Hannes Klostermann Underwater Photography

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  • Everyone on the boat gets very excited when someone shouts this word. It's Spanish for 'bottle' and describes a feeding behaviour where Whale Sharks stop swimming, which causes their tail to sink. They then 'stand' in the water and feed by moving their massive mouths and gills. It is still not clear why they do this. However, there seems to be a link to the concentration of food in the water.  One common theory states that they stop when they find a very dense patch of food. An opposing theory is that they might be saving energy by not swimming when there is little food present. Maybe one day we will know for sure :) Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • Mangroves are nurseries for many species of fish and other animals. The young use the roots for protection from larger predators before venturing out into open water. This is only one reason why mangroves are extremely important to marine ecosystems.
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  • Yesterday I had the pleasure to share the water with a maximum of 6 silky sharks at the same time. Conditions were pretty rough but the sharks more than made up for the bounciness and strong currents.
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  • This is Tequila, a female tiger shark and long time resident at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas. These sharks are truly magnificent and despite their enormous size, they hardly ever harm people. Incidents with tiger sharks are usually the result of their curiosity and divers not paying close enough attention to their movements. Swimming away from an approaching shark or showing erratic movements, for example, will always peak their interest, as that is what their prey would normally do. Simply standing one's ground and gently pushing them away is all it takes to show them that you're in charge. Despite having 5 to 6 tigers around for the majority of my diving at Tiger Beach, not once was there any hint of danger or aggression. Despite chum and bait in the water, the animals move at a very relaxed pace. In fact, I would say that diving at Tiger Beach is the perfect thing to do if you're afraid of sharks. It is impossible not to see their beauty, and how they are not the mindless killers the media like to make us believe, after spending some quality time with them in this beautiful environment.
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  • Tiger shark extraordinaire Emma comes close to check out my legs (and camera) :)<br />
<br />
Because it's time for Shark Week, let me just point out that there are NO dangerous sharks. <br />
<br />
I'm sure there will be plenty of quality shows this week but also the usual programmes exploiting many people's irrational fears. Even a tiger shark the size of Emma (~15ft/5m) can be pushed away with ease when the situation is handled correctly. Again: there are no dangerous sharks. There are however potentially dangerous situations. Poor visibility, food in the water and people doing foolish things (like swimming away, splashing around etc) can make a shark investigate with its mouth. If their other senses aren't enough to determine what you are, that's simply the only thing they have left. Humans use their hands every day to figure out what something is, but sharks obviously don't have that tool available to them. As long as you keep a close look on the shark, you can always remain in control of the situation. We have to remember that we are only guests in the ocean, so let's treat all its inhabitants with the respect they deserve. Please just keep that in mind as you enjoy this year's sharky programmes :)
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  • This super cute blenny posed for me in only about 4m of water in the Sea of Cortez. It's not easy to steady yourself in even the slightest swell at that depth, while being super close to the subject and while avoiding damage to the reef and the camera. If anybody knows what species this little fella is, please do let me know. I still have a lot to learn about the tiny inhabitants of the sea!
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  • This Whale Shark is 'standing' vertically in the water to feed on dense patches of plankton. When they stop swimming their tail sinks thus putting them in this unique position.
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  • A juvenile Whale Shark cruising in slightly deeper water just underneath me.
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  • Who says cold water can't be beautiful?!
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  • A Grey Seal gently nibbles on my fin. Fun Fact: In German, Seals or Sea Lions are sometimes referred to as "Sea Dogs". Anyone wo has ever spent any time in the water with these curious and playful animals would surely agree this a fitting name!
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  • A blue shark approaching in open water. These are, in my opinion, the most beautiful sharks of all with their long fins and big eyes.
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  • During the summer, there are a lot of Whale Sharks in the waters just north of Isla Mujeres in Mexico. However, this does not go unnoticed so there is an armada of boats heading out each day to give people a chance to snorkel with these beautiful giants. Sadly, not all operators use the appropriate amount of care when navigating these waters which can lead to sharks being injured. This guy here for example has a large portion of both his tail and dorsal fins missing. The good news is that despite the very obvious injuries the shark has grown to a large size so thankfully, he still seems to be able to feed efficiently. Nevertheless people should make the safety of these magnificent animals their number one priority.  Like, share or comment if you agree :)
    hk_isla_mujeres_2017_029.jpg
  • A Grey Seal pup hovering in mid-water at the Farne Islands.
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  • It's not all about the seals at the Farne Islands! There are also some amazing walls to discover with tons of cold-water coral, crabs and lobsters.
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  • Mobula rays sometimes gather in large schools, which are one of the many amazing things to see in the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands. I encountered this school of 19 individuals cruising the sandy area near Mosquera - a tiny islet between Baltra and North Seymour Island in the central archipelago.
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  • Very large, pregnant Whale Sharks can often be seen in the waters of Darwin Island in the Galapagos. In fact, more than 90 per cent of all Whale Sharks seen at this island are pregnant! This 14 metre long female clearly shows two bulges, which is where she carries eggs and hatched pups. The pups then develop in both uteri. Once they're ready, the juveniles emerge as fully-developed, yet miniature Whale Sharks.
