fintasticbeasts

All about the underwater world and finding more about its inhabitants.

[Small Island Research Group @SIRG_SIRC]

We have deployed loggers to measure sea temperature and are closely monitoring the reefs around our research station in Huvadhu.

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

@yasawa_princess This is fintastic

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

A sub adult Black Tip Reef Shark hunting on a shallow reef flat.
📷 Olympus TG6

#fintasticbeats #underwaterphotography #maldives #australia

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

Manta snorkel at Hanifaru Bay in the Biosphere Reserve at Baa Atoll,.Maldives. Day out with @diveoceanus
📷 @gopro Hero 7

#maldives #underwatervideo #hanifarubay #fintasticbeasts

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris. The actual Nemo

#fintasticbeasts #underwatervideo #malaysia

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

Schooling Barracuda

#fintasticbeasts #maldives #underwatervideo

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

Yellow Clown Goby, Gobiodon okinawae. This species and similar ones are found amongst thick branching acropora.
📷 Olympus TG6

#fintasticbeasts #maldives #underwaterphotography

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

A school of Yellowback Fusiliers, Caesio xanthonota, feeding on plankton close to the sea surface. This species is often found in huge schools at current exposed reefs.

#fintasticbeasts #fish #coralreef #maldives

[Mohamed Seeneen @mohamedseeneen]

A dive guide at Kandhooma Thila finds the remains of Grey Reef Shark.Its meat would have been boxed ready with an airway bill to be shipped leagally out of The Maldives.The illegal trade of #shark fisheries continues openly in the Maldives @MoTmv @PoliceMv @CustomsMv

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

Not all seemingly Hard Corals are Scleractinia like the classic corals we see growing on top of the reef. For example, this coral, the Orange Sun Coral (Tubastraea faulkneri), does not contain Zooxanthellae and obtains its food by feeding using its tentacles.

#fintasticbeasts

[The Islandchief @theislandchief]

As part of a continuous pledge to prioritize ocean conservation and protect the natural environment, diveOceanus at #ParadiseIslandResort has initiated a Coral Garden restoration programme
https://t.co/gognJzewdz

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

The largest fish in the sea is also one of the most vulnerable. The Whale Shark, Rhincodon typus, is sighted throughout the year at South Ari Marine Park. People flock in the hundreds to get a chance to swim with this majestic animal.
📷 Olympus TG6

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

A Yellow butterflyfish, Chaetadon andamanensis out looking for polyps with a pair of Pinstripe Butterflyfish, Chaetadon trifasciatus.
📷 Olympus TG6

#fintasticbeasts #underwaterphotography #butterflyfish #maldives

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

New growth and new life. Young coral growing after a period of disturbance. With just one Damselfish living within.

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

New growth and new life.

#worldenvironmentday #fitnasticbeasts #maldives #underwaterphotography

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

Kicking off Oceans Month

#oceansmonth #fintasticbeasts

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

@kemornandez @husensinan @husendidi This type of coral although not very common has been observed in several different areas in Maldives. Including near Malé, at Lankan Finolhu Falhu, Hulhumalé Falhu (where 2nd phase is at now). It is very hardy and able to thrive in more extreme environmental conditions

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

the Fintastic reef at Noonu Atoll, Maldives. Large area of shallow reef full of foliose Monitpora.

#fintasticbeasts #boduthiladhunmathi #maldives #underwaterphotograpy

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

Powder-blue Surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon. An important grazer on the reef and is seen mostly solitary and defends its territory. However, it can also form large schools and swim around devouring algae on the reef.

#fishtwitter #ichtyology #maldives #underwaterphotography

[fintasticbeasts @fintasticbeasts]

Soupy Seas.
Plankton means “wanderer” in Greek. Plankton makes up a large group of different life forms that are very small (mostly) and cannot swim against the currents and waves. Plankton forms the base of a lot of marine food webs, and its abundance varies with season.