Figi 1993

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  Hawkfish

  If you've been hanging around here much, you've figured out that hawkfish are a passion with me. Betty found this one on a white gorgonian, which was a color combination worth half a roll of film and most of a tank of air. Of course, being a hawkfish, he liked the inside of the gorgonian and the back of the fans the best.
  
  Nikon F4, 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor, Aquatica Housing, 2 Ikelite AI/n strobes, f/11, Kodak Ektar 100.
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  Orange Alcyonarian Coral

  I'm told that this is a species of orange alcyonarian coral (thanks, Paul!). It was clinging to the top of an overhang on a night dive, and the negative is about 2:1. I've seen many things that are similar, in that they have orange central masses with white polyps, but the polyps are much thinner and whispier than on this one.
  
  If you look carefully at about 2:00 on the orange mass, you can see the eyes of a tiny, transparent shrimp.
  
  Nikon F4, 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor, Aquatica Housing, 2 Ikelite AI/n strobes, f/22, Kodak Ektar 100.
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  Scorpion Fish

  Pretty good camouflage. If you don't see it yet, his right eye is in the center of the picture, a little up and to the right.
  
  Nikon F4, 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor, Aquatica Housing, 2 Ikelite AI/n strobes, f/22, Kodak Ektar 100.
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  Baby Blue Ribbon Eel

  This isn't much for aesthetics, but I thought some people might like to see what the blue ribbon eel looks like when it's young. This little guy is about as big around as the fuzzy part of a Q-tip. I guess showing those brilliant colors is too dangerous until you've learned the ropes.
  
  Nikon F4, 105mm Macro lens, Aquatica Housing, 2 Ikelite AI/n strobes, f/22, Kodak Ektar 100.
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  Blue Ribbon Eel

  What an animal! You've got to love the nose flutes.
  
  During the first briefing, the dive master asked if anybody wanted to see anything special. My hand shot up, and I politely but skeptically requested a blue ribbon eel, which was to me the height of exotica. We saw this one on the second dive.
  
  Nikon F4, 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor, Aquatica Housing, 2 Ikelite AI/n strobes, f/11, Kodak Ektar 100.
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  Sea Cucumber Detail

  Looks like a bunch of coral polyps, huh? This is a close-up of part of a 3-foot sea cucumber!
  
  Nikon F4, 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor, Aquatica Housing, 1 Ikelite AI/n strobe (I turned the other one off for better modeling), f/22, Kodak Ektar 100.
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  Crinoid Mouth

  Just waiting for dinner. Made on a night dive.
  
  Nikon F4, 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor, Aquatica Housing, 2 Ikelite AI/n strobes, f/16, Kodak Ektar 100.
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  Closing Worm

  This is a worm, looking right down the top. Just as I released the shutter, he decided to close. That's what caused the blur, even with less than 1/1000 of a second strobe duration. The whole colorful web is in the process of disappearing down the opening in the lower middle of the picture.
  
  Nikon F4, 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor, Aquatica Housing, 2 Ikelite AI/n strobes, f/16, Kodak Ektar 100.