Ja-Universe Image of the Month

This image was taken at the Verticle Awareness site, close to Hawaii’s “forbidden island” of Niihau, to the south west of Kauai. The diving in this area is excellent and offers chances of some splendid underwater encounters and stunning topography. This image shows a critically endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal appearing to “laugh” at Scott, one of the dive guides. Image taken using Nikon D200/Subal housing combination with a 10.5mm fisheye and Subtronic strobe. Settings were 1/40^th, f8 and ISO100. Photograph taken on 6^th August 2008