California Mantis Shrimp picture in the wild

[photobret]

Spotted this little shy guy at the end of my dive today in Toyon bay off Catalina Island, California. Approx 7" Long and in about 45 feet of water.

Really Shy and hard to get a better pic. Some are really bold but only when I don't have my camera .

Enjoy!

 

[mndfreeze]

God the californensis are so pretty.

 

[ritter6788]

Great pic! Thanks for posting. That's my favorite stomatopod. I'd be interested in seeing any more pics that you get in future dives.

 

[Dana42078]

Awesome pic!!!! MORE!!!!!!

 

[StephLionfish]

That's an amazing picture... What camera did you use?

 

[photobret]

Thanks guys. Was an awesome find and I normally see a ton more on my dives at the bay. This was the maiden voyage with my new olympus xz-1 and Sea and Sea ys-01 strobes. So of course the macro life all but dissapeared because of having a camera with me.

I had to shoot at max zoom, as he/she was so skittish. Any closer and it would duck back in its burrow. So not ideal as any work I do underwater I shoot close - minimizing the water between me and the subject. Just got lucky with this one not having any scatter in the pic. I will be back though - just not as much as I would like, living in Arizona and all.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Young female.

Roy

 

[Gonodactylus]

Young female.

Roy

 

[Hagisan]

Very nice pic. Thanks for sharing and more pics indeed please.