While I don’t think anyone has made a specific designation between “larval” and “adult”, in the moorish idol, I’m going to label this one “post-larval” #moorishidol #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #kumejima #okinawa #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater

The most colorful #squid I’ve ever seen! And such a cooperative poser too! #🦑 #cephalopod #chromatophores #calamari #underwater #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #blackwatervideo #kumeisland #kumejima #okinawa #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

Ctenophores, more commonly called comb jellies, are pretty much everywhere in all oceans, but they’re incredibly hard to see during the day. But at night... #combjelly #colloblasts #blackwaterdiving #blackwater #blackwaterphotography #okinawa #kume #kumejima #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater

Crazy-looking larval cusk eel with an impressive external gut. We’re still not sure why having the intestines on the outside is advantageous, but there must be a good reason 🤔 TL ~2.5cm #cuskeel #larvalfish #deepseafish #deepseacreatures #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

How cute! This Bony-Eared Assfish has a pet amphipod! And yes, that’s the actual name of this this #fish - the bony-eared #assfish #Acanthonus armatus #cuskeel #bonyearedassfish #acanthonusarmatus #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #deepseafish #larvalfish #deepsea #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

StarStruck From the SeaScapes Collection 60 x 40” Love the stone accent wall in this dining room! And it all comes together with a pop of color from the sea! Order standard sizes online, or call/email to discuss custom sizing, and if you’re in South FL, stop into the RCamm Art showroom in LbtS, FL

Jellyfish helmet! This larval-stage jack fish (aka trevally) is living inside the #jellyfish for protection against whatever might come his way. #jackfish #trevalley #jellyfish #🪼 #symbiosis #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater #okinawa #kume #kumejima

One of the smallest Armored Sea Robins that I’ve ever seen - its body a little larger than a pea. This is the same species featured in my Aliens Collection Print, “Alien #27”. #armoredsearobin #searobin #larvalfish #deepseafish #blackwaterdiving #gurnard #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater

Here’s a weird one for ya - even by my standards! This #crab has a pair of #barnacles growing out of its forehead! This crab is in an early life stage known as #Megalopa #parasitism #symbiosis #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #okinawa #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

The largest larval-stage #Lucibrotula corethromycter cusk eel I’ve ever seen! #cuskeel #larvalfish #deepseafish #deepsea #deepseacreatures #lucibrotula #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater #scubadiving #underwater

A young #argonaut #octopus (aka “paper #nautilus”) hitches a ride atop a muave stinger #jellyfish. #papernautilus #symbiosis #muavestinger #🐙 #🪼 #blackwater #blackwaterphotography #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug #kumejima #okinawa #marinelife

A beautifully-crowned #Tonguefish larvae (#Cynoglossidae sp.), drifting with the #plankton in #Okinawa. Don’t worry - it gets more “tongue-y” as it gets to its adult stage. #flatfish #fishlarvae #deepseafish #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater

I slowed down this vid in the beginning, but let it get to its actual real speed - crazy! Admittedly, I kept wondering how this #polychaete #worm would be in a marinara sauce, covered in pecorino romano🤤 Shot in #Okinawa. #marineworm #polychaeteworm

First (and only) time seeing this species - and this doesn’t appear to be a larval-stage - perhaps a juvenile, just post-metamorphosis. #soapfish #larvalsoapfish #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater

I’ve watched this pair of #clownfish through two full breeding cycles over the past month and a half - as of yesterday morning, they’re empty nesters once again. It’s been cool documenting the whole process and watching the eggs develop. #anemone #tulamben #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater

New print release in the Fish Faces Collection! “TURTLE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN”. See the full story behind the shot at gugunderwater.com/item/turtle-... Originally shot as a horizontal image, it’s quite flexible, so it also works well as a vertical, square, or panoramic crop.

