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Portrait of a marine iguana, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
 

Monterey Bay in California is a spectacular region, and there sure are a lot of great underwater photographers in the area! This week, we enjoy the work of another great Monterey-based shooter, Bruce Sudweeks, who—as you’d expect—showcases some of the classic local subjects. But Bruce doesn’t just dive locally: Among the fantastic shots featured here, you’ll find sand tigers from North Carolina, a jelly from Alaska, a seahorse from the Philippines, and a handsome marine iguana from the Galápagos—which was recognized by the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition.

Bruce says underwater photography is his biggest passion, and we here at DPG can certainly relate! He spends as much time as possible diving his home waters in Monterey, but if conditions aren’t favorable for diving, he can just as easily be found plying his trade in the creeks and rivers near his home in the redwoods (just check out the newt image). For Bruce, his closest and dearest neighbors aren’t people; they’re the steelhead trout that run in his creek!

Impressively, Bruce’s underwater images aren’t just posted on social media or buried on hard drives: He has published four children’s books, complete with original poetry, and he paints watercolors of his own underwater pictures. He also writes a monthly article in California Diving News about central California diving.
 

A school of blacksmith in the kelp, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A photographer observing a sand tiger shark surrounded by baitfish, North Carolina, USA
 

A beautiful egg yolk jellyfish, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Baitfish swirling around the crow’s nest of a sunken tug boat, North Carolina, USA
 

The annual sea nettle horde in Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A wild-looking spotted dorid, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A curious cormorant coming to check out the camera, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Backlit seahorse snowstorm, Dumaguete, Philippines
 

A lion’s mane jellyfish pulsating through the shallows of Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA
 

A sand tiger looming above a baitball, North Carolina, USA
 

California newts mating in a murky reservoir, California, USA
 

To see more of Bruce’s work from California and elsewhere, please check out his website, www.brucesudweeks.smugmug.com, and follow him on Instagram.