![Photo by [http://www.piscoweb.org/who/techs/cgotschalk.html Chris Gotschalk]](https://scubadiverlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Basking_Shark-featured.jpg)
The basking shark is the second-largest shark species in the world, and also one of the most unique. What makes it so cool?
Marine Species
Properly identifying coral can add another dimension to any reef dive. Today we’ll introduce encrusting corals of the Indo-Pacific and offer tips for identification.
You would think that with its stained-glass coloration, it would be easy to spot mandarinfish. But you’d be wrong.
Despite its name, black coral is rarely black. The moniker refers instead to the corals’ skeleton. Here are a few fun facts about this rare find.
It’s rare to see a billfish on a dive, although you can snorkel with them seasonally off the Yucatan Peninsula. Here are some quick facts about billfish.
Within the pipefish family, ghost pipefish are something special, and always a treat to see on a dive. Here we’ll look at four well-known species.
The stunning glaucus Atlanticus, commonly called the blue dragon or blue sea slug is one of the most stunning nudibranchs in the ocean. What makes it special?
One of the smallest yet most colorful of its species, the flamboyant cuttlefish lives up to its name.
Researchers in the Galapagos have successfully completed ultrasounds on free-swimming whale sharks and taken blood samples from adult whale sharks for the first time ever in the wild.
Plating corals are some of the most common on Indo-Pacific reefs. Here’s your guide to identifying them on your next dive.
Northern sea otters are recolonizing Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA Nancy Foster Scholar Jessica Hale is studying their habits.
One of the hardest critters to spot, the pygmy seahorse is a fascinating creature. Let’s look at a few attributes of this tiny yet spectacular animal.
The monkfish, also called the anglerfish, is one of the ocean’s most fearsome looking species. Here we’ll find out a bit about this enigmatic fish.
The mantis shrimp is nothing short of fascinating, but how much do you know about this underwater creature that packs a devastating punch?
Depending on what time of year you visit, swimming with leatherback turtles in Costa Rica could be a highlight of your trip.
It’s not just the deadly box jelly when it comes to jellyfish of Australia — these waters are home to many amazing species. Watch out for both the deadly and delightful on your next dive Down Under.
Some divers have been lucky enough to see it in person, not just on nature programs. But why do mobula rays jump in the first place?
Take our toothsome quiz to see if you can correctly guess which teeth belong to which shark.