Welcome to the Little BrrMaid’s ofishal cold water gallery! You’ll find all my current photos as well as boatloads of facts, ID features, and tips on how to find these amazing critters for yourself!
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Aleutian Moon Snail. Cryptonatica aleutica.
For some reason I can go moons without finding one of these tiny babies. Then, suddenly, there are many!
Maybe they just go through… πππππPHASESπππππ
The Aleution Moon snail is beautiful, cute, but ferocious predator. It burrows in sand searching for food, mainly clams and other mollusks. Once they locate prey, they use their radula and an acid secretion to bore a hole into the shell and consume their dinner. Imagine if your tongue could spit acid that dissolved that plastic packaging around your favorite snack. It’s basically that.
Key ID Points π: A small, moon shaped shell up to 6cm, typically pale and slightly pink. The “foot” is white with mottled brown spots. It’s like a giant muscle and can be lifted like a “foot”. You can see in the photos how this muscle covers part of the shell, another key feature of a moon snail.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: The Aleutian Moon Snail seems to thrive on sand and subtidal zones. I’ve had lots of luck in both sand and eelgrass at Edmunds Underwater Park, Sunrise, Redondo…
How to Find π: I recommend taking a second look at every small round shell you see. More often than not they’re occupied by hermit crabs but sometimes you get lucky! Sandy substrates are the easiest place to find them in my experience.
Season π: Spring… at least that’s when I notice them most often.
Bluntnose sixgill shark. Hexanchus griseus.
Jaw-Some!
Some divers search for over 11 years before seeing a 6 gill. I was fortunate to see one my first year! The shark in this photo is a juvenile, and we believed her to be newly born.
6 gills are basically living fossils, belonging to the Hexanchidae family. They are related to modern day Dogfish sharks and Greenland sharks. They are also a deep water species, living at over 1,000 meters deep and migrating upwards to feed and reproduce in late summer. Here in Seattle, we have a chance of encountering them at Redondo and Three Tree during this time, although every year is different. I found my first 6 gill of 2023 at Alki Junkyard in West Seattle.
Key ID Points π: 6 gill slits. Most shark species only have 5. The 6 gill heard this and said… challenge accepted.
Their color ranges from light brown/tan to darker grey with a lighter underbelly. They have one dorsal fin (think the iconic JAWS fin) although its located further down their back than most sharks. Their tail is long, nearly 1/3 of their total length. The head is broad and flat, with striking blue or green eyes. Females are larger than the males, getting up to 14 feet (nearly the size of a Great White Shark!). Some sites list their life span as up to 80 years.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Redondo Beach, Washington is your best best. They have also been spotted at Three Tree, Whidbey Island, and Hood Canal.
How to Find π: Go deep. Go Late. Bring nitrox. At Redondo, we had the most encounters around the Black Pearl Wreck. After that it’s a matter of luck! Sometimes the most you see is a flash as the shark runs from your light. Other times she sneaks up on you on a noon dive on the 4th of July in West Seattle…
For more, check out my podcast where I made an entire episode on 6 Gill Shark Spotting tips
Season π: Late summer… sometimes. In 2022 and 2023 we had an incredible shark season! Before then, it had been years since anyone had sighted them. They arrived around late July and were gone early September.
Candy Striped Shrimp. Lebbeus grandimanus.
Starbursts and Stripes π¬ππ
Who can Resse-ist this neon diva? These pictures were taken at Edmunds Underwater Park where you can occasionally find them on crimson or plumose anemones. When I want to prove to people how beautiful and colorful Seattle critters are… these shrimp are a real Life Savers.
CSS appear to have a symbiotic relationship with Crimson Anemones. It is thought they consume waste from the anemone and are immune to its stinging cells. What does the anemone get? Possibly protection from other species but its not certain.
Key ID Points π: Tiny (less than 5 cm at most). Translucent body with yellow, red, and blue neon bands.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Skyline, WA aka “Candyland” is where divers routinely find them. They can occasionally be found mid to late spring at Edmunds Underwater Park. Through 2023 I’ve had the most luck at Mukilteo T-Dock.
