Ahead of World Oceans Day on June 8th, My Late Deals have found 20 stunning photos of oceans. These images give us the perfect opportunity to reflect upon the breathtaking wildlife and reefs that call them home, and remind us why we should be working so hard to protect them.
The photos also provide a virtual escape for those currently staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While adhering to government guidelines to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, these images will mentally whisk you away to oceans on the other side of the world.
The images will allow you to (figuratively) dive into some of the best waters on the planet, including the Red Sea, the sparkling blue waters that surround the island of the Maldives and the Belize Barrier Reef.
Some of the notable wildlife that you can see include a barracuda, a great white shark, an octopus, a manta ray and a real ‘Nemo’.
Here are the 20 stunning underwater photos. Prepare for one’s jaw to drop…
A beautiful barracuda journeying through Belize.
Barracudas are one of the fastest fish in the sea with an estimated speed of 36mph. The biggest threats to barracudas are recreational fishing and the barracuda meat trade.
A giant whale shark in the Maldives.
Although giant, whale sharks are friendly fish that pose no threat to humans. They’re currently listed as a vulnerable species but they continue to be hunted in some parts of the world.
Mandarin Fish in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.
The Mandarin fish may be beautiful, but they use both poison and a revolting smell to keep predators away.
A Great White Shark in the crystal clear waters of Guadalupe Island, Mexico.
Great whites are the largest predatory fish on Earth. They grow to an average of 15 feet in length and are considered a vulnerable species.
Master of camouflage – an octopus found in Bonaire’s waters.
Octopuses are incredibly intelligent animals that have a range of tricks (evolved over tens of millions of years) to thwart would-be attackers. They are not believed to be under threat, but they are sensitive to pollutants.
Manta Rays in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Manta rays are highly intelligent, highly threatened and the largest rays in the world. Their greatest threat is overfishing.
A school of spinner dolphins swimming close to Molokini Island in Hawaii.
Skilled acrobats, spinner dolphins are often seen jumping out of the water performing complicated aerial manoeuvres.
A shoal of fish swimming near Amed Beach, Indonesia.
When fish (or other aquatic animals) swim in a cluster, it’s called a shoal. It’s thought fish do this to confuse their predators and to save energy.
A turtle swimming gracefully in Roatán, Honduras.
Six of the seven sea turtle species are sadly classified as threatened, endangered, or critically endangered. This is largely due to pollution and climate change and hunting and fishing.
An orange and white clownfish hiding in sea anemone in Indonesia.
Clownfish are all born male but can change their sex. They only usually change to become the dominant female.
Up close with a Lionfish in Dahab, Egypt.
Lionfish are well known for their venomous fin spines, which can cause painful (but rarely fatal) puncture wounds. Each species also bears zebra-like stripes.
Lemon sharks in the Bahamas.
With a distinct yellow colour on its skin, the lemon shark is a powerful underwater predator. Listed as near threatened, the lemon shark is often targeted by commercial fishers that sell and trade the shark’s fins and meat.
Lionfish on the coral reef at Turks and Caicos.
The lionfish are considered an invasive species after they quickly spread their geographic ranges in the early 21st century. This disrupted the balance of ecosystems and threatened the well-being of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems. Science agencies are working hard to stop further spread and control the existing population.
School of fish and colourful coral in the Red Sea, Egypt.
The coral reefs found in the Red Sea are known for their extraordinary heat tolerance and resistance to rising sea temperatures. However, many reefs are threatened by other things like development, overfishing and disease.
Yellow and Purple Starfish in a coral reef in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Marine scientists have undertaken the tough task of swapping the starfish’s name to sea star because the starfish is not a fish.
Colourful corals in Koh Lipe, Thailand.
The reefs in Koh Lipe are thriving with soft and hard corals and various marine life. Here you’ll find a range of macro critters including nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, seahorses and Frogfish.
Crystal clear waters, stunning corals and reef fish at Sumilon Island, Cebu, Philippines.
Sumilon is famed for its hard and soft corals of diverse species. Marine life that lives here include blue-spotted stingrays and cuttlefish.
Chuuk Lagoon’s coral reefs.
Chuuk Lagoon is surrounded by a 225-kilometre barrier reef and is home to dozens of ships and aircraft that sank in 1944. The wreck site is covered with coral and is now an underwater museum.
Two tiger sharks in the Bahamas.
Tiger Sharks are heavily hunted for their fins, flesh, skin and livers. They have very low repopulation rates and as a result, are listed as near threatened.
The Red Sea is home to amazing reefs.
The Red Sea is home to some of the most productive and diverse coral reefs.
