Photo of the Week: Black Sea Nettle Jellyfish on the USS Hogan Wreck

Regular readers are by now aware of my obsession with the black sea nettle jellyfish. I worked a dive charter a few weeks ago and spotted my first black sea nettle of the summer from the confines of the boat. It was all over–from that moment on, I lived and breathed black sea nettles. (Seriously: it’s a sickness. We even slow down the boat so we can stare/go around/not shred them with the props.)

Despite my best efforts, I’ve yet to discern a pattern as to when the black sea nettles will pop up. Sometimes I see them when the kelp is lying down in a stiff current, and other times I spot one on the calmest of days. Sometimes I see them on the wrecks. I just have no idea, which only fuels my rampant obsession. Maybe I will see a sea nettle on this dive. I’d better shoot wide-angle in case I see a sea nettle on this dive. I’m going to shoot macro, but if I see a sea nettle, I’m going to get some close-up shots.

Like I said. Major obsession.

Basically all I want to see right now are black sea nettles, even if, like this one, they’ve seen better days. This one isn’t long for this world now that it’s tangled on the USS Hogan wreck. Too bad, because it’s enormous. And beautiful.

And my favorite thing ever.

(Settings: f/9 at 1/40 sec, ISO 400, with my Tokina AF 10-17mm Fisheye Lens.)