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  • Tiger Beach might be famous for its tiger sharks, but that doesn't mean that they're the only species of shark that frequent these waters! Caribbean reef sharks, lemon sharks, nurse sharks, the occassional great hammerhead and bull sharks can all be seen on the dives as well!
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  • Every winter, the grey whales of the eastern Pacific gather in the sheltered bays of the Californian peninsula. They make the long trip down from the cold and rich waters off Alaska to give birth to their calves, nurse them and mate. This annual migration is believed to be the longest annual migration of any mammal! What makes this species so interesting to the layman is not just their prehistoric look (let's be honest, they're not exactly the most photogenic whale...), but most of all their amazing curiosity. They regularly approach whale watching boats, and often even establish physical contact. The whales seem in no way bothered by the boats and will sometimes even atempt to play with them. This particular individual stayed with us for more than 15 minutes, slowly spinning underneath the boat, gently bumping it with its mouth and tail, and even showing us its belly a few times!
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  • Winner of the Underwater Seascapes category of the United Nations World Oceans Day 2020 Photo Competition.
    Cold Water Colours
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  • A playful juvenile California sea lion blows bubbles at me. These are amazingly curious animals and a dive with them is guaranteed to be a great time!
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  • Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • A Grey Seal resting in the kelp at the Farne Islands in the UK.
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  • Last Monday I had my very first encounter with what for me is the most beautiful of all sharks: the blue shark. These extremely elegant, pelagic animals are unfortunately a rare sighting in many parts of the world these days, due to the high demand for shark fins and other products. Their large pectoral fins make them a prime target for shark fishing worldwide and their lifestyle makes it fairly easy to catch them. Did you know that Spain is one of the top exporters of shark products? We Europeans tend to regard China as the source of all evil when it comes to shark-related issues, yet we're still very much part of the problem!  The IUCN currently lists the blue shark as near threatened. The last assessment, however, was made in 2005, so numbers are likely lower today, as commercial fishing continues largely unhindered.
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  • Conditions were challenging when I went to Bimini in March. The sand there is like powder and countless pesky nurse sharks can stir it up a lot. Without a current to carry away the particles, divers quickly find themselves surrounded by a giant cloud, which makes photographing these beautiful, but shy creatures very tricky.
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  • A sabre squirrelfish hides under coral from a pack of grey reef sharks
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  • Mosquera, Galapagos
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  • Isla Darwin, Galapagos.
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  • Collision Avoidance - Even though they have a huge blind spot right in front of them, Whale Sharks are amazingly aware of their surroundings and always make sure they don't just run you over.
    hk_isla_mujeres_2017_023.jpg
  • Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
    hk_isla_mujeres_2017_002.jpg
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  • 30 degrees delicate cycle, no fabric conditioner :)
    hk_isla_mujeres_2017_034.jpg
  • See the little fish? Whale Sharks are often followed by smaller fish for protection and sometimes food.
    hk_isla_mujeres_2017_028.jpg
  • Last weekend i visited the very playful Grey Seals of the Farne Islands in the North East of England. Sadly, day 1 was blown out but day 2 certainly made up for it big time! The seals were very curious from the first minute, messing about with the divers' fins and cameras. Who doesn't love interacting with such entertaining creatures?
    hk_farne_islands_2017_003.jpg
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  • A Pelican flies past as the sun sets over the mangroves in the lagoon between North and South Bimini.
    hk_bahamas_2018_033.jpg
  • In many countries, today is Mother's day! Let's celebrate it with this beautiful, pregnant tiger shark!
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  • Vincent Canabal interacting with Rodeo, one of the resident ladies at Tiger Beach.
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  • Another older image, taken at Tiger Beach last year. The eye of a Caribbean reef shark. Can anybody tell me what those things are to the left of the eye? Some sort of parasite, I assume?
    hk_bahamas_2018_078.jpg
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  • This is my 1st place winning image in the Wide Angle Unrestricted category of the Digital Shootout 2019.  The groupers in the Cayman Islands are famous for being extra friendly. They regularly approach divers and pose for photographers which makes for good opportunities to get the creative juices flowing!
    hk_dso2019_0379.jpg
  • While I was on Little Cayman for the Digital Shootout, I spent almost an entire dive with this good-looking creature! Sometimes you don't have to venture far (or deep) to find good subjects. He/She was extremely chill, and had absolutely no issues with me being VERY close. At times I moved the camera out of the way and I ended up almost hugging the fish! Encounters like these always make for great dives! In fact, this image won me 2nd place in the wide angle traditional category of this year's competition.
    hk_dso2019_0336.jpg
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  • Sea urchins come in all colours and variations. This particular one truly amazed me with its pitch black exoskeleton and orange/white spines. Along with the white tips of its tube feet this to me resembles a city at night as viewed from above.
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