I’ve never seen so many anemones in all my life! Every surface covered in anemones as far as the eye could see! . . #anemone #clownfish #anemonefish #emperorangelfish #tulamben #bali #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

The weedy #rhinopias (Rhinopias frondosa) is a holy grail species for any fish nerd, and I returned to shoot this guy several days in a row. #rhinopiasfrondosa #weedyrhinopias #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater

I mean…. It’s gotta tickle, right? A scarlet cleaner shrimp plays doctor with an emperor angelfish from last week. #cleaningstation #symbiosis #scarletcleanershrimp #emperorangelfish #tulamben #bali #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater

This little 1” goby is caring for several clutches of eggs. The newest ones are more solid, while the most mature have little eyeballs and tails inside. She had glued all of them to this tunicate. #goby #gobywitheggs #gobyeggs #tulamben #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

Had a surprise encounter with this massive Bluespotted Pufferfish. He was huuuuungry, and chomped away at this & that on the reef. #bluespottedpufferfish #pufferfish #arothron #arothtoncaeruleopunctatus #bali #tulamben #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug #scubadiving #underwater

Found this cute little 1” #goby living on a feathery #SeaPen today while looking for something completely different. Tomorrow will be my first day not diving in 3.5 weeks - gotta head to the city to restock “supplies”🍷 #tulamben #muckdiving #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater

Arguably one of my very favorite photo subjects - the schooling coral catfish. I’ve probably seen this >500 times in my days, but for me, it never gets old. And BTW - no licking 😝- venomous spines. #coralcatfish #plotosuslineatus #catfish #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug #tulamben #marinelife

Another of my “Images Unsorted” folders ✔️ This time from 18 & 19 May, 2024 In order, we have 1) #DiamondSquid 2) “monstrous” shrimp 3) unidentified #scorpionfish 4) #gurnard 5) #codlett 6) unidentified #CuskEel 7) shrimp riding a #PelagicNudibranch #deepseafish #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #gug

Against All Odds From the SeaScapes Collection 68” X 42” A stunning “welcome home” when walking through the front door. Love the planned architectural framing & lighting! It’s available from 16x24” up to 300” wide in any custom size needed to fit your space!

The next generation is safe behind those teeth! Yesterday, I spotted this pregnant dad Tiger #Cardinalfish (#Cheilodipterus macrodon) #mouthbrooding his eggs. #tigercardinalfish #cheilodipterusmacrodon #tulamben #tulambenbali #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

The so-called “Monster Shrimp” is the larval stage of the deep sea-dwelling Cerataspis monstrosa. #cerataspismonstrosa #deepseacreatures #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater

Eventually, this #wahoo will become one of the fastest predators of the open ocean, but for now, it’s just a 1” bebeh. Shot on #scuba, several miles offshore from West Palm Beach, FL, out over deep water, at night.

Freaky fishies & other gooey things from 15-17May2024. 1 & 2) two different species of #dragonfish 3) #anglerfish 4) male #nautilus #octopus riding a salp 5) #phronima in a #salp 6) #scaleworm 7) #whalefish #larvalfish #deepseafish #blackwaterdiving #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater

I’m always a sucker for a fish living inside a jellyfish! Much like the clownfish is resistant to the sting of its anemone, some jacks & driftfish & others use #jellyfish as a mobile home, receiving protection from predators.

Cutest larval anglerfish EVER!

Whalefish are often called tapetails when in their larval stage. This one’s tail was ~4x its 1.5” body length. #whalefish #tapetail #cetomimidae #larvalfish #deepseafish #deepseacreatures #ditropichthysstoreri #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater

Not uncommon, but always beautiful; the ever flappy-flappy #pelagic #SeaButterfly #Pteropod, Corolla spectabilis. This one is feeding, as can be seen by the mucus net that it’s currently reeling in. #corollaspectabilis #plankton #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater #ocean

Another folder of never-before seen Aliens dives has been sorted, and I present you with a collage of B-listers that would otherwise go unloved - this time from 9-13 May, 2024. Have fun zooming in!

