Astrospartus mediterraneus Paramuricea clavata intotheblue.it-2023-03-26-16h41m14s737
18
18:32

Astrospartus mediterraneus & Paramuricea clavata

In this amazing dive among Paramuricea clavata, red Gorgonian, we met numerous Gorgon starfish, Basket star or Astrospartus mediterraneus. We are on a rocky bottom between 49 and 52 meters deep, where we have encountered various species of fish and marine species such as sponges, red scorpionfish, Anthias anthias, red mullet, coocko wrasse and more. ...
T_Aplysia depilans Sea hare Lepre di mare -2023-03-23-17h06m11s954
15
10:18

Aplysia depilans - Sea hare

We publish another encounter with the Sea hare, Aplysia depilans, this time which took place on a depth of about 42/45 meters. We are on a not very high rock wall about 4/5 miles from the coast where, due to the now increasingly present mucillage, animals and marine organisms seem to have disappeared. ...
Brown meagre ‘s hole La buca delle corvine Sciaena -2023-03-21-16h05m43s783
15
07:28

Brown meagre's hole II

We went back to dive in one of the holes where we are sure to meet Brown meagre, Sciaena umbra.. We often dive into the same holes not only because we are sure of filming particular species of fish, but also in some way to try to monitor the health of our sea and the biodiversity that we increasingly hope to find. ...
mediterranea Savalia savaglia and Paramuricea clavata gold coral and violescent sea-whip www.intotheblue.it-2023-02-14-15h09m24s700
15
08:56

Mediterranean coral reef

The Savalia savaglia, commonly known as gold coral, is a species colonial in the family Parazoanthidae. This organism is commonly called "false black coral". It owes its name to its ability to produce a dark-colored horny skeleton, usually blackish. The colonies are generally settled on pre-existing gorgonians skeletons and can grow with ramifications that far exceed one meter in length. The polyps of this coral have six tentacles which is why the species is part of Hexacorallia group. They are bright yellow or whitish, and very large and showy (2-3 cm high), similar to those of Parazoanthus axinellae. Sprout very well from the tissue that lines the skeleton (coenenchyme) and have available alternates, showing smooth tentacles. The polyps do not fall as those of other species but can retract and close in on themselves.
Spugna cornea Demosponge Porifera Demospongiae www.intotheblue.it -2021-11-26-18h23m18s099
13
02:22

Demosponge

Demosponges are the most diverse class in the phylum Porifera. They include 76.2% of all species of sponges with nearly 8,800 species worldwide (World Porifera Database). Sponges, contrary to what one might think at first sight, are very simple multicellular animal organisms very similar in shape and appearance to plant organisms. There are no apparatus in the sponges and there is no trace of a nervous system.
T_Black squat lobster Galathea squamifera-2023-03-09-21h42m31s673
10
13:57

Galathea - Galathea squamifera

We are in one of the many underwater caves of the Mediterranean Sea where the colors of the red coral, Corallium rubrum and Yellow cluster anemone, Parazoanthus-axinellae, explode in a splendid show that we can only find in caves. However, the caves are also the ideal habitat for many species of crustaceans such as the Galathea, Galathea squamifera, and the cave crab, Herbstia condyliata. ...
Grotta con Margherita di mare – Cave with Yellow cluster Anemone – Parazoanthus axinellae – www.intotheblue.it -2021-11-27-21h39m30s595
11
06:37

Cave with Yellow cluster Anemone

I met these beautiful colonies of Parazoanthus axinellae during a snorkeling activity in the coastal caves of the island of Pantelleria. In my experience as a diver I have never encountered these sea daisies at almost surface level; evidently in this case the colony of Parazoanthus axinellae has found particularly favorable environmental conditions of light and sea currents
Unknown marine organism – Organismo marino sconosciuto – www.intotheblue.it -2023-02-16-17h31m32s980
11
03:47

Unknown marine organism

During a scuba dive in a beautiful Mediterranean coral reef of Savalia savaglia and Paramuricea clavata, at a depth between 72 and 76 meters, I met this unknown marine organism for the first time. Curiosity prompted me to carry out a series of searches to understand precisely what I was dealing with. Research has not yielded a satisfactory answer. The questions I asked myself were many. Based on my experience of many years of scuba diving it could be an animal belonging to the phylum Prorifera.