HankWhite-Spotted Hermit Crab (Dardanus megistos) foraging on the reefs of Siladen, Indonesia.
https://scubahanknyc.com/2022/12/26/white-spotted-crab-feasting/
#hermitcrab #indonesia #underwatervideo #scubadiving #marinelife #nature
Ever seen a nudibranch mate? 🌊🐌 I managed to capture footage of Chromodoris annae in action. The neon colors on these tiny sea slugs are absolutely unreal through the viewfinder.
Watch the full sequence here: https://scubahanknyc.com/2026/02/15/chromodoris-annae-mating-behavior/
Chromodoris Annae (Anna’s Magnificent Sea Slug) - Scuba Hank NYC
Chromodoris annae, a vibrant blue nudibranch from the Indo-Pacific, captivates divers with its striking coloration and unique reproductive strategy as simultaneous hermaphrodites. Found at depths of 15-100 feet, it primarily feeds on sponges. Puerto Galera is a top diving location for observing this magnificent species.
Last year, I took a road trip down to North Carolina to dive with sand tiger #sharks. Filmed over several days, so you’re seeing different sharks across multiple dives.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/U6KVmO1U524
📍 NC | 🎥 GH5 | 🤿 Atlantis Charters
#SandTigerShark #NorthCarolinaDiving #WreckDiving #SharkEncounter #UnderwaterVideo #ScubaDiving #OceanWildlife #MarineLife #SharkVideo #scubadiving #nature #wildlife
Why These Sharks AREN'T Scary 🦈 #shorts
Presented this #demo #reel last night at #NYUPS. 🐡🎥
It's a work in progress where I'm testing out a new FCP plugin called "Fast Transitions" from LenoFX. Check out the results here:
#FinalCutPro #LenoFX #UnderwaterVideo #video #photography #fediverse #ocean
Eyes of the Reef | NYUPS
ScubaHankNYCEnding A Decade of Birthday Dives
Today is my birthday! I originally planned to be in the Philippines celebrating and scuba diving the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered my magnificent birthday dive schedule this year. And it has also ended a decade of consecutive fantastic birthday dives.
Spending time out of the water has allowed me to reflect on the good times and how fortunate I have been. About seven years ago, I picked up underwater photography and later videography.
Here are a few images that have brought back a few fond memories of phenomenal scuba diving.
Taking the Wreck Diver Specialty Course in Grenada
Entering the Shark Arena Nassau (Bahamas)
Navigating Shipwrecks in Grand Cayman
Exploring the Reefs in Barbados
Discovering the richness of Isla del Caño (Costa Rica)
Made it to another birthday cake. #DiveTravel #Memories #ScubaDiving #UnderwaterPhotographs #UnderwaterVideo #wreckDiving
Mr TapsMerry octomas from Herbert, our local great pacific #octopus! This is from this morning under Herbert's sunken sailboat in Hood Canal. (He didn't want to come out and play, though I waited patiently.) #scuba #underwatervideo
Ribbon Eels of Indonesia – Dive & Identification Guide
Encountering a ribbon eel (commonly the blue variant) gliding through coral rubble or peeking from a crevice is one of the most enchanting moments a macro diver can have in Indonesia. During a dive on a shallow reef slope, I paused mid-water column — hesitant to stir up the sand — and saw a slender snout slip quietly between coral rubble. That unexpected glance, that sudden flash of blue and yellow, became one of my most unforgettable “cool moments.”
Ribbon eels (often belonging to the species commonly called “blue ribbon eel”) are elongated, slender moray‑eel relatives known for their vibrant blue body and contrasting yellow dorsal fin (in the blue morph). Juveniles may appear black with a yellow stripe. Ribbon eels typically inhabit sandy crevices, rubble slopes, or coral rubble zones adjacent to reefs. Their long, ribbon‑like bodies allow them to slip partly into soft sediment or holes, with just the head and upper body exposed — perfect camouflage for ambushing small fish or crustaceans. They are elusive by nature, often retreating completely if disturbed, which makes sightings rare and exciting.
Understanding this behavior helps explain why slow, careful diving is key: sudden movements or fin kicks can cause sediment to cloud the water and scare the eel away. For divers, treat ribbon eels as shy reef cryptics — patient hovering and gentle movement increases the chance of observation.
