Nothing But Stars

Technique: This photo was taken with a wide angle set-up. Lens, 15 mm Nikon fisheye. Camera: Nikonis III. Strobe; Ikelite on high power. The strobe was positioned almost directly over my head pointing slightly from right to left. I wanted the focus of the shot on the starfish and coral head, with the diver appearing to be off in the distance. Camera was positioned approximately 18" to 24" inches away from the coral head. Film was Fugi Velvia 64 ASA.

Summary: The black and yellow creature sticking it's tentacles up from behind the Star Coral is called a Feathered Starfish. It is a filter feeder and clings onto the reef with bird-like claws. Photo was taken off the sloping reefs of Ponepe, Micronesia.

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Feathered Starfish on Star Coral | Ponepe, Micronesia

I loved diving in Ponepe. Everything about it is “gourmet”. From the gourmet pepper that is grown on the island to the diverse amount of reefs it boasts. Great! The views on the island are all postcard quality. The views underwater…let me explain.

You drop in one place, you have a slopping bottom like the one in this picture. You drop in again, you are on a wall. Again, you have a flat bottom with clusters of coral heads composed of tabletop corals, staghorn, gorgonian, brain corals, soft corals and spotted with Tridacna Clams.

Now, with the exception of a species of coral, that may sound like many of the dive destinations you have been to. But the consistent prolific abundance of sea life sets it apart. Ponepe was a wide angle paradise.

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