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National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Enric Sala is setting off on his first big expedition of the year: to explore the remote islands of Desventuradas, hundreds of miles off the coast of Chile. Follow his adventures throughout the month.
23 February 2013
Our underwater cinematographer, Manu San Félix, has spent a lot of time under the sea: 7,000 dives in 32 years! Yet he has not seen everything; neither have I. Nature always have ways to surprise us. We were filming juvenile Juan Fernández lobsters (Jasus frontalis) – just three inches long – in their natural habitat, under the canopy of Eisenia kelps at San Ambrosio Island. All of a sudden, one little lobster jumped and landed on Manu’s mask. She seemed pretty comfortable there, so I had plenty of time to take a photograph. After a minute, the lobster jumped back under the kelp, and disappeared. Kelps provide an essential habitat for juvenile lobsters and many species of fishes. They are an underwater forest that helps make this place rich.
This expedition is supported by Blancpain and Davidoff Cool Water.
NEXT: The Sea Urchin and the Plastic Razor
The juvenile lobster returns nonchalantly to its kelp forest hideaway. (Photo by Enric Sala)
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