How to Find π: Candy Striped Shrimp have a symbiotic relationship with anemones. The Crimson anemone appears to be their favorite. Anytime you see an anemone take a second look… finding a Candy Shrimp can be a real commit-mint.
Season π: Spring
Diamond Back Nudibranch. Tritonia festiva.
Common, but a GEM
The one that looks like a sparkle party from the top and a melting alien with a dope mustache from the front. Although common, the Diamond Back Nudi is always a welcome find. Their diet includes sea pens, and watching them eat can be uniquely hilarious. Like the White Lined Dirona, their bodies can appear in different shades depending on their diet.
Key ID Points π: Up to 13 cm, with a translucent white/pink body. Larger ones have a diamond print pattern on their back, with two lines of floofy pom poms lining each side. Their face has a mustache to rival the most hardcore New York Hipster.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Most dive sites. Spring at Alki Junkyard is especially busy.
How to Find π: Look down.
Season ππ: Year Round
Golden Dirona. Dirona aurantia.
Ready for Another Au-some Nudi?
This one is the Gold standard! Growing up to 12 cm long, the Golden Dirona is found from Alaska and Puget Sound, and the North Sea of Japan to Russia. A striking orange/yellow color, their bodies are accented with white spots and “inflated” looking cerata with white frosted tips. Unfortunately they aren’t the most common. I find them only occasionally, usually deeper at sites ranging from West Seattle to Whidbey Island.
For some reason, I usually find them in pairs of 2. You know what they say, make new friends but keep the old….
Key ID Points π: Deep golden orange cerata (spiky spikies) with frosted white tips. White spots on front. Up to 12 cm long.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: I’ve had best luck at Cove 2, Alki Junkyard, and Skyline
How to Find π: Look
Season ππ: Year Round οΌ?οΌ
Grunt Sculpin. Rhamphocottus richardsonii.
What’s a Grunt Sculpin’s Favorite Beer? A Hop-py IPA πΊ
A fish that doesn’t know how to be a fish.
Found from southern California to the Bearing Sea, the Grunt Sculpin lives in a variety of habitats including kelp forests, sandy beaches, and rocky bottoms.
Instead of swimming, the Grunt Sculpin “hops” on its fins as its primary locomotion. It also is known to make grunting sounds, hence the name. During mating season, the orange coloring becomes incredibly vibrant. Depending on the environment, it appears Grunt Sculpins can change colors to match their environments. I’ve noticed Grunts at Keystone to be more pink than ones I’ve found at Three Tree which appear more tan.
One of Grunt’s most unique adaptions is their fins. Grunt Sculpin tails are translucent and resemble the feeding cirri of an acorn barnacle. In fact Grunts prefer to live in empty acorn barnacles, using their fins as camouflage.
Key ID Points π: Grunts must think a lot of themselves.. their heads are half their body! The head has two distinct ridges and a long snout with cirri (fuzzy looking fringe thingy) on their top lip. Their tails and fins are bright orange, which resemble the feet of an acorn barnacle.. making this fish a master of camouflage! Colors are generally black, white, and brown/tan with orange highlights. Length can reach up to 7 cm long.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: While not uncommon, I’ve had the best luck at Three Tree, Redondo Beach, and Keystone.
How to Find π: Check for them in acorn barnacles, in empty crab claws, anywhere they can cozy up and hide.
Season ππ: Year Round (?)
Hedgpethβs Sea Hare, Hedgpethβs Sapsucker. Elysia hedgpethi.
You’re… HARE! There’s NOTHING I FARE!
How is this beauty real? I’m always amazed when I spot one because of how well they blend into the environment. Along with their gorgeous dark green and yellow coloring, the Hedgpeth’s Sea Hare spots white and blue iridescent.. spots.
Looking like a leaf isn’t just a fashion statement… this sea hare used photosynthesis to eat. The Hedgpeth’s Sea Hare uses a single sharp tooth to slice open green algae and slurp out the chloroplast. Not only does the chloroplast give them their iconic color, but will continue to photosynthesize up to 10 days after being consumed.
