Nat Geo Amatuer Photo Contest Winner

Overall winner of the National Geographic Best Underwater Pictures 2013.
Check out the runner-ups here: Nationalgeographic.com/contest

Willow the White Whale

 An extremely rare white humpback whale was spotted recently near Norway. 

Welsh maritime engineer Dan Fisher made the startling discovery off the coast

 of Norway in August.  Fisher has dubbed him Willow the White Whale. 

Website Life’s Little Mysteries states: this is only the second known adult white

 humpback whale on the planet. The first is Migaloo, a humpback who’s made 

numerous cameos off Australia’s east coast. The whale’s name means

 “white fella” in Aboriginal, and he’s usually spotted as he makes his annual 

migration to Antarctic waters during the southern spring. 

While Migaloo is thought to be affected by albinism, a genetic condition that 

stifles melanin pigmentation, it’s possible his Norwegian counterpart is not 

albino, but leucistic. Leucism can affect pigments other than melanin and it 

doesn’t result in the pink eyes characteristic of albinism. Leucism can also 

leave an animal with splotches of colour.

Source: Twisted Sifter

Coconut Octopus

 Amphioctopus marginatus, also known as the "coconut octopus" or "veined octopus",
 is a medium-sized cephalopod belonging to the genus Amphioctopus. It is found in
tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean. It commonly preys upon shrimp, crabs,
and clams, and displays unusual behaviour, including bipedal walking and gathering
and using coconut shells and seashells for shelter. Source: Wikipedia

The main body of the octopus is typically around 8 centimeters (3 in) in size, and, with
 arms, approximately 15 centimeters (6 in) long. In this amazing capture by photographer
 Mario Neumann, the contrast of the white suckers to the rest of the octopus and sea
floor makes it look like some kind of alien spaceship.

Melissani Cave, Greece

 Melissani cave can be found on the east coast of the island of Kefalonia in
Greece. It is located about 2 km from the town of Sami and 10 km from the
town of Argostoli. The caves are surrounded by forests, while a mountain
slope is located to the west.

Photographer David Fleetham

In the waters around the Galapagos Islands a hungry sea lion appears to swim
through a tunnel of fish as it searches for its supper.


A Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) near the surface of the sea,
Guadalupe Island, Mexico.

Short Sex-Filled Life of an Australian Dumpling Squid

 "This promiscuous species of squid pays a dear price for an insatiable sex-drive. After three hours of lovemaking, southern dumpling squid are so exhausted that their ability to avoid predators and forage for food is sorely reduced. An ability to blend into their surroundings helps them survive this post-coital lapse - but only to some extent.

However, their methods aren't always effective. Most dumpling squid only manage to survive for less than a year, which the researchers believe might be a direct result of their risky, sex-filled lifestyle."

 Zoologist Amanda Franklin led the study published in Biology Letters (DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.0556).

Photos taken in Svalbard, Norway. These icy islands of the Arctic Ocean are located halfway between Norway and the North Pole.

 "Rising temperatures caused by global warming has seen the polar bear's natural habitat fall apart in recent years, resulting in them having to swim longer distances to reach a food supply. Last year scientists at the University of Colorado in Boulder revealed water flowing from the North Atlantic into the Arctic is at its warmest level for more than 2,000 years. According to their research, the sea in the Gulf Stream between Greenland and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard reached an average of 6C (42F) in recent summers, warmer than at natural peaks during Roman or Medieval times. Scientists fear the temperature spikes could lead to an ice-free Arctic in years to come and could endanger polar bears, who need the ice in order to survive. Studies show between 1979 and 2009 an area larger than the state of Alaska disappeared."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2169124/Adorable-images-polar-bear-cub-hitching-ride-mothers-swim-Arctic-Ocean.html#ixzz1zl9yahA5

Lac Rose in Senegal

This is a series of photographs of Lake Retba in Senegal. It's pink. The lake has an unusually high salt concentration (like the Dead Sea), in which Dunaliella salina micro-algae thrive, giving it its pink hue.

Baby Octopi

 "Shortly after being put on exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences, this Caribbean Octopus vulgaris took up residence inside a glass bottle, on full view for adoring fans. Just as quickly, it moved back under a rock and started denning, and laying eggs. While eggs being laid in captivity is generally an exciting event, this particular species, like many but not all octopus, stops eating after it lays eggs and dies soon after they hatch which tends to put a damper on the joyous occasion. The biologist responsible for their care, Richard Ross, caught the hatching of the eggs from start to finish on film, and describes it as a waterfall flowing upwards toward the water's surface. Now, Ross faces the difficult task of trying to support thousands of tiny hatchlings. This species is "small egged" meaning it produces large numbers of very small planktonic 'paralarvae' which are notoriously difficult to feed and raise. The adult female and hatchlings will be on display for as long as possible in the Staff Picks area of Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences." From www.zooborns.com

Sardines keeping their distance in South Africa

Dolphins in Brasil help fisherman make their catch

Walktopus by Scott Musgrove

Take a look at Scott Musgrove's other work.