Nature Picture Library Oceans & Islands South Pacific

Wild Destinations > Oceans & Islands > South Pacific (89) More files...

Expect an incredible mix of coral reefs, caves, lava towers, wrecks and huge caverns when you go diving in the South Pacific. Within its deep waters lives an astonishing variety of life, including 500 different types of coral and over 1000 species of fish.

Comprising many subregions including Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia, the South Pacific has something for everyone. The combination of great climate, island paradises, fantastic photography opportunities and exotic culture create in the South Pacific a world-class diving destination.

For more information and images contact timaldred@naturepl.com

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Aerial view of islands with fringing coral reefs, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, Pacific Ocean - Michael Pitts

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Michael Pitts / Aerial view of islands with fringing coral reefs, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, Pacific Ocean

Palm tree lined beach with a tender on the shore, Rangiroa, French Polynesia. - Onne van der Wal

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Onne van der Wal / Palm tree lined beach with a tender on the shore, Rangiroa, French Polynesia.

Aerial view of the Rock Islands, Palau, Micronesia. December 2001. - Tim Laman

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Tim Laman / Aerial view of the Rock Islands, Palau, Micronesia. December 2001.

Coral landscape with soft corals and fish, Fiji - Constantinos Petrinos

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Constantinos Petrinos / Coral landscape with soft corals and fish, Fiji

Aerial view of Rangiroa Atoll, the largest atoll of French Polynesia's Tuamotu archipelago, located in the central south Pacific Ocean. The strange colours are due to the sunlight on the aircraft wind... - Francis Abbott

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Francis Abbott / Aerial view of Rangiroa Atoll, the largest atoll of French Polynesia's Tuamotu archipelago, located in the central south Pacific Ocean. The strange colours are due to the sunlight on the aircraft wind...

N-7004 Tropical beach shoreline with palm tree, Tahiti, South Pacific - Aflo

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Aflo / N-7004 Tropical beach shoreline with palm tree, Tahiti, South Pacific

Snorkeler over a coral reef in Rangiroa, French Polynesia. - Onne van der Wal

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Onne van der Wal / Snorkeler over a coral reef in Rangiroa, French Polynesia.

Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), with diver being propelled along with an underwater scooter behind, Palau, Micronesia. Cuttlefish are predatory carnivorous cephalopods related to squid and octo... - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), with diver being propelled along with an underwater scooter behind, Palau, Micronesia. Cuttlefish are predatory carnivorous cephalopods related to squid and octo...

Chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) and divers, Palau, Micronesia. Model released. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) and divers, Palau, Micronesia. Model released.

Pair of divers watching two jellyfish (Mastigias papua), Palau, Micronesia. Model released. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Pair of divers watching two jellyfish (Mastigias papua), Palau, Micronesia. Model released.

Mastigias jellyfish {Mastigias sp.} massed at surface, Palau, Western Pacific Islands - Michael Pitts

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Michael Pitts / Mastigias jellyfish {Mastigias sp.} massed at surface, Palau, Western Pacific Islands

Millions of jellyfish (Mastigias papua, and the less common Aurelia sp.) reside in this land-locked body of salt water, known as ^Jellyfish Lake^, Palau, Micronesia. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Millions of jellyfish (Mastigias papua, and the less common Aurelia sp.) reside in this land-locked body of salt water, known as ^Jellyfish Lake^, Palau, Micronesia.

Mass of Mastigias jellyfish with diver {Mastigias sp.} Palau, Western Pacific Islands - Michael Pitts

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Michael Pitts / Mass of Mastigias jellyfish with diver {Mastigias sp.} Palau, Western Pacific Islands

Snorkeller swimming underwater amongst jellyfish {Mastigias sp} Jellyfish Lake, Palau, Pacific ocean island, 2004 - Michael Pitts

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Michael Pitts / Snorkeller swimming underwater amongst jellyfish {Mastigias sp} Jellyfish Lake, Palau, Pacific ocean island, 2004

Coconut / Robber crab climbing palm tree {Birgus latro} Palau, Micronesia - Doug Perrine

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Doug Perrine / Coconut / Robber crab climbing palm tree {Birgus latro} Palau, Micronesia

Divers on underwater scooters with common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), Palau, Micronesia. Model released. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Divers on underwater scooters with common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), Palau, Micronesia. Model released.

Scuba diver looking at coral, Fiji, South Pacific (model released) - Brandon Cole

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Brandon Cole / Scuba diver looking at coral, Fiji, South Pacific (model released)

N-7001 Tiny tropical sand island with palm tree surrounded by sea. Composite image - - Aflo

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Aflo / N-7001 Tiny tropical sand island with palm tree surrounded by sea. Composite image -

A traditional canoe, pirogue, on the beach, small island between New Hannover and New Ireland, Papua New Guinea - Roberto Rinaldi

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Roberto Rinaldi / A traditional canoe, pirogue, on the beach, small island between New Hannover and New Ireland, Papua New Guinea

Seasnake on beach beside tourist {Laticauda laticaudata} Ile de Maitre, New Caledonia, Pacific - Georgette Douwma

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Georgette Douwma / Seasnake on beach beside tourist {Laticauda laticaudata} Ile de Maitre, New Caledonia, Pacific

Storm approaching jetty on the turquoise Aitutaki lagoon, Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Storm approaching jetty on the turquoise Aitutaki lagoon, Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands.

Aerial view of the rock islands of Palau, Micronesia. - Roberto Rinaldi

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Roberto Rinaldi / Aerial view of the rock islands of Palau, Micronesia.

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Tim Laman / Aerial view of the Rock Islands, Palau, Micronesia, December 2001.

