Protect Pitcairn

An Underwater Bounty

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Projects: Global Ocean Legacy Pitcairn & Global Ocean Legacy
Protect Pitcairn

In the last 3 weeks National Geographic visited the four islands and atolls in the Pitcairn Archipelago (Pitcairn, Ducie, Henderson, and Oeno). They conducted 384 individual dives, spending a total of over 450 person-hours underwater.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
In the early hours of morning, Pitcairn Island came into view. As Enric Sala put it, "Surrounded by mist and rain, it resembled nothing more than a long-lost treasure island."
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
In earlier generations, Pitcairners were almost all practicing Seventh Day Adventists, holding Saturday as the Sabbath day, and shunning shellfish as a food source. Today, slipper lobsters and huge crayfish are eaten by many, as well as traded and sold to passing ships.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
St Paul's Pool is a natural tidal pool on the east side of Pitcairn Island. The clear waters of the pool make it an ideal place to spot reef fish, mudskippers and seabirds.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
Oeno Island lies 128 km (80 miles) North north-west of Pitcairn, and (along with Ducie, the fourth island in the Pitcairn group) is one of the most southerly coral atolls in the world.
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Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
Against the pale pinks and browns of coral and algae, it is easy to see how this vibrant fish got its name, though from this angle you could also imagine its name being something like Ulysses J. Angelfish III, what with its blue markings bearing such a striking resemblance to a comic strip monocle.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
With persistence and patience we found very abundant carnivores including groupers with all the colors of a peacock.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
Diving legend and NG Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle says that groupers have as much personality as dogs. I always just took her word for it until getting here and noticing all of us saying similar things. Step into the water and they swim right up to you, with those big eyes looking right at you, clearly curious, clearly wondering how you fit in to their little world.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
This triggerfish may have a comical appearance, but the wavelike motion of its fins and the peaceful inter-species partnership it’s displaying with the cleaner fish below its eyes add an unexpected level of beauty and inspiration.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
The fairy terns are ever overhead, mobbing us as we walk through their zone.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
The expedition team encountered a school of curious red snappers.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
Squirrelfish Sargocentron and goatfish Parupeneus sheltering within a shallow cave at Henderson.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
The pristine coral reef of Ducie atoll with abundant populations of grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
A new species of octopus not yet described by scientists at Oeno atoll, one of the most southerly coral atolls in the world.
Enric Sala Enric Sala/National Geographic
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Topics
Ocean Conservation
Projects
Global Ocean Legacy Pitcairn Global Ocean Legacy
Places
United Kingdom South Pacific Pacific Ocean

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