Moray eels and other fantastic nature photos
I’ve dived at the beautiful Mokohinau Islands, but wasn’t lucky enough to come across a sight like this.

The eels were photographed by Auckland-based scientist James Williams near an underwater cliff at the Mokohinau Islands, off the northeast coast of the North Island. The National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) holds a photo competition for its staff working in the field each year and Williams was the supreme winner this time.
Judges said of this year’s winning shot: “This is a great shot with excellent lighting and finely focused detail bringing out the pair of eels and their surrounding habitat. Cute, humorous and colourful.”
Other winners included: Crispin Middleton, Jean Keddy and Daniel Leduc. Their photographs featured a pre-dawn start for scientists on New Zealand’s most northerly harbour, Parengarenga, a male nematode seen through an interfence contrast microscope, a John Dory cruising past the entrance to Northern Arch at the Poor Knights Marine Reserve and a spotlight on Tapu te Ranga.
Other finalists’ photos can be viewed here.



The reserve has been in place since 1981 and is now a haven for marine life. Source: NIWA

0 Responses to “Moray eels and other fantastic nature photos”
Great photos, good to see the ocean and ocean life represented.