This whitetip reef shark had the right side of its face totally ripped out. It only has one eye but still seemed fine to swim around and it didnt seem to bother it too much. I know i wouldnt handle losing half of my face very well, nature is so fascinating. . . . . . #shark #whitetipreefshark #gbrmarinepark #ladyelliotisland #oceanswildest #reefshark #thegreatbarrierreef #australiangeographic #oceanlovers #padi #divemag #scubadiving #cressi (at The Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJp3tFygndn/?igshid=vd0d9vb6txoy

Leopard sharks are friendly sharks that often just rest on the bottom and are usually not too bothered by you trying to photograph them. They are so much fun to take photos of tho and are just so photogenic with their patterns. . . . . . #leopardshark #shark #padi #nikon #divemag #uwphotosociety #australiangeographic #greatbarrierreef #ocean #nauticam #oceanswildest #sharkeducation #angelsofthesea #bbcearth #natgeoyourshot #ladbible #earthpix (at The Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJneSiJghaM/?igshid=1herd3efet8ks

Love is in the air! These two Green Sea Turtles were holding hands and dancing for a while in mid water until they progressed into piggyback position and were just swimming around me like crazy. They were both definitely enjoying the ride haha . . . . . #greenseaturtle #turtle #turtlemating #oceanconcervancy #bbcearth #discovery #uwphotosociety #uwphotography #ladyelliotislandecoresort #wildlifeperfection #wildestoceans #igersgreatbarrierreef #oceanlover #ocean #earthpix #animallovers (at Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJmIpVQADHQ/?igshid=wf5f9z4obbej

Is it just me or does it kinda look like this guitarfish has some serious eyelashes?. . . . . . #guitarfish #sharktrust #ocean #heronisland #thegreatbarrierreef #padi #nikon #australiangeographic #cressi #gbrmarinepark #southerngreatbarrierreef #saltlife (at The Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CImnGIWAnex/?igshid=eu3xzaeybs4h

Meet my friend the confused grouper. I didn’t know that there are over 100 different species of groupers and apparently they have the ability to change the colour of the bright markings on their body to better fit in with the surroundings. . . . . . #grouper #ladyelliotisland #fish #padi #australiangeographic #uwphotosociety #masterreefguides #bbcearth #nikon #wildlife_perfection #oceanlover (at The Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIkkJnQAFHY/?igshid=120a34rkgtva9

I dont think I’ve ever met a person who wouldnt like turtles. But im curious to know how many of my followers has actually seen or swam with sea turtles before and if you have how many different species of them did you swim with?. . . . . . #turtle #greenseaturtle #turtlesofinstagram #split #earthpix #bbcearth #turtletrend #sunrise #animalsofinstagram #ladyelliotisland (at The Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIjMDZBgGWz/?igshid=1dy57hu19msll

Not everyday you get this good visibility to capture something on the bottom at around 21m deep. According to @queensland This fully intact yacht sank in 1998 and still has much of its rigging in place that is now covered in glorious soft corals. Sitting on a sandy sea floor, 21 metres deep, the wreck is a haven for marine life with cobia, sweetlips, emperors, snappers, trevally and gropers sheltering around the yacht. A look inside the ship will often reveal tasselled wobbegongs, coral trout, coral cod, lionfish and thousands of shrimps. Other visitors to the Severance include turtles, stingrays, reef sharks, eagle rays and manta rays. . . . . . #shipwreck #ladyelliotisland #oceanfloor #greatbarrierreef #igersgreatbarrierreef #uwphotosociety #wreck #bbcearth #natgeoyourshot #padi (at The Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIgl-18AIHy/?igshid=14u42kg42ovaa

These two green sea turtles were trying to mate and even tho it was kinda funny to watch it was also quite intense at times. According to @live_science to mate, a male will climb onto a female's back while she is swimming horizontally in the water. On their front flippers, males have long claws, which they use to hook on to the leading edge of the female's shell — these claws are quite sharp and will often cut into the female's soft flesh near her shell. Male and female sea turtles have cloaca — waste and reproductive orifices — at the base of their tails, and the male's cloaca houses his penis. During mating, the male will reach his tail underneath the back end of the female's shell. His long penis, which can be almost half the length of his shell, will emerge from his cloaca to penetrate and inseminate the female's cloaca. . . . . . #natgeowild #matingturtles #seaturtle #greenseaturtle #mating #uwphotosociety #igersgreatbarrierreef #ocean #australiangeographic #oceanvirals (at The Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIfb847gc4T/?igshid=jvscwmfk2293

