Rainbow Nudibranch, Dendronotus iris

This large nudibranch (sometimes referred to as the Giant Nudibranch) is absolutely stunning to watch as it swims through the water column. Many of the photos below are simply “creative” images of a species that has me mesmerized.  I did watch as one of them swam right into a balloon and as another swam with a balloon — taking on its colour.  Not good for those animals (Leatherback turtles in particular) who feed on jelly look-alikes.  Those sky photos? I was lying on the sea floor taking photos through the water to the sky above.  These creatures can be colourful — orange, white, pink, magenta, brown and any combination thereof. They usually take on the colour of their prey — the tube anemone.