As we probe farther and farther into space, it is easy to forget that some of the strangest and most beautiful things are right here on this planet. These photos show an entire universe of beautiful creatures virtually untouched by humans.
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#1. This curious potato grouper is ready for his close-up
#2. A frenzy of blacktip reef sharks
#3. A giant Aldabra tortoise roams the Aldabra atoll
#4. These Bohar snappers are attracted to shiny objects in the water
#5. Fish of every size and color swim together in one ecosystem
#6. This gorgeous underwater photo mimics life above the ocean
#7. To take pictures of the seagrass beds you have to wait for sunrise or sunset
#8. At birth, the silvertip shark is only twenty inches. As an adult, it can reach up to ten feet
#9. Searching the same hunting grounds, the blacktip reef shark and dimorphic heron search for tasty fish but won’t eat each other
#10. You probably shouldn’t get any closer than this
#11. This cave overlooks a sea of unspeakable wonders
#12. Always on the hunt for prey
#13. This greenbacked heron jumps in the air trying to catch and eat dragonflies
#14. A blacktip reef shark, unlike other sharks, is typically found only in water a few meters deep
#15. This is what it would be like to face an oncoming school of fish
#16. This bold crustacean would like to extend a claw and say, “hello”
#17. It’s as if this fish is roaring loudly in the ocean
#18. The blacktip reef shark likes to swim around sandy flats and reef ledges
#19. They don’t pose a known threat to humans but will bite if they mistake you for food
#20. These schools of fish are like tiny, silver bullets careening through the water
#21. Why swim on your own when you can hitch a ride with a friend?
#22. Beauty and danger meet in one stunning photograph
#23. Aldabra is home to the world’s largest raised coral atoll ranging from 21 miles long and 9 miles wide
#24. The beautiful white underside of a shark almost seems vulnerable from this point of view
The Seychelles Archipelago, which rests just northeast of Madagascar, houses some of the world’s most amazing coral reefs and aquatic life. Most of us will never see these things up close, so photographs like this are a gift.