"Island Paradise" Cayman Islands illustrating a juvenile Garilbaldi safely

illustrating a juvenile Garilbaldi safely nestled in the protection of its California Kelp Forest home

Brett was the world record holder in the constant weight category of competitive freediving and Spot the dolphin was a full time resident of Cayman Brac

Stretching out their spiny arms

The fins of the juveniles are far more graceful than those of the adults

"Island Paradise" Cayman Islands illustrating a juvenile Garilbaldi safelyThis photo required a lot of work. I stood on the roof of a liveaboard dive boat in the blistering heat while we circled Grace Island in Papua New Guinea. Coral heads on the bottom of the clear sea added dimension to the photo, as I intentionally kept the island in the background to give the impression that this paradise is the "forbidded fruit". Michael ONeill is a freelance photographer and writer specializing in travel and natural history subjects,