Mark Carwardine / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aerial view of juvenile with two people swimming alongside, La Paz Bay, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico, March 2009

Mark Carwardine / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aerial view of juvenile with two people swimming alongside, La Paz Bay, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico, March 2009

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) blowing, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, Endangered species

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) fluking, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, Endangered species

Mark Carwardine / Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) fluking, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, Endangered species

Mark Carwardine / California sealions (Zalophus californianus), one in water with other sitting on rock, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) swimming fast, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) near surface, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) porpoising swimming fast, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Smoothtail Ray / Mobula (Mobula thurstoni) flying out of the water, Baja California, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of adult female Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico (Pacific coast), Endangered species

Steven Kazlowski / Crew bleeds a full deckload of Pacific cod fish (Gadidae family) before putting them in salt water tanks, on the fishing trawler Western Dawn, Gulf of Alaska, USA. No release available.

Claudio Contreras / Grayish Mouse Opossum (Tlacuatzin canescens), Maria Magdalena Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, June.

Claudio Contreras / Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), El Requeson, Gulf of California, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, December.

Jeff Rotman / Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) caught in gill net, observed by diver at night, Huatampo, Mexico, Gulf of California, Pacific Ocean. Model released. May 2008.

Claudio Contreras / Tres Marias Rabbit (Sylvilagus graysoni) in profile. Maria Magdalena Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, June. Endangered.

Claudio Contreras / Tres Marias Rabbit (Sylvilagus graysoni). Maria Madre Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, July. Endangered.

Claudio Contreras / Mexican / Brown Vine Snake (Oxybelis aeneus) with mouth open. Maria Madre Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, June.

Alex Mustard / Banded jawfish (Opistognathus macrognathus) male incubating eggs in mouth, which are at a late stage of development and will soon be ready for release. West Palm Beach, Gulf Stream, West Atlantic Ocea...

Eric Baccega / Portrait of Harp seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup, Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, March 2012

Eric Baccega / Tourist watching Harp seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup on sea ice, Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, March 2012. Model released.

Eric Baccega / Female Harp seal (Phoca groenlandicus) surfacing at a breathing hole in the sea ice, Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, March 2012

Eric Baccega / Portrait of Harp seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup on sea ice, Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, March 2012

Eric Baccega / Female Harp seal (Phoca groenlandicus) touching noses with her pup, Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, March 2012

Eric Baccega / Portrait of Harp seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup, Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, March 2012

Inaki Relanzon / Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), eating krill and plankton at the surface. Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, North America, August.

Jenny E. Ross / Harp seal pup (Phoca groenlandicus) with white coat on the sea ice. Gulf of St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, Canada. March

Kevin Schafer / Fork-tailed storm-petrel (Oceanodroma furcata) flying low over water, Gulf of Alaska, Alaska, USA, September

Gerrit Vyn / Flock of oiled Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) on a beach behind an oil covered containment boom. This nesting colony is the largest in Louisiana and was heavily contaminated by the BP Deepwat...

Gerrit Vyn / Aerial view of oiled bird nesting colonies in Barataria Bay area of the Mississippi River delta, with oil spill containment booms attempting to prevent more oil coming ashore. These waters are contami...

Gerrit Vyn / Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) juvenile, heavily oiled as a result of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Baldwin County, Alabama. USA, June 2010.

Gerrit Vyn / Human footprint and oiled beach from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Baldwin County, Alabama. USA, June 2010.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Head portrait of Gulf Coast Ribbon snake (Thamnophis proximus orarius) covered in duckweed and swimming, with tongue protruding, Fennessey Ranch, Refugio, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend, Texas Coast, U...

Hiroya Minakuchi / Cardon (Pachycereus pringlei) cactus, Santa Catalina Island, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Hiroya Minakuchi / Cardon (Pachycereus pringlei) cacti, Santa Catalina Island, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Hiroya Minakuchi / Cardon (Pachycereus pringlei) cacti, Santa Catalina Island, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Hiroya Minakuchi / Cardon (Pachycereus pringlei) cacti, Santa Catalina Island, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Claudio Contreras / Male Brown booby (Sula leucogaster) in flight, Isabel Island National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico, March

David Shale / Cameraman and photographer David Shale photographing deep sea animals in tanks at sea on Seward Johnson cruise to the Gulf of Maine in 2005. Model released, no property release available.