Aerial view of fringing coral reefs, Palau Islands, Micronesia. - Jeff Rotman

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Jeff Rotman / Aerial view of fringing coral reefs, Palau Islands, Micronesia.

Pink anemonefish {Amphiprion perideraion} in sea anemone, Palau, Micronesia ~(Non-ex). - Doug Perrine

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Doug Perrine / Pink anemonefish {Amphiprion perideraion} in sea anemone, Palau, Micronesia ~(Non-ex).

Orange-fin anemonefish (Amphiprion chrysopterus) amongst anemone tentacles, Somosomo Strait, Rainbow Reef, Fiji. - Tim Laman

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Tim Laman / Orange-fin anemonefish (Amphiprion chrysopterus) amongst anemone tentacles, Somosomo Strait, Rainbow Reef, Fiji.

Pink anemonefish amongst anemone tentacles {Amphiprion perideraion} Yap, Micronesia - Michael Pitts

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Michael Pitts / Pink anemonefish amongst anemone tentacles {Amphiprion perideraion} Yap, Micronesia

Common / pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) large and small, Yap, Micronesia. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Common / pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) large and small, Yap, Micronesia.

Salt Water Fly Fishing on the sand banks of Tevawa, Fiji. 2004 - Barry Bland

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Barry Bland / Salt Water Fly Fishing on the sand banks of Tevawa, Fiji. 2004

Split level view of Black tip reef shark {Carcharhinus melanopterus}, French Polynesia - JEFF FOOTT

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JEFF FOOTT / Split level view of Black tip reef shark {Carcharhinus melanopterus}, French Polynesia

Snorkelling woman and blue sea star, Palau, Micronesia. Model released. - Roberto Rinaldi

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Roberto Rinaldi / Snorkelling woman and blue sea star, Palau, Micronesia. Model released.

Coral reef with Lettuce coral and school of Fusiliers. Somosomo Strait, Rainbow Reef, Fiji. - Tim Laman

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Tim Laman / Coral reef with Lettuce coral and school of Fusiliers. Somosomo Strait, Rainbow Reef, Fiji.

Coral reef with Lettuce coral and school of Damselfish and Anthias. Somosomo Strait, Rainbow Reef, Fiji. - Tim Laman

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Tim Laman / Coral reef with Lettuce coral and school of Damselfish and Anthias. Somosomo Strait, Rainbow Reef, Fiji.

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Tim Laman / Coral reef with Lettuce coral and school of Fusiliers. Somosomo Strait, Rainbow Reef, Fiji.

Anthias fish swimming over a coral reef covered in soft corals and a yellow crinoid feather star. Primarily Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) Vatu-i-Ra, Fiji - Tim Laman

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Tim Laman / Anthias fish swimming over a coral reef covered in soft corals and a yellow crinoid feather star. Primarily Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) Vatu-i-Ra, Fiji

Grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) on reef, Yap, Micronesia. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) on reef, Yap, Micronesia.

Black tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Yap, Micronesia. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Black tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Yap, Micronesia.

School of Grey reef sharks {Carcharhinus amblyrhychos} Bikini Atoll, Micronesia ~(Non-ex). - Doug Perrine

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Doug Perrine / School of Grey reef sharks {Carcharhinus amblyrhychos} Bikini Atoll, Micronesia ~(Non-ex).

Grey reef shark group {Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos} Bikini Atoll, Micronesia, Pacific Ocean ~(Non-ex). - Doug Perrine

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Doug Perrine / Grey reef shark group {Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos} Bikini Atoll, Micronesia, Pacific Ocean ~(Non-ex).

Blue sea star just off the beach, Rock islands, Palau, Micronesia. - Roberto Rinaldi

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Roberto Rinaldi / Blue sea star just off the beach, Rock islands, Palau, Micronesia.

Ovalau Island, Vava'u Is group, Tonga, South pacific - Doug Perrine

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Doug Perrine / Ovalau Island, Vava'u Is group, Tonga, South pacific

Casaurina trees, coconut palms and other vegetation line a beach in Palau, Micronesia. December 2001. - Tim Laman

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Tim Laman / Casaurina trees, coconut palms and other vegetation line a beach in Palau, Micronesia. December 2001.

N-7203 Private beach on Tahiti, South Pacific, French Poylnesia - Aflo

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Aflo / N-7203 Private beach on Tahiti, South Pacific, French Poylnesia

Yellowspot emperor (Gnathodentex aurolineatus), shoaling with Yellowfin goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis), with diver swimming behind, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Yellowspot emperor (Gnathodentex aurolineatus), shoaling with Yellowfin goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis), with diver swimming behind, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Diver behind crinoid / feather star (Comasteridae), Papua New Guinea, Oceania - Roberto Rinaldi

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Roberto Rinaldi / Diver behind crinoid / feather star (Comasteridae), Papua New Guinea, Oceania

Diver viewing coral reef with Featherstars, Tonga, Melanesia, Pacific - Jurgen Freund

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Jurgen Freund / Diver viewing coral reef with Featherstars, Tonga, Melanesia, Pacific

Blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena qenie), schooling, with scuba divers swimming behind, Palau, Micronesia. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena qenie), schooling, with scuba divers swimming behind, Palau, Micronesia.

Split level image of schooling Scissortail sergeant fish (Abudefduf sexfaciatus) and snorkeler, Snorkel beach, Nanuya Island, Fiji. Model released - Michele Westmorland

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Michele Westmorland / Split level image of schooling Scissortail sergeant fish (Abudefduf sexfaciatus) and snorkeler, Snorkel beach, Nanuya Island, Fiji. Model released