In Indonesia’s coral reef zones — particularly around sandy slopes, rubble zones, and reef edges — ribbon eel sightings are most likely in shallow to moderate depths, roughly 5–20 metres. These habitats combine loose rubble or sand with nearby reef structure for shelter and hunting. Seasonal water conditions also influence visibility and ease of spotting cryptic creatures: periods of calm seas with moderate current often stir up prey, attracting feeding morays.
Early morning or late‑in‑dive “cleanup” dives can be especially effective, when smaller fish are active or nocturnal species start to settle. In many parts of Indonesia the dry season (when visibility tends to improve) can offer the clearest conditions, reducing sediment suspension and making subtle colors — like the blue of a ribbon eel — easier to spot.
Because ribbon eels are easily spooked, buoyancy control and gentle finning are vital. When hovering near rubble or sand, avoid direct fin contact with the bottom: use a frog kick or minimal fin strokes to limit sediment disturbance. Approach slowly from the side, not head-on, and allow the eel to become aware of your presence without sudden movement.
For photography: a wide-angle lens often works better than macro — ribbon eels are long and may not fully extend from their hideouts. Use strobes or external lights at low power to avoid overexposing the eel’s vivid blue and yellow colours, and aim at a slight angle to capture the body’s subtle curves and surroundings. Limit dive time spent hovering around one eel to avoid stressing it — especially if it retreats back into the rubble.
Are ribbon eels dangerous to divers or photographers?
Ribbon eels are relatively shy and non‑aggressive. They may retreat or flick their heads if disturbed, but they are not known to pose danger to divers. As with any marine life, it is best to observe without touching or chasing — that ensures both your safety and the animal’s comfort.
What is the typical depth range to find ribbon eels in Indonesia?Ribbon eels are commonly found on sandy or rubble slopes near reefs, at depths ranging from approximately 5 to 20 metres. These zones offer adequate light, prey availability, and cover — ideal for both eels and divers.
When is the best time of day or diving conditions to spot ribbon eels?Early morning dives or calm‑water periods often offer the best chance. Good visibility, low current, and minimal sediment in the water help make the subtle coloration of ribbon eels stand out. Dives over rubble or sand near reef edges, where small fish and crustaceans are active, increase the odds of finding a ribbon eel hunting or peeking out.
#Bali #colorful #ecoTourism #ecotourism #eels #Indonesia #marineBiology #Nature #RibbonEel #ScubaDiving #seaLife #tulamben #UnderwaterVideo #wildlife
Nautilus Explorer – Revillagigedo Archipelago (Socorro)
I joined the team on the Nautilus Explorer for a dive trip to the Revillagigedo Archipelago off the coast of Mexico. The Revillagigedo Archipelago is also referred as the Socorro Islands. Linguistically challenge English speakers like to call the island chain “Socorro” which is the most popular island.
The Revillagigedo Archipelago is a collection of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are located about 285 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It takes about 22 hours by liveaboard to travel to the islands.
The Archipelago consists of four islands – San Benedicto, Socorro, Roca Partida and Clarión. In 2016, the Revillagigedo Archipelago was designated as Unesco World Heritage Site and in 2017 Mexico declared it to be a marine reserve and national park.
Resting SharksScuba divers are attracted to the region because of the resident Pacific Mantas, Bait Balls, Whales, Dolphins and several species of Sharks.
And since it take about a day by liveaboard to reach the islands. Scuba diving the region is quite unique and thrilling.
Before heading to Socorro
In addition to owning a fleet of liveaboards designed for scuba divers, Nautilus Dive Adventures also owns a local dive shop located in the Cabo San Lucas marina. See Creatures offers a free check out dive before you board the liveaboard and they also provide local diving for a reasonable price.
I arrived to Cabo a few days before the Nautilus Explorer liveaboard departed for Socorro. So, I was able to sample a bit of local diving. We first headed to Cabo Pulmo National Park. Cabo Pulmo is about a 2-hour car ride north from Cabo San Lucas. See Creature picked up divers at our hotel and drove us to the dive boat. They have a partnership with a regional dive shop and that shop provided boat, guide, tanks and lunch. Scuba divers like to visit Cabo Pulmo due to the amount of schooling fish and Bull Sharks.
The next day, we took about an hour boat ride from the Cabo San Lucas Marina to dive Gordo Banks. Scuba divers are attracted to Gordo Banks due the opportunity to see schooling Hammerhead Sharks. These are deep dive at the edge of recreational limits. So, See Creatures requires divers to book one local dive before they venture out to Gordo Banks. The dives in Cabo Pulmo met the requirement.
