Joel BergsmaUnderwater photographer · Expedition diver

Palau07°21'N 134°29'EJan 201111 photos

Nautilus Dive

This is a specialty dive offered by Sam's Tours. The tour operator raises Nautiluses from 200m and allows divers, for a time, to photograph Nautiluses temporarily given to them.

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Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. We were told that each Nautilus diving day the Nautiluses are brought up slowly from 200 meters. After the dive, they are returned to that depth and released. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. Divemaster Kostas reaches around an eel to grab a Nautilus raised from 200 meters below. The Nautiluses (and eel) were lured into the cage by a frozen chicken lowered and left in the cage overnight. We were told that this dive is environmentally sustainable and does not harm the Nautilus. Occasionally an eel hitches a ride along with the Nautiluses, as it did on our day of diving. See Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. We let our nautilus's float in front of us to try to coax them out of their shell. I am beginning that process in this photo. Note the shell's white bottom and irregularly striped top, as well as its "leathery hood formed from two specially folded tentacles." Wikipedia 2011. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. “A nautilus can withdraw completely into its shell and close the opening with a leathery hood formed from two specially folded tentacles." Wikipedia. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.
Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. "When seen from above, the shell is darker in color and marked with irregular stripes, which helps it blend into the dark water below. The underside (shown here) is almost completely white, making the nautilus indistinguishable from brighter waters near the surface. … The nautilus shell presents one of the finest natural examples of a logarithmic spiral.” Wikipedia. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. The hood lifts, and the tentacles emerge further. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. Close up of the eye and emerging tentacles. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. Another closeup. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.
Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. Another close up of the eye and drawn in tentacles. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. My Nautilus begins to emerge. Note the eye, folded tentacles under its brown spotted hood, and, at bottom, an exhaust tentacle tube that it uses to expel water and swim. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.Emporer Nautilus aka Chambered Nautilus. Close up. Paul Humann, et al, Reef Creature Identification (2010), page 405.