The problem with Marine Reserves is the average person only sees the surface of the sea, they don't have the privilege of seeing just what is underneath. The west coast doesn't have the visibility of the east coast most of the time, but on a good day such as we had recently, the diving was fantastic. Callum Lilley took these great shots at Saddleback Island off New Plymouth during exceptional conditions last month. We could see each other from more than 15 metres away. The shell is the operculum (or door, like a catseye) to a cook's turban shell. The spotted animal is called a clown nudibranch, a type of sea slug. Nudibranch means 'naked gills' and you can see the gills on its back. Next time you look at the sea, just think for a moment about what might be beneath.
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