Larval-stage #basslet Shot in the wild, several miles offshore from West Palm Beach, FL, USA, on scuba, out over the deep abyss, at night. #marinelife #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater #larvalfish

Done traveling for now & settled into Indonesia. A beautiful larval-stage #tripodfish flares its fins for my camera. A similar species to the one shown in my print, Alien #4. #bathypterois #marinelife #deepseafish #blackwaterdiving #underwater #scubadiving #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater

Felt bad about making the #turtle in my last post look dumb, so here’s one looking as graceful as we all want to believe they always are🤣 I’m probably gonna get back to Aliens next if that’s cool by you? #greenseaturtle #seaturtle #🐢 #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

Is this turtle stuck?🤣 And for the record, still, years after the world decided it wanted vertical videos, I still hate it. This clip, and practically every other one I’ve ever made, looks better horizontally. #seaturtle #greenseaturtle #turtle #bonaire #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater

The complex mating rituals of #squid. Pale blue by day, the females turned dark red, while others put on their zebra-stripes and flashed bold colors with the distinct peacocking of a male showing off. #cephalpopd #🦑 #matingsquid #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater

Candyland From the SeaScapes Collection 108 x 72” triptych A grand staircase needs a grand statement art piece! #candyland #oceanart #beachyart #interiordesign #interiordesigner #floridadesign #decor #wallart #bigwallart #gugunderwatergallery #rcammart #chrisgug #gugunderwater #coralreef

One of the more interesting behaviors I’ve seen. Rather than just scratching for tactile sensation, I believe these green sea turtles are using the mucus from the coral as a barrier against growth #seaturtle #greenseaturtle #iliketurtles #cleaningstation #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater #bonaire

There’s still a few place left where the #staghorn #acropora #corals grow in fields as far as the eye can see. If I was old enough, I’d say it reminds me of the good ‘ol days #staghorncoral #coralreef #greenchromis #bonaire #divebonaire #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater #sadtruth

Hungry, hungry hawksbill! This hawksbill sea turtle was 100% occupied with munching on this sponge, and wouldn’t pay me even an ounce of attention. #seaturtle #hawksbillturtle #hawksbillseaturtle #iliketurtles #turtle #gug #gugunderwater #chrisgug #bonaire

3 little squddies…. Sunbathing near the surface. Weather forecast, mostly sunny with a few clouds. #🦑 #squid #calamari #cephalopod #bonaire #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug

Had time to finish another Aliens dive’s memory card from May 6&8, 2024. 1) #Phronima with behbehies in a fantastically-colored salp 2/3) #Siphonophore (don’t lick) 4) #Ctenophore 5) #Swordfish 6) #Polychaete worm 7) #Scaleworm 8) Ctenophore 9) #MantisShrimp

The beautiful #jellyfish, #Laodicea undulata. Shot on #scuba, several miles offshore From WPB, FL, USA, while riding the Gulf Stream Current, over the deep abyss, at night. Do not lick. #laodiceaundulata #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gug #gugunderwater #marinelife

The Sharp-Ear Enope #Squid is always a special find. This one was quite large (~2cm) and quite the performer! #sharpearenopesquid #enopesquid #🦑 #cephalopod #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug #marinelife

Mating #pteropods get broken up by my video lights. Sorry!!! #pteropod #seabutterfly #blackwater #blackwaterphotography #blackwatervideo #blackwaterdiving #gugunderwater #chrisgug #gug

I’ve finally had time to get to the photos from my Aliens Collection dive on 1May2024 in FL. So here’s a collage of the shots that didn’t make the cut & won’t stand on their own. Have fun zooming in!

Wielding an arsenal of stinging siphonophores, this larval-stage slipper lobster drifts with the oceanic currents. This one is on the “Do-Not-Lick” list 🪼⚡️ #siphonophore #lobster #slipperlobster #scyllaridae #🦞 #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #gugunderwater #chrisgug #gug