Explore spectacular imagery of the sanctuary—from photos and videos highlighting several featured sanctuary wildlife and habitats. This page provides public domain images for free download and use. The required credit for each image is provided below.
There's a lot to see and do for sanctuary visitors—from incredible wildlife supported by diverse ecosystems to exciting recreational opportunities. Credit: NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Explore Earth is Blue video shorts, Stories from the Blue, and 360° virtual dive images of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Leather sea stars do not have spines on their skin like most other sea stars. Photo: Chad King/NOAA
Black turnstones use their short, pointed bill to pry barnacles and limpets from rocks. Photo: Amity Wood/NOAA
Northern elephant seals are abundant in the sanctuary, with large rookeries at Año Nuevo and Piedras Blancas beaches. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA
The threatened Southern sea otter is often seen floating on their backs, wrapped in the thick kelp when resting or grooming. Photo: Amity Wood/NOAA
Gray whales make one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal, traveling through the sanctuary twice per year between their feeding and breeding grounds. Photo: David Weller/NOAA
Pacific harbor seals can haul out on rocks, or sheltered beaches, but they spend about 85% of the day diving. Photo: Amity Wood/NOAA
California hydrocoral thrives in the sanctuary where swift currents occur, such as Carmel Bay. Photo: Chad King/NOAA
Schools of blue rockfish are seen swimming in kelp forests. Photo: Chad King/NOAA
A pod of long-beaked common dolphins surfacing in the sanctuary. Photo: Chad King/NOAA
Risso's dolphins are known for their gregarious behaviors and body markings, often seen in pairs or larger pods. Photo: Wendy Miller/NOAA
Brown sea nettles are passive swimmers at the mercy of the currents, and often concentrate in large numbers during certain seasons during the year. Photo: Chad King/NOAA
In Monterey Bay, California sea lions are abundant during the summer months, but vary year to year due the prey availability. Photo: Amity Wood/NOAA
Local tide pools can be occupied by a diversity of invertebrates, including ochre stars and green anemones. Photo: NOAA
A yellowtail rockfish seen among California hydrocoral, sponges, and urchins in the sanctuary. Photo: Chad King/NOAA
Snowy egrets walk upright with their wings held close to their body, allowing them to make quick directional changes to better catch prey. Photo: Amity Wood/NOAA
The SIMoN Photo Library contains thousands of digital images of animals, habitats, locations, and issues of Monterey Bay, Greater Farallones, and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries.
NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries publishes a yearly magazine in print and electronic formats.
