Jennifer Penner: Komodo
While planning for this trip, I had been awed by images from friends and acquaintances of the underwater world in Komodo National Park. The variety of marine species to be seen there is just mind-blowing. While we did in fact witness very healthy reef systems with large, fully intact hard corals and blooming soft corals, gorgonians, sponges and critters everywhere, what surprised and astounded me was how colorful the views were. Bright, vibrant colors of the reef contrasted by the deep indigo of the ocean, with “explosions” of fish at every turn makes diving in Komodo National Park a truly unique experience. Komodo is now one of my favorite places to dive, and I hope to experience it again soon!
When Jennifer is not in her ocean office, she and her husband Joel run a multimedia company called Newmediasoup. To view more of her underwater imagery and for more information about Newmediasoup, please visit their website.
Vibrant colors on the reef contrast the blue water.
A large green moray eel (Gymnothorax funebris) makes its home on the sloping reef.
A school of glassfish make this bommie their refuge.
Healthy reefs and good visibility abound in Komodo National Park.
The bright, richly hued colors on the reef in Komodo National Park are astounding.
Fish are endless in Komodo.
Currents and good visibility go hand in hand.
A hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) strikes a pose.
Both reef mantas (Manta alfredi) and pelagic mantas (M. birostris) did their dance at Manta Alley
A giant frogfish (Antennarius commerson uses a crinoid-mustache disguise to blend into the bommie
A cuttlefish attempts to camouflage itself.
A fish explosion amongst bursting colors.