• A grumpy cardinal fish.
    A grumpy cardinal fish.
  • An upside down jelly fish.
    An upside down jelly fish.
  • A juvenile striped eel catfish forming a ball-shapped school near Salaha Island in the Western Region.
    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.
    The conservation group is working to raise awareness about how rubbish in the oceans is changing underwater ecosystems.
  • Arabian Angelfish in the Western Region.
    Arabian Angelfish in the Western Region.
  • A juvenile Arabian Angelfish swima with a school of black-spot snappers.
    A juvenile Arabian Angelfish swima with a school of black-spot snappers.
  • A school of cardinal fish seeking sanctuary in a seagrass bed.
    A school of cardinal fish seeking sanctuary in a seagrass bed.
  • A seapony in stealth mode, hiding between seagrass blades.
    A seapony in stealth mode, hiding between seagrass blades.
  • Seagrass meadows are important habitats for many crustaceans.
    Seagrass meadows are important habitats for many crustaceans.
  • An Arabian Damselfish and a bluespotted dotty back playing ‘hide and seek’ around a brain coral.
    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 in the Western Region.
  • The black tip reef sharks patrolling the waters of Jarnain Island.
    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
    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.
    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).
    A juvenile Hawksbill turtle struggling to stay afloat due to the barnacle infestation on its (shell).
  • Headshot of a Hawksbill turtle.
    Headshot of a Hawksbill turtle.
  • A dead dugong wrapped in a fishermen’s net.
    A dead dugong wrapped in a fishermen’s net.
  • A lesser crested tern in Al Mirfa.
    A lesser crested tern in Al Mirfa.

Environment

Exploring Abu Dhabi’s underwater world - in pictures

Fatima Al Marzouqi

September 11, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

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

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