Ever been on a green juice cleanse? These dudes invented it. Iconic. π₯¬π§π₯
Not only that, but when the Hedgpeth’s Sea Hare lays it eggs, the eggs will turn from white/beige to green as they began consuming green algae. Eggs are produced in a counterclockwise spiral reaching upwards of 6mm in diameter.
Key ID Points π: Dark green body with white and blue spots, reaching between 1-2″ in length. They have two leafy looking “flaps” on their back which can fold over the body or spread open like wings.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: I’ve only seen them at Cove 2 and Edmunds Underwater park. I’ve seen other divers post photos taken at Port Orchard.
How to Find π: Look for their food in intertidal to subtidal zones. If there is green algae, take a second look! Sometimes its easier for me to spot their eggs first since they lay their eggs on their food source.
Season π: Spring to Summer is the best time in my experience.
Hooded Nudibranch. Mel.ibe leonina.
The Mane Attraction of Eelgrass Beds
I get why they’re called “Lion’s Mane Nudi” but to me they look more like a Venus Fly Trap. Gorgeous but a bit eerie, with a large “hoodie” lined with tentacles. They use this hood like a Venus fly trap, opening and closing it like a net to trap prey. Hooded nudibranch are found mainly in eelgrass beds, an environment that provides protection as well as a hunting ground.
Hooded nudis also use their hood to help them “swim” …although I’m reminded more of that one drunk aunt at your second cousin’s wedding attempting the worm after too many glasses of bubbly. Despite this motion being awkward, they’re still fast enough to be challenging to capture in motion.
Key ID Points π: Translucent body and large oval “hood” with long tentacles. Hooded nudis can grow up to 10 cm long, sometimes appearing with translucent white spots. Apparently they also smell like watermelon but I’ve never tested this theory.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Any site with eelgrass beds. Edmunds Underwater Park is a great location in the late summer though fall.
How to Find π: Eelgrass beds. I’ve also had good luck on broad leaf kelp.
Season π: Late summer through fall is peak time.
Lingcod. Ophiodon elongatus.
In Cod We Trust
Lingcod are absolute underwater BEASTS. They can take out sharks (ok dogfish but still counts). They can take out birds that dare to fish the waters at Edmunds Underwater Park. They’ll go after divers who mess with their nests. Every so often while diving I’ll look down and realize I’m staring at a lingcod longer than me. Basically anything they can fit in their mouth is dinner, including large rockfish, octopuses, and herring.
Ranging along the west coast of North America, Lingcod can live up to 36 years and reach as long as 150 cm and 70 pounds. Some lingcod have a blue tint but this is on the rare side.
Key ID Points π: Large, lean, and spotted, with a mouth full of razor sharp teeth and zero f*#%s to give.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Edmunds Underwater Park is a marine park and HAVEN for Lingcod. They can be found at most other sites as well.
How to Find π: Look. Lingcod like vantage points where they can carefully consider which creature to f*#& with next.
Season ππ: Year Round.
Moss Landing Aeolid. Erberilla Mosslandica.
Pinkey Promise you’ll love this guy!
Why would a gorgeous translucent pink and white nudi be called a “Moss Landing”? Reasons. Personally the shape of the Moss Landing’s cerate (spiky scaly pokies) remind me of dragon scales!
For context: There are old Chinese legends about carp who attempts to swim upstream and leap over the dragons gate. If they make it, they ascend to heaven and transform into dragons. The scales you see on Chinese dragons are make to resemble carp scales because of this.
MLA range from California to Alaska, even found in Russia. They prefer sandy floors where they dig to search for dinner.
Key ID Points π: Translucent white body with pink hues. Apparently the darker pink colors are the digestive glands.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: I’ve only encountered them at Sunnyside Beach Park.
How to Find π: Shallow and sandy seafloors are your friend. MLA like to burrow. They also eat sea anemones so if you find these, you’ll probably find your nudi. Think pink and good luck!
Season ππ: Year Round (?)
Opalescent Nudibranch. Hermissenda crassicornis.
