After Hours

Desktop Wallpaper: The spectacle of underwater photography

By // June 30, 2013, 6:17 PM PST // markwkaelin

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  • Coral reef

    Many 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.

    This gallery was originally published in December 2010.

    Remember, click the thumbnail image to get the highest resolution version of each image.

    Credit: NOAA

  • 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

Coral reef

Many 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.

This gallery was originally published in December 2010.

Remember, click the thumbnail image to get the highest resolution version of each image.

Credit: NOAA

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About Mark Kaelin

Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the IT industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net, and TechRepublic.