Misool Collection (page 8)

Giant clam mantle. Close-up of the mantle of a giant clam (Tridacna Tridacna gigas). The bright colours in the mantle come from symbiotic zooxanthellae (protozoa) in the tissue

Giant barrel sponge (Xestopongia testudinaria, centre) on a coral reef. Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Sponge on coral. Sponge (red) attached to black coral (order Antipatharia, white). Photographed oof Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Red seastar and seasquirts
Red seastar (Fromia milleporella) amongst seasquirts (Atriolum robustum) on a reef. Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Cushion seastar. Close-up of the underside of a cushion starfish (Culcita novaeguineae). Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Elegant seastar on a reef
Elegant seastar(Fromia nodosa) amongst corals on a reef. Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Blue seastar (Linckia laevigata) leaning against a sea fan (gorgonian coral) on a reef. Photographed in the Philippines

Orange-banded coralfish feeding
Orange-banded coralfish (Coradion chrysozonus) feeding on gorgonian coral polyps. Photographed in Misool, Raja Empat, West Papua, Indonesia

Black-tail dascyllus (Dascyllus melanurus) amongst blue coral (Heliopora coerulea). Photographed in Misool, Raja Empat, West Papua, Indonesia

Granulated seastar (Choriaster granulatus) amongst corals on a reef. This starfish is found on coral reefs and sandy bottoms throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region

Red seastar (Fromia milleporella) amongst corals on a reef. Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Eastern triangle butterflyfish feeding
Eastern triangle butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa) feeding on coral polyps. Photographed in Misool, Raja Empat, West Papua, Indonesia

Midnight snapper. Juvenile midnight snapper (Macolor macularis) over coral. Photographed in Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Saddled butterflyfish on a reef
Saddled butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) on a reef. Photographed in Misool, Raja Empat, West Papua, Indonesia

Brittlestars on gorgonian coral
Brittlestars (Ophiothrix sp. yellow) on gorgonian coral (red). Photographed at Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) swimming amongst bubble tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) tentacles. Photographed in Misool, Raja Empat, West Papua, Indonesia

Bicolour angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) on a tropical reef. Photographed in Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Tropical fish shoals. Shoals of bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus, bottom) and bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus, top). Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Red whip coral (Ellisella ceratophyta) growing on a reef. Photographed off Misool, West Papua, Indonesia

Spot-banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) on a reef. Photographed in Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Bigeye scad. School of bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) fish swimming near a reef. Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Ink-spot sea squirts and featherstar
Ink-spot sea squirts (Polycarpa aurata, purple and yellow) and featherstar on a reef. Sea squirts, or tunicates, are sessile barrel-shaped animals that feed by filtering plankton from the water

Damaged blue coral. Close-up of blue coral (Heliopora coerulea) that has been broken by bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) who feed on live corals as well as encrusting algae

Luzon starfish and scorpionfish. Small scorpionfish (family Scorpaenidae) lying on a luzon starfish (Echinaster luzonicus), at night on a coral reef. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Butterflyfish over a reef. Bennetts butterflyfish (Chaetodon benetti, top) and a spot-banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus, bottom) swimming over coral

Acropora plate coral polyps. Close-up of polyps from an Acropora humilis coral colony. Photographed in Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Ink-spot sea squirts (Polycarpa aurata, yellow and purple) on a reef. Sea squirts, or tunicates, are sessile barrel-shaped animals that feed by filtering plankton from the water

Brain coral. Close-up of the convoluted ridged surface of a brain coral (family Faviidae) colony. Photographed in Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Fusilier and cleaner wrasse. Twinstripe fusilier (Pterocaesio marri) with a bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) cleaning the inside of its mouth

Octopus on the seabed
Octopus (order Octopoda) on the seabed. Unknown species of octopus camouflaged against the bleached sands of a coral lagoon

Giant clam. Close-up of the mantle of a giant clam (Tridacna Tridacna gigas). Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Tropical reef. Panda butterflyfish (Chaetodon adiergastos) with barrel sponges on a coral reef near a jetty (top). Photographed off Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) with a bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). Giant morays are the largest of the moray eels and are widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific region

Blue-knee hermit crab (Dardanus guttatus). Photographed in Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Sea squirts. Atriolum robustum (left) and Clavelina sp. (right) tunicates on a reef. Sea squirts, or tunicates, are sessile animals that feed by filtering plankton from the water

False clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) amongst anemone tentacles. Seen here are a female and two small males. Photographed in Misool, Raja Empat, West Papua, Indonesia

Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) swimming amongst bubble tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) tentacles. Photographed in Misool, Raja Empat, West Papua, Indonesia

Featherstar on gorgonian coral. The featherstar is a marine invertebrate. It is an ancient and primitive echinoderm, a member of the group of invertebrates that includes the starfish

Honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra). This fish can reach 28 centimetres in length. It has characteristic round to hexagonal brown spots on its body

Featherstar. This marine invertebrate is an ancient and primitive echinoderm, a member of the group of invertebrates that includes the starfish

Anemonefish spawning eggs
Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) spawning pair, with freshly laid eggs. Anemonefish have a symbiotic relationship with their host anemones

Sponges on coral reef. Barrel sponges (Xestopongia sp.) and leather corals growing on a reef. Photographed off Misool, West Papua, Indonesia

Tropical corals. Black corals (white, family Antipathidae) and sea whips (order Gorgonacea) growing in tropical waters. Photographed off Misool, West Papua, Indonesia

Prehistoric rock art, Indonesia
Prehistoric rock art. These paintings are thought to be between 3-5000 years old and feature dolphins, fish, whales, dugong (manatees), hands, abstract figures

Cardinalfish and parasite. Cardinalfish (family Apogonidae) with a parasitic isopod crustacean on its head. Parasitic isopods feed on the tissues of their host

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Misool, a hidden gem in Indonesia's Raja Ampat region, is a paradise for underwater enthusiasts. As the Yellowtail fusilier fish gracefully swim past vibrant sea whip corals, one can't help but be mesmerized by the sheer beauty of this marine wonderland. In these crystal-clear waters, an endemic epaulette shark glides across the seafloor of Raja Ampat. Its unique features and graceful movements make it a true marvel to behold. The Bigeye scad shimmer like silver coins as they move in synchronized harmony with other tropical fish shoals. Their presence adds an enchanting touch to Misool's already breathtaking ecosystem. Amongst the coral reefs, False clown anemonefish playfully dart in and out of their homes. Their vibrant colors create a striking contrast against the backdrop of blue waters. Delicate Denises pygmy seahorses cling onto colorful corals, showcasing nature's incredible ability to blend beauty and camouflage seamlessly. A majestic Green sea turtle gracefully glides through Ceram Sea off Misool's coast. This gentle giant symbolizes resilience and reminds us of our responsibility to protect these fragile ecosystems. Witnessing a large female Reef manta ray swimming over a coral reef is truly awe-inspiring. Its size and grace leave spectators spellbound, highlighting why conservation efforts are crucial for preserving such magnificent creatures. Schooling fish dance around Misool's thriving coral reefs, creating a spectacle that captivates divers from all corners of the world. The intricate patterns formed by these schools showcase nature's artistry at its finest. An orange elephant ear sponge stands tall amidst this underwater tapestry—a testament to both its beauty and importance within this delicate ecosystem. Lastly, witnessing Giant barrel sponges release clouds of gametes into the water serves as a reminder that life here is constantly evolving and interconnected—each organism playing its part in maintaining balance beneath the waves.