how this photograph captures the incredible texture of its skin, from the raised bumps to the intricate patterns that help it blend into the surrounding reef. What really draws me into this image is that gorgeous eye, quietly watching from its hiding place. Octopuses are remarkably intelligent and curious creatures, and I always appreciate the opportunity to observe them in their natural environment. Sometimes my favorite photographs come from simply slowing down and appreciating the little details.
A closer look at a day octopus (Octopus cyanea) tucked into its hiding place on a reef in Fiji. I absolutely love this photograph because of the incredible detail surrounding its eyes. The textures, folds, and patterns of its skin almost look like an intricate work of art. Octopuses can change not only their color but also the texture of their skin to blend into their surroundings. As someone who absolutely adores octopuses, getting close enough to photograph these remarkable details while respecting the animal's space was such a treat. I could spend an entire dive photographing one octopus and still find something new to appreciate!
A beautiful candy cane nudibranch (Hypselodoris sp.) perched on a colorful section of Fiji's reef. I love how its delicate blue and white stripes stand out against the orange, purple, and pink corals surrounding it. For this photograph, I wanted to capture more than just the nudibranch, using the surrounding reef and a shallow depth of field to give the image a sense of place. Fiji is famous for its spectacular coral scenery, but I especially enjoy finding these tiny treasures tucked among all that color!
A curious little blenny peeking out from its tiny home in the reef in Fiji! I couldn't resist photographing this adorable face, especially those big eyes and little blue antennae. Blennies are full of personality, and I love how they cautiously poke their heads out of their hiding places to investigate the world around them. For this photograph, I wanted to capture that curious expression while including the colorful textures of the surrounding reef. Sometimes the smallest residents have the biggest personalities!
One of my favorite things about diving in Fiji is the incredible amount of color everywhere you look. I took this photo at Purple Wall on Rainbow Reef, where the reef was absolutely bursting with life. I love the contrast between the vibrant pinks, reds, and greens of the coral and sponges against that beautiful blue water. The little orange fish swimming through the scene was a welcome bonus! Photos like this remind me why Fiji has some of the most spectacular reefs I've ever had the pleasure of exploring.
I have photographed plenty of clownfish over the years, but I never get tired of watching them! I particularly love this photo of two orangefin anemonefish tucked into their anemone in Fiji. The brilliant blue bands against their golden bodies are gorgeous, and I love how the fish in the foreground seems to be keeping a very close eye on my camera. Clownfish have so much personality for such little fish, especially when they're defending their homes. I could happily spend an entire dive photographing them!
Experimenting with silhouettes and natural light in Fiji. I loved how the sunlight filtering down from the surface created this beautiful contrast between Jillian, the reef, and the deep blue water. A fun opportunity to play with composition and explore a different approach to underwater photography.