Squirrelfish

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

Giant trevally along a shallow reef in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Credit: NOAA

Flower Garden

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

Credit: NOAA

USS Monitor

Credit: NOAA

Gray’s Reef

Soft corals, sponges, and fishes that are typical inhabitants of Gray’s Reef.

Credit: NOAA

A Caribbean spiny lobster

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

Loggerhead turtle

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

Sea Anemone

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

Spanish hogfish at reef

Credit: NOAA

Feather stars attached to Cordell Bank rocks

Credit: NOAA

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

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

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Wolfish

Credit: NOAA

Aquarius undersea lab

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

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

Yellowfin goatfish at Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Credit: NOAA

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Credit: NOAA

Humpback whales

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

Sea life on Davidson Seamount

Credit: NOAA

Garibaldi

A Garibaldi in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Credit: NOAA

Marine debris

Derelict fishing gear snagged on a coral reef at Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Credit: NOAA

USS Monitor's bow

The wreck of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor is protected by NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

Credit: NOAA

Kelp forests

Kelp forests are critical for countless species of fish, invertebrates, seabirds, and mammals.

Credit: NOAA

Ochre sea stars

Ochre sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus) are voracious predators in the intertidal zone.

Credit: NOAA

Red lionfish

Credit: NOAA

Sea lion diving

A sea lion from the National Marine Sanctuaries Media Library.

Credit: NOAA

Scuba divers

Scuba divers explore the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

Credit: NOAA

Atlantic bluefin tuna

Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) cruise through the sanctuary during their annual migrations up the eastern seaboard.

Credit: NOAA