Suzi Eszterhas / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Michael Pitts / Lighthouse at dusk in the Gulf of Gujarat, North West India

Jack Dykinga / Aerial view of alluvial patterns in the Upper Gulf and Colorado Delta Biosphere Preserve, El Golfo, Baja California, Mexico

David Shale / Deepsea cirrate octopod (Stauroteuthis syrtensis) 830m, Gulf of Maine, Atlantic

David Shale / Tentacles of deepsea medusa jellyfish (Atolla manubrium) Gulf of Maine, Atlantic

David Shale / Deepsea Anthomedusa {Pandea rubra} Gulf of Maine, Atlantic

David Shale / Deepsea cirrate octopod {Stauroteuthis syrtensis} 830m, Gulf of Maine, Atlantic

David Shale / Deepsea squid {Octopoteuthis megaptera} Gulf of Maine, Atlantic

David Shale / Paper argonaut (Argonauta sp) Gulf of Mexico, deep sea species

Tui De Roy / Danzante Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Tui De Roy / Cardon (Pachycereus pringlei) cactus, Santa Catalina Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Doug Perrine / Kemp's ridley turtle {Lepidochelys kempii} hatchlings head for the sea after release from protected nests, Rancho Nuevo, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico 2002

Doug Perrine / Corral of nests of Kemp's ridley turtle {Lepidochelys kempii} each nest is fenced and covered to protect from predators and flies, Rancho Nuevo, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico 2002

Doug Allan / Harp seals {Phoca groenlandicus} males underwater, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Canada

Todd Pusser / False killer whale {Pseudorca crassidens} Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean

Mitsuaki Iwago / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) resting on snow, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) mother surfacing at ice hole to tend to her newborn pup, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Rolf Nussbaumer / Sun setting over Gulf of Mexico, Florida, USA.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Mass of juvenile Gulf coast ribbon snakes {Thamnophis proximus orarius} Texas, USA

Patricio Robles Gil / Cardon (Pachycereus pringlei) cactus, Esp?ritu Santo Island, Gulf of California, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) perched on rocks and cactus on San Pedro Martir Island, Gulf of California, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) aerial view of mother and calf swimming near the surface in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) non-breeding bird resting on one leg on shore, spring, Gulf of Mexico, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

Mike Parry / Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) underwater view of swimming hatchling, Huon Gulf, Papua New Guinea

Thomas Mangelsen / Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) close up of group leaping, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Norbert Wu / Humboldt Squid (Dosidicus gigas) reaches five feet and 50 pounds, a voracious carnivore, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Hiroya Minakuchi / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) surfacing to breath, largest animal on earth, Sea Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Hiroya Minakuchi / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) filter feeding, pleated throat expands during feeding, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Gerry Ellis / Aerial view of gulf coast region showing lowland tropical rainforest and winding rivers, Kikori Delta, Papua New Guinea

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Norbert Wu / Pacific Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) underwater, fastest fish, 68 miles per hour, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Tui De Roy / Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) resident adults in winter feeding grounds, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Tui De Roy / Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) resident adult at winter feeding grounds, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Flip Nicklin / Manta Ray (Manta birostris) Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico

Tui De Roy / Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) group tobogganing across vast distance of fast ice to nesting rookery, Kloa Point, Edward VIII Gulf, Antarctica

Mark Jones / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Jones / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mitsuaki Iwago / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup portrait, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Norbert Wu / Cone Snail (Conus dalli), Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Tui De Roy / California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) two juveniles playing underwater, La Isoltes, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Tui De Roy / California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) two juveniles playing underwater, La Isoltes, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Mitsuaki Iwago / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup sleeping, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Flip Nicklin / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Flip Nicklin / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Flip Nicklin / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) spouting, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) portrait, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) at breathing hole with newborn in background, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) surfacing at crack in ice near pup, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) mother and pup, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Flip Nicklin / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail underwater, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Flip Nicklin / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and researchers, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Flip Nicklin / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) aerial view of an 80 foot individual, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup camouflaged against ice field, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada

Michio Hoshino / Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandicus) pup portrait, Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada