
A rare Colin's angelfish (Centropyge colini) on a deep reef in Palau.

Harlequin grouper (Cephalopholis polleni) on a deep reef in Palau.

Juvenile regal angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus). Palau.

Ringeye dwarfgoby (Trimma benjamini). Palau.

Motion blur of bigeyes (Priacanthus arenatus) schooling over open reef in Palau.

Schooling bigeyes (Priacanthus arenatus) on a reef in Palau.

Motion blur of Yellowmargin triggerfish (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus).

Bumphead parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatum) aggregate at dawn just before spawning on a reef in Palau.

Bumphead parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatum) spawning off a reef in Palau.

Camouflage groupers (Epinephelus polyphekadion) aggregate to spawn on a reef in Palau. Camouflage grouper spawning aggregations have also been reported from Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and the Seychelles.

A pair of camouflage groupers (Epinephelus polyphekadion) moments before spawning on a reef at night in Palau.

A pair of camouflage groupers (Epinephelus polyphekadion) spawning at night in Palau.

A pair of camouflage groupers (Epinephelus polyphekadion) spawning at night in Palau.

A pair of camouflage groupers (Epinephelus polyphekadion) spawning at night in Palau.

Camouflage grouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion) pair moments after spanwing. Where's the cigarette? v

Bumphead parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatum) aggregate at dawn just before spawning on a reef in Palau.

Bumphead parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatum) aggregate at dawn just before spawning on a reef in Palau.

Bumphead parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatum) spawning aggregation in Palau.

Juvenile jacks (Carangids) seek protection on medusa in Palau.

Manta ray (Manta birostris) at a cleaning station in Palau.

Grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) on a deep reef in Palau.

Sharptail lemon shark (Negaprion auctidens) hunting on a reef during a grouper spawning aggregation (Epinephelus polyphekadion) at night in Palau.

Two soft corals attached to a giant giant clam (Tridachna gigas) in Palau.

Over-under scene of jellyfish under mangroves in Palau.

Squid (Cephalapod sp.) at night. Palau.

Reef squid (Cephalapod sp.). Palau.

Juvenile banded mantis shrimp (Lysiosquilla maculata) reflecting off the surface on a blackwater dive in Palau.

Coral pattern. Palau.

Squid (Cephalapod sp.) under rain drops. Palau.

Bumphead parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatum) aggregate at dawn just before spawning on a reef in Palau.

Two remoras attached to the carapace of a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Palau. Some cultures used remoras to catch turtles. A line is fastened to the remora's tail, and when a turtle is sighted, the fish is released from the boat. It usually heads directly for the turtle and fastens itself to the turtle's shell. When the remora is hauled in so is the turtle.

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) bolts down from the surface in Palau.

Head on shot of hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Palau.

Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) releasing eggs. Mandarinfish spawn every night - sometimes several times. Lucky fish 🙂 Palau.

Twin-spot red Snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation.

Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) in Palau.

Sqirrelfish reef scene in Palau.

Striped large-eye bream (Gnathodentex aureolineatus) and bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) often school together. Palau.

Epaulette soldierfish (Myripristis kuntee) schooling in Palau at sunset.

Male squarespot anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) in Palau.

Blue-girdled angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus). Palau.

Spotfin lionfish (Pterois antennata) pair. Palau.

Sleeping parrotfish in Palau.

Schooling bigeyes (Priacanthus arenatus) in Palau.

Twin-spot red snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation. Palau.

Red snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation. Palau.

Bumphead parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatum) spawning in the blue water off a deep reef in Palau.

Black snappers (Macolor niger) feeding on plankton in Palau.

A pair of camouflage groupers (Epinephelus polyphekadion) spawning at night in Palau. Females can easily be distinguished from males by their massively swollen belly filled with hydrated eggs.

Red snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation. Palau.

Pink skunk clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion) inhabiting a beautiful purple-tipped anemone in Palau.

Red snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation. Palau.

Twin-spot red Snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation. Palau.

A rare burgess butterflyfish (Chaetodon burgessi). Palau.

Bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidatus) tending to bluestreak fusilier (Pterocaesio tile). Palau.

Bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidatus) tending to bluestreak fusiliers (Pterocaesio tile).

Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) pair in Palau.

Titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) protecting its nest. Palau.

Exquisite Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) in Palau.

Twin-spot red snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation. Palau.

Twin-spot red snapper (Lutjanus bohar) spawning aggregation. Palau.

Schooling blacktail barracuda (Sphyraena qenie). Palau.

A male mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) in Palau.

Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus), arguably one of the most beautiful fish in the sea. Palau.

Skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) trio in Palau.

Skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) peers out from its anemone. Palau.

Chinese trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinesis) shadowing a blue-girdled angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus) to obtain a meal. Palau.

I photographed this blacklip butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) larva as it was settling on the reef at night on a new moon. It's ready to transform into a juvenile. Palau.

Settling surgeonfish larva on the reef at night in Palau.

Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus) postlarva settling on a reef at night in Palau. Moorish idols settle on the reef at over 10 cm TL, about 5x the average size of a reef fish at settlement.

Cardinalfish (Apogonid) on a blackwater dive in Palau.

Multicolor angelfish (Centropyge multicolor) in Palau.

Juvenile African pompano (Alectis ciliaris). Palau.

Juvenile spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) in Palau. Juvenile eagle rays are distinguished from adults by their long tail, which is almost twice as long as the body. Palau.

Candycane dwarfgoby (Trimma sp.). Palau.

Redfin anthias (Pseudanthias dispar). Palau.

Redstriped basslet (Liopropoma tonstrinum), a rarer deepwater species. Palau.

Sea whip goby (Bryaninops yongei). Palau.

Sleeping redlip parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus) on a reef in Palau.

Yellow-edged lyretail (Variola loutiorange) eating a lined triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus). Palau.

Surgeonfish larva on blackwater dive in Palau.

Squirrelfish larva on blackwater dive in Palau.

Butterflyfish larva on blackwater dive in Palau.

Juvenile jacks (Carangids) seek protection on a venomous medusa on blackwater dive in Palau.

Head on shot of squirrelfish larva on blackwater dive in Palau.

Bumphead parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatum) aggregate at dawn just before spawning on a reef in Palau.

Helfrich's dartfish (Nemateleotris helfrichi). Palau.