A galaxy of hard corals. From my first dive here in Kingman Reef to my most recent (about an hour ago), this is the best way to describe this incredible place. After 15 consecutive days in the water (perhaps 50 plus hours), I still cannot believe the pristine condition of these corals. Vibrant colors of pink, lavender, and green abound in every direction. As of yet, I have not seen sand, as the entire bottom is covered entirely with corals. While there are not the massive fish schools typically associated with healthy reefs (reef fish stocks here are thinned by large number of predators), my senses are overloaded with color and texture in these incredibly rich seascapes.

I have also been amazed at the fact that I have seen sharks on every single dive. They only occasionally come close, but are ever-present, swimming nearby. And massive numbers of Red snapper are seen on every dive as well. The snappers are far more bold and aggressive towards us than the sharks. One actually bit my ear during a dive the other day! Gray Reef sharks, Whitetip Reef sharks, and the snapper patrol these reefs day and night. In my 30 years of diving I have been privileged to see incredible things underwater and share many wonderful encounters. But rarely, if ever, have I been in a place this remote, this pristine, where nature is still in control and things are as they should be-natural.

I came to Kingman directly from a National Geographic magazine assignment in New Zealand's Auckland Islands (sun Antarctic islands), where I was photographing Southern Right Whales. The extreme differences between diving in the sub Antarctic with 70 ton whales and Kingman Reef, where I am shooting seascapes and tiny animals, has been interesting as well. After 40 collective days at sea between the two trips, I am beginning to forget what terra firma looks like, not to mention things like television! But the rhythm here is peaceful and with each day promise awaits. I prep my camera, gather my dive gear, and head off in a small boat wondering what may be seen today.

I look forward to my last three days here and to peeling back another layer or two of the mysteries that intrigue us about exactly what makes a pristine reef system tick. More than likely, the things we see will only raise more questions ....

–Brian Skerry, National Geographic magazine photographer

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