Redclaw crayfish

Cherax quadricarinatus

Redclaw crayfish

Cherax quadricarinatus

Redclaw crayfish

Cherax quadricarinatus

Northern long-necked turtle

Here's a nice result from a late night snorkelling session last night, a Northern long-necked turtle (Chelodina oblonga) from the Adelaide River area.

Northern long-necked turtle

Chelodina oblonga

Northern long-necked turtle

Here's my first shot of the Northern long-necked turtle (Chelodina oblonga) I found last night. It was in this exact position when I first spotted it though I saw it first from head on - I momentarily though for sure that I'd found a large water snake... Long-necked turtles indeed!

Redclaw crayfish

Cherax quadricarinatus

Redclaw crayfish

Cherax quadricarinatus

I photographed this pair of Mertens' monitors in the build up just before the rains started at the end of last year. This image was taken in between bouts of mating that lasted for nearly an hour in total. The monitors were so intent on their act that they were completely oblivious to my presence in the water with them, they even approached me such that I had to move out of their way! This was definitely one of the most amazing wildlife encounters I had last year (2017).

Reef manta ray

With a wingspan close to 4m, these barrel rolling Reef manta rays were an impressive spectacle to behold. Watching them go about their feeding routine at close quarters was an experience I'll never forget.

Reef manta ray

The perspective in this shot is almost a reversal of the previous Reef manta ray image I posted. The mantas have switched position and this time the bull in the foreground is showing off his underside. As I reflect on the experience I had with these Manta rays it slowly becomes less surreal and I become more awestruck! #Reefmantaray #Mantaalfredi #manta #mantaray #coralbay #Ningalooreef #westernaustralia #australia #snorkelling #underwaterphoto #bluewater #tropical #megafauna #barrelroll #freediving #uwpics

Reef manta ray

With a wingspan close to 4m, these barrel rolling Reef manta rays were an impressive spectacle to behold. Watching them go about their feeding routine at close quarters was an experience I'll never forget.

Green sea turtle

Cowtail stingray

I'm a little late to jump on the favourites of 2017 bandwagon but here's an image of an awesome encounter in Turquoise bay, Cape Range National Park - a large Cowtail stingray. This guy was initially so well buried in the sand that I swam past without relaising what I was looking at, luckily my wife, Cara had sharper eyes than me on that day and frantically motioned me back for another look. #cowtailstingray #Pastinachussephen #stingray #caperangenationalpark #turquoisebay #Ningalooreef #westernaustralia #australia #snorkelling #underwaterphoto #bluewater #tropical #uwpics #freediving #olympusomd

Green turtle

Junge perch

A fish found in flowing waterways along the east coast of north Queensland. This lot were a curious bunch!

Junge perch

A fish found in flowing waterways along the east coast of north Queensland. This lot were a curious bunch!

Green turtle

I encountered this Green turtle whilst snorkelling at Agincourt reef, a part of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Port Douglas, Queensland. Being in the water with marine turtles is always an amazing experience that leaves me joyful, lost for words and feeling incredibly priveleged.

Hawksbill turtle

This beautiful turtle came up for a breath of air right next to me and then swifty descended to continue its perusal of the reef.

Saw-shelled turtle

I photographed this shy Saw-shelled turtle in a fast flowing stream north of Cairns, in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. This species is so named for the distinctive edge to the rear of its carapace, not visible in this image. These guys were a lot harder to locate and photograph than their larger marine cousins I had been practising on the previous day!

Hawksbill turtle

This beautiful turtle came up for a breath of air right next to me and then swifty descended to continue its perusal of the reef.

Green turtle

This curious turtle is coming up for a breath of air after munching on some coral in the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.