\n\tMany of the most fascinating places on the Earth lie beneath the surface of the planet’s oceans, which makes for colorful photography and desktop wallpaper.
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\n\tThis gallery was originally published in December 2010.
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\n\tRemember, click the thumbnail image to get the highest resolution version of each image.
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\n\tCredit: NOAA
The abundance of marine life in the NWHI can be seen in this school of Hawaiian squirrelfish at French Frigate Shoals. Photo: James Watt
Credit: NOAA
Giant trevally along a shallow reef in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
Credit: NOAA
Credit: NOAA
Soft corals, sponges, and fishes that are typical inhabitants of Gray’s Reef.
Credit: NOAA
A Caribbean spiny lobster on the sea floor. This photo was shot during a 2010 NOAA expedition in the U.S. Virgin Islands to map underwater habitats and the marine life they support.
Credit: NOAA
A loggerhead turtle captured on camera during an ‘Aquarius 2010’ dive. During the 10-day mission, students from around the country participated in live broadcasts with Aquanauts based on NOAA’s Aquarius, the world’s only undersea research station.
Credit: NOAA
A sea anemone nestled in plate coral and various types of algae. This photo was shot during a 2010 NOAA expedition in the U.S. Virgin Islands to map underwater habitats and the marine life they support.
Credit: NOAA
Credit: NOAA
Credit: NOAA
A wide diversity and colorful array of marine life can be found in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This cunner is one of more than 80 species of sanctuary fish. Credit: Tane Casserley, NOAA; SBNMS file photo.
Credit: NOAA
Credit: NOAA
Located 63 feet below the surface in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Aquarius undersea lab will serve as the base for a nine-day mission to study corals and marine life.
Credit: NOAA
Deep-sea corals form important habitats for unique and diverse array of marine life. Live bushes of the deep-sea coral, Lophelia, may act like island oases in the deep sea. Photographer: Dr. Ken Sulak, USGS Credit: Life on the Edge 2004 Expedition: NOAA Office of Ocean ExplorationPhotographer: Dr. Ken Sulak, USGS?Credit: Life on the Edge 2004 Expedition: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration
Credit: NOAA
Yellowfin goatfish at Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Credit: NOAA
Credit: NOAA
Humpback whales migrate from near the poles to tropical waters. Photographer: R. Wicklund Credit: OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP); University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Credit: NOAA
Credit: NOAA
Derelict fishing gear snagged on a coral reef at Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Credit: NOAA
The wreck of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor is protected by NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
Credit: NOAA
Kelp forests are critical for countless species of fish, invertebrates, seabirds, and mammals.
Credit: NOAA
Ochre sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus) are voracious predators in the intertidal zone.
Credit: NOAA
Credit: NOAA
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) cruise through the sanctuary during their annual migrations up the eastern seaboard.
Credit: NOAA
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, software, hardware, gaming, finance, accounting, and technology geekdom for more than 30 years.