Jellyfish
Unfortunately, on both dive sites visibility was extremely poor due to an incoming storm. So, we did not see any Bull or Hammerhead sharks. Since the waters are rich in plankton, we did see a lot of Jellyfish on both dives.
I’ll just have to go back for more diving and tableside guacamole from Captain Tony’s Bar & Grill. They make it under 3 minutes!
The Nautilus Explorer offers a free check-out dive via See Creatures for all liveaboard divers. This provides divers the opportunity to check their equipment and dial-in there weight for diving in colder water and thicker wetsuits. During this trip, I dived my 5mm Tux and my ordinary 7mm wetsuits. Water temperature varied in each island in the Revillagigedo Archipelago. Divers just need one wetsuit, I just like diving my tuxedo wetsuit and I don’t have to worry about airline weight requirements (at the moment).
Host Hotel
Marina Cabo San Lucas View From Tesoro Los Cabos Hotel Room BalconyMost divers using the Nautilus Explorer and other liveaboards arrive a day before the liveaboard departs and conveniently lodge at the Tesoro Los Cabos Hotel. The local dive shop, See Creatures is also located in the hotel, which makes transition from local diving to the liveaboard extremely effortless and comfortable.
It is recommend to arrive a day earlier mitigate any issues with baggage delays, forgotten personal items, and/or scuba equipment issues.
Nautilus Explorer
The Nautilus Explorer was launched in 2000. It is about 132 feet long, 13 en suite staterooms and suites. The ship holds 25 divers and crew of 10. Rare to liveaboards, the ship offers internet access at a small cost. However, connection is not guaranteed being so remote. But you can at minimum check email and do light web browsing if necessary. Overall, the liveaboard is well maintained and provides nearly everything a scuba diver will require for a week of diving.
Note: I traveled during Covid restrictions so normal service on board was modified. For example, only a limited amount of passengers were allow in enclosed areas of the ship. So, divers were sorted into two groups for dinning, which coordinated with boat dives. Also, all passengers were required to take a 2 PCR tests. One PCR test was taken before we departed from our home testing site and the second was taken several hours before we boarded the liveaboard. The Nautilus offer divers a full credit if a diver tested positive in Mexico. This was a great policy because many other operating liveaboards around the world do not offer this policy and divers would have to rely on personal travel insurance.
Diving Highlights
Dive Day 1
on the
Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard
Dolphins!
Dive Day 2
Shark Cleaning Station!
Dive Day 3
Mantas!
The Manta Trust has produced a great site which dives into the details of each species of Manta and Devil Rays.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPjuAlNBhV3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Dive Day 4
Hamerhead
Sharks!
Dive Day 5
Surrounded
by Fish!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPoxVfHhc5y
Final Thoughts
All though weather conditions were not great and visibility was low, I enjoyed the dive trip. The crew was fantastic and the food was great! I’ll have to just try again for better visibility! And I would definitely join the Nautilus team for another dive trip.
All of the underwater images were captured on a Panasonic GH5 in a Nauticam underwater housing with a Panasonic Lumix 14-42 lens.
#CaboSanLucas #MantaRays #Mexico #mexicoDivingLiveaboard #Nature #nautilusExplorerLiveaboard #nautilusExplorerReview #nautlisExplorerLiveaboardReview #revillagigedoArchipelago #ScubaDiving #Sharks #UnderwaterVideo #wildlife
Here’s a quick 🎥 snapshot of what diving in Speyside, #Tobago feels like. 🇹🇹
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS-6KX68I4I&t
#Speyside #TobagoDiving #CaribbeanDiving #ReefLife #UnderwaterVideo #nature
#SeaTurtle #Stingray #ScubaLife
Caribbean Reef Life in Tobago | Short Underwater Film for NYUPS
Black and White Underwater – Maldives
The underwater world is full of vibrant colors. As an underwater image-maker, sometimes we need to light our subject to bring out these exciting and rich colors. Occasionally, it is better to go back to basics and produce black & white images. Photographers might do this by shooting film, setting a digital camera to black & white, or converting the image in post.
As some of you might know, I am a member of a NYC dive club called the Big Apple Divers. (You can find out more about our dive club here.) Each month a group of underwater photographers and videographers gather to discuss underwater photography and share our images. Normally we meet at a local bar but due to the pandemic we are meeting by video conference.
This month I presented the video above.
Enjoy!
#BlackAndWhite #laamuAtoll #maldives #Nature #NYUPS #ScubaDiving #UnderwaterVideo #wildlife