Diver Name

Megumi Itoh

Social Media Coordinator / Instructor / Illustrator

Location: Temple City, CA
Hometown: Temple City, CA

I got certified in summer of 2008. I started taking pictures underwater to help me remember what I saw on my dives so I can write them down in my dive log. Since then, I've upgraded my camera from a small point and shoot camera to a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens. Some people want to see the big things like sharks and sea turtles. I delight in looking for small creatures underwater, especially nudibranchs. There are so much colors under the sea!

Megumi's Underwater Photographs

January 6, 2014

Flabellinopsis Iodinea (Spanish Shawl)
at Santa Rosa Island
Yes, they are one of the most commonly seen nudibranch in So Cal, but they are so stunning!

Flabellinopsis Iodinea (Spanish Shawl) at Santa Rosa Island Yes, they are one of the most commonly seen nudibranch in So Cal, but they are so stunning!

Flabellinopsis Iodinea (Spanish Shawl)
at Farnsworth Bank

Flabellinopsis Iodinea (Spanish Shawl) at Farnsworth Bank

Simnia at Santa Cruz Island (9-14-14)
Look for them when you see red gorgonians!

Simnia at Santa Cruz Island (9-14-14) Look for them when you see red gorgonians!

another shot of the Yellowfin (or Orange) Fringehead
I saw an orange blob when I swam over a reef rock and knew I had to stop and look at it more carefully.

another shot of the Yellowfin (or Orange) Fringehead I saw an orange blob when I swam over a reef rock and knew I had to stop and look at it more carefully.

Who says barnacles are not pretty?

Who says barnacles are not pretty?

Blue ringed topsnail - looks like enamel jewelry

Blue ringed topsnail - looks like enamel jewelry

Chestnut cowry

Chestnut cowry

Crevice kelpfish

Crevice kelpfish

Hermissenda opalescens another relatively common nudibranch, but very pretty

Hermissenda opalescens another relatively common nudibranch, but very pretty

Austraeolis stearnsi

Austraeolis stearnsi

Live sand dollars on the sea floor

Live sand dollars on the sea floor

Okenia rosacea (Hopkin's rose) from Anacapa Island 7/11/15

Okenia rosacea (Hopkin's rose) from Anacapa Island 7/11/15

Peltodoris Mullineri (Mulliner's dorid) at Santa Cruz Island 9/30/16

Peltodoris Mullineri (Mulliner's dorid) at Santa Cruz Island 9/30/16

Zebra Goby - they are so skittish it's hard to take a good picture of them

Zebra Goby - they are so skittish it's hard to take a good picture of them

Felimare californiensis var. A (California blue dorid ) with eggs from Santa Cruz Island 9/30/16

Felimare californiensis var. A (California blue dorid ) with eggs from Santa Cruz Island 9/30/16

Jorunna pardus (leopard dorid) from Gull Island 5/12/18

Jorunna pardus (leopard dorid) from Gull Island 5/12/18

Navanax inermis from Gull Island 5/12/18

Navanax inermis from Gull Island 5/12/18

Polycera tricolor (three colored nudibranch) from Gull Island 5/12/18
First time I've ever seen this one.

Polycera tricolor (three colored nudibranch) from Gull Island 5/12/18 First time I've ever seen this one.

Teeny weeny Tritonia festiva (diamond back nudibranch). I was looking for simnia and found this little baby nudi instead

Teeny weeny Tritonia festiva (diamond back nudibranch). I was looking for simnia and found this little baby nudi instead

Berthella californica (California sidegill) from Santa Barbara Island 8/25-26/18
Not very flashy, but very elegant sea slug

Berthella californica (California sidegill) from Santa Barbara Island 8/25-26/18 Not very flashy, but very elegant sea slug

Orange throated pike blenny - We made it to the Pelican Reserve on Nov 3, 2018 on the Explorer. I searched all over without luck. I led my group back to the boat and then decided to go down to the reef just under the boat for one last look. I was about to give up when I spotted this little guy poking his head out.

Orange throated pike blenny - We made it to the Pelican Reserve on Nov 3, 2018 on the Explorer. I searched all over without luck. I led my group back to the boat and then decided to go down to the reef just under the boat for one last look. I was about to give up when I spotted this little guy poking his head out.

Hilton's aeolid (Phidiana hiltoni) is another one of those nudibranchs you sometimes see in the northern Channel Islands. Funny thing is, a lot of the times you don't see them at all, but other times they are all over the place!

Hilton's aeolid (Phidiana hiltoni) is another one of those nudibranchs you sometimes see in the northern Channel Islands. Funny thing is, a lot of the times you don't see them at all, but other times they are all over the place!

Many people are surprised to see that there are so much color in the local California waters. We have some of the most flamboyant creatures around like the brightly colored Spanish Shawl!

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