europe.oceana.org: Video

The Oceana Ranger measures 71 feet long ( 23.5 metres ) by 35 feet wide ( 10.5 metres ) and can accommodate 14 people on board with 6 months of provisions.

First thing in the morning, the day's work is planned and all the necessary equipment prepared. Once at the chosen dive zone, the diving and camera team explore and document the marine life in the area.

The whitetip reef sharks ( Triaenodon obesus ) become active at nightfall and start hunting.

The blotched fantail, or marbled, ray ( Taeniura meyeni ) finds refuge in the marine reserve of Cocos Island.

Some female whitetip reef sharks ( Triaenodon obesus ) are crearly in an advanced stage of gestation. These are viviparous sharks and give birth to between 1 and 5 offspring.

The male of the Mexican hogfish ( Bodianus diplotaenia ) has a prominent fleshy protuberance on its head.

The whitetip reef shark ( Triaenodon obesus ) spends a great deal of the daytime resting on the sea bed.

Puffer fish are poisonous and can display very different colours, such as the guineafowl puffer ( Arothron meleagris ) which can be black or gold. Meanwhile, the peacock or flowery flounder ( Bothus mancus ) can change its colour at will to camouflage itself.

It's not unusual to find barberfish ( Johnrandallia nigrirostris ) in Coiba, or sea turtles looking for their cleaning services.

In the Pacific, the largest seahorse in the world can be found ( Hippocampus ingens ), which can reach up to 30 centimetres long.

A multitude of species can be found around the coral reefs, such as these coral hawkfish ( Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus ).

Giant kelp ( Macrocystis pirifera ) are the largest plants in the oceans, reaching 30 metres in height.

The kelp anchor themselves to the sea beds by rootlike holdfasts and float thanks tl their small " bladders " of air.

On the coasts of southern California and Mexico there are four species of pinnipeds. The most common of these is the Californian sea lion ( Zalophus californianus ).

Barrel sponges ( Xestospongia muta ) can reach almost two metres in height and several hundred years old.

The giant hermit crab ( Petrochirus diogenes ) can carry the huge shells of the queen conck on its back as its " home ".

Some species on the MesoAmerican coral reef have declined significantly, such as this staghom coral ( Acropora palmata ), affected by climate change and hurricanes.

One of the most spectacular tubeworms in the known as the Christmas tree worm ( Spirobranchus giganteus ) which makes its home among different corals, such as brain coral ( Colpophyllia natans ) or even hydrozoa, such as branching fire coral ( Millepora alcicornis ).

The huge queen conch ( Strombus gigas ) have been heavily overexploited in the Caribbean and it is now difficult to find them in their natural habitat.

DONATE TODAY! »
GET INVOLVED

A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ILLEGAL DRIFTNETS

Oceana in the documentary made by the producer EarthOcean about illegal drifnetters in the Mediterranean Sea. The video includes an interview with Xavier Pastor, Oceana’s Director for Europe, and also images of illegal driftnetters recorded during the expeditions on board the catamaran Oceana Ranger. Driftnets are banned since 2002 because they represent a major threat for the conservation of endangered species such as marine turtles and cetaceans.

Read more

OCEANA's REPORTS