Exploring Abu Dhabi’s underwater world - in pictures

A grumpy cardinal fish.

An upside down jelly fish.

A juvenile striped eel catfish forming a ball-shapped school near Salaha Island in the Western Region.

The conservation group is working to raise awareness about how rubbish in the oceans is changing underwater ecosystems.

Arabian Angelfish in the Western Region.

A juvenile Arabian Angelfish swima with a school of black-spot snappers.

A school of cardinal fish seeking sanctuary in a seagrass bed.

A seapony in stealth mode, hiding between seagrass blades.

Seagrass meadows are important habitats for many crustaceans.

An Arabian Damselfish and a bluespotted dotty back playing ‘hide and seek’ around a brain coral.

The black tip reef sharks patrolling the waters of Jarnain Island in the Western Region.

The black tip reef sharks patrolling the waters of Jarnain Island.

A Blue Tail Boxfish, also known as an Arabian Boxfish, hiding between Abu al Abyad’s corals. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Marine Conservation Group

Golden trevally foraging in the shallows of Sir Bani Yas Island.

A juvenile Hawksbill turtle struggling to stay afloat due to the barnacle infestation on its (shell).

Headshot of a Hawksbill turtle.

A dead dugong wrapped in a fishermen’s net.

A lesser crested tern in Al Mirfa.

Emirati sisters Maitha and Shamsa Al Hameli formed the Abu Dhabi Marine Conservation Group, which is aimed at raising community awareness about the future of the UAE’s marine environment. They group recently acquired an ­underwater camera that they ­deploy in UAE waters to record the local fish species. All photos: Courtesy Abu Dhabi Marine Conservation Group