Underwater Wonders

Very low tides expose an amazing collection of rocks and worn seastacks, and in these rocks live an equally amazing array of aquatic plants and animals.  Typically covered with water, this complex community normally goes unseen by our terrestrial eyes. 

Vibrant seastars are certainly the “stars” of this show, but there is so much more to be seen here.  Vast colonies of anemones, mussels, and barnacles cling to these rocks; when the water returns, they’ll open like petals of a flower to resume feeding on planktonic organisms in the sea.  Snails, crabs, and small fish hide among the rocks and tidepools, scurrying for cover as I approach. Algae of every color anchor themselves in the nooks and crannies of these rocks. It’s beach life at its best.

Taken at Cannon Beach, Oregon