From the land to the sea

Well, I should probably have included the skies in the title, because for this week's Qurator's Photo Quest the title is Animals... and we can find them roaming the skies too! But since I usually post about our #featheredfriends, I decided to leave winged creatures out of this post and focus on all the other fascinating creatures that share this planet with us.

I've been blessed to have seen dozens of different species in the wild, although I'm kind of guilty for actively searching for them, since watching wildlife is one of my biggest passions and a big reason on why I travel and choose my travel locations.

Insects is likely the class I'm less fond of, but even there we can find very interesting animals; contrasting, reptiles are probably the ones that fascinate me the most. That's why I won the day when I found a green basilisk for the first time (the one in the first photo). But hey, I'm pretty easy: show me basically any species for the first time and I'll likely be thrilled (and for the second and third time too...)

Seeing wild crocodiles was also a motive to celebrate, although I wasn't that near of this american crocodile as I was of the basilisk; a healthy distance should be kept between you and something that can easily kill you.

Even if it can't kill you, respecting all wildlife is a must; harassing animals just to take a photo, or trying to capture them for the same reason, is to be avoided. One of the best advices on this topic was given to my by one of my first dive instructors, when explaining how to behave during a dive: If it looks too beautiful, too ugly, or doesn't run away when you get near... DON'T TOUCH IT!! Contemplate, be happy because you are lucky to see it, and leave it alone. And talking about dives, off to the sea part!

Yep, because watching wildlife below sea level is also one of my hobbies. Scuba diving is awesome, and if you think that most of the world is underwater... why not learn to explore that part a little bit? The animals you can find underwater are just as incredible as the land ones.

And sometimes, even more! Some more elusive, some ever present... and others hiding in plain sight! Underwater as in dry land, we have to keep our eyes open and be very attentive, because sometimes what we're trying to find is just under our noses...

So? Did you spot the scorpionfish? ;)

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