The Leopard Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum) belongs to the group of carpet sharks (Orectolobiformes) and is easily recognisable. They normally grow to 2.4 meters in length, but can grow up to 3.5 meters. This more or less slow and mellow shark is not aggressive when approached and is generally not considered to be dangerous. They can be normally found at 5 to 30 meters deep and are often seen lying on sandy bottoms. They can pump water over their gills, which means they don’t need to swim in order to breathe. The diet of the leopard shark consists mainly of snails and slugs but crustaceans and small fish are also on their menu. The female lays large around 17 cm in size, dark looking egg cases that have hairy fibres, which secures the eggs to the bottom where they are laid. Byron Bay is normally a great place to find them during the warmer summer months between December to May. . . . . . #leopardshark #shark #ladyelliotislandecoresort #australiangeographic #natgeoyourshot #uwphotosociety #igersgreatbarrierreef #padi #earthfocus #oceanlover (at The Great Barrier Reef) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIeDumXAuvY/?igshid=11sxeisuxeo5q

Endless corals and not sure if the turtle is grumpy, sleepy or maybe hangry? . . . . #thewildlife.ocean #oceansites #ocean_footage #800down #ourbluemess #discoverwildlife #littlefishhub #everyday.ocean #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #nauticamhousings #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #aggressorliveaboards #divesbigshotseascapes (at Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBgPLBA9cm/?igshid=1891rvuj9y9mz

These guys are so much fun to swim with and often let you come really close. . . . . #thewildlife.ocean #oceansites #ocean_footage #800down #ourbluemess #discoverwildlife #littlefishhub #everyday.ocean #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #nauticamhousings #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #aggressorliveaboards #divesbigshotseascapes (at Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBfaPBgrCD/?igshid=y8bov9m3gb6b

Angry or sleepy? . . . . #thewildlife.ocean #oceansites #ocean_footage #800down #ourbluemess #discoverwildlife #littlefishhub #everyday.ocean #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #nauticamhousings #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #aggressorliveaboards #divesbigshotseascapes (at Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBddsEgg-F/?igshid=ic7p6qq6jgbm

Blue linckia sea stars playing dead . . . . . #thewildlife.ocean #oceansites #ocean_footage #800down #ourbluemess #discoverwildlife #littlefishhub #everyday.ocean #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #nauticamhousings #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #aggressorliveaboards #divesbigshotseascapes (at Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBc1lhg1O-/?igshid=w61gufec7bou

Coral gardens and a turtle who is chilling and appreciating the beautiful corals around. . . . . #thewildlife.ocean #oceansites #ocean_footage #800down #ourbluemess #discoverwildlife #littlefishhub #everyday.ocean #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #nauticamhousings #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #divesbigshotseascapes #aggressorliveaboards (at Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBcHygAyqH/?igshid=121v6lx0cmzh1

Who else is ready for summer? . . . . #thewildlife.ocean #oceansites #ocean_footage #800down #ourbluemess #discoverwildlife #littlefishhub #everyday.ocean #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #nauticamhousings #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #divesbigshotseascapes #aggressorliveaboards (at Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBbZyKAMD0/?igshid=1knjahnmw1m6

If theres anything in this world that could be from an alien world it would have to be an octopus . . . . . #thewildlife.ocean #oceansites #ocean_footage #800down #ourbluemess #discoverwildlife #littlefishhub #everyday.ocean #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #nauticamhousings #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #divesbigshotseascapes #aggressorliveaboards (at Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHAQCx4gcTM/?igshid=r4epzu40yjy4

Sunny days in the lagoon. . . . . #thewildlife.ocean #oceansites #ocean_footage #800down #ourbluemess #discoverwildlife #littlefishhub #everyday.ocean #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #nauticamhousings #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #divesbigshotseascapes #aggressorliveaboards (at Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHAPHJQg9K5/?igshid=gs9xh4fgusci