Orange You Gladπππ
The first time I saw one these my heart exploded. Basically it looks like a flaming rockstar and the vibrant iridescent orange never fails to amaze me.
Ranging from Baja California to Alaska, the Opalescent can grow up to 8 cm long, preferring to live in rocky areas. Their diet includes hydroids and bryozoans.
Opalescent Nudi Fact! They ingest stinging cells from their prey and store them in their cerata to use as a defense against predators! METAL πΈπ΅ riffffffffff π΅πΈ
Another Opalescent Nudi Fact! These guys are aggressive. If two decide to battle it out, they’ll begin to lunge at and bite the other. Winner gets to eat the loser. METAL πΈπ΅ riffffffffff π΅πΈ
Note! There are two Opalescent Nudibranch on the West Coast. Ours is the northern species, ranging from Alaska to Northern California. The southern species, H. opalescens, ranges from Northern California to Mexico. The difference? Ours have white lines on their cerata (floaty stringy caution ramen) while the southern species is solid orange with white tips.
Key ID Points π: Vibrant orange and white tipped tipped cerata (leafy leafy poke doos) and an orange racing stripe down their head. They also have two electric, translucent blue stripes on each side of their unique, v-ish shaped head.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Basically everywhere.
How to Find π: I’ve had great luck on brown broad leaf kelp, sandy bottoms, rocky surfaces, etc. They prey on hydroids and anemones so keep your eyes peeled when you come across them.
Season ππ: Year Round
Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker. Eumicrotremus orbis.
PSL are the Best Lumps!
Notice the latin name “Orbis”. It’s pretty accurate when you see this amazing fish. The Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker (lovingly known as “Lumpies” or “PSL”) is the equivalent of a chonky underwater bumblebee. Or a ping pong ball with fins. An armored underwater pineapple. It uses its “suckers” aka specialized pelvic fins to cling to kelp and rocks as it in an ineffective swimmer. Instead of scales, PSL’s are covered in cone shaped tubercles like armor. Females tend to have more plating then males.
Baby Lumpies are a whole new level of cute. They are the size of a grain of rice. See photo below. where you can see a baby lumpie at the end of my muk stick. Also notice in the photo how baby lumpies resemble tadpoles with a long tail that will disappear as they grow.
Lumpie season has two-ish parts, spring and fall. In Spring, baby lumpies begin appearing at sites like Keystone, Sunnyside Beach Park, Three Tree, and Redondo. The Fall season begins in Seattle around November (ish) and ends around March (ish). During this time, adult lumpies migrate to shallower waters to reproduce.
Key ID Points π: Lumpies are incredibly spherical with large eyes and plate like armor. Brown seems to be a more common color, but I’ve seen then in shades of white, red, pink, etc. Females tend to be more “spikey” like an underwater pineapple. The largest is the size of a golf ball, the tiniest is *checks notes* ridiculously small.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Redondo Beach on the south side, aka Lumpie Land. Three Tree, Keystone, Sunnyside are also great. Usually I find them in 20 feet of water or less, but also noted them as deep as 100 feet.
How to Find π: Brown broad leaf kelp is your friend! They also love to suction onto rocks and eelgrass. I’ve even found one inside an abandoned moon snail shell.
Season ππ: Spring and Fall
Pink Scallop. Chlamys rubida.
How do Seahorses Get Around?
They Scallop.
Yes, I realize there is the Spiny Pink Scallop and Smooth Pink one… and I’m not sure which this is because of the yellow sponge covering the shell. Let me know if you have any idea. Either way, I could spend literally hours photographing these amazing creatures. Its challenging to catch them open due to how shy they are, but so rewarding. Apparently they swim… but I’ve only seen it a couple times. I even tried politely asking but no luck.
Key ID Points π: Scallop shells grow up to 2″ diameter, with a distinctive round shape and up to 30 ridged originating from the center bottom of the shell. You can see distinctive thick, band shaped markings on the mantle. They look more “flat” than than clams which are more cup shaped. The protruding area on the bottom is known as an “ear”. If you look closely, you can see the eyes of the scallop among the tentacles it uses to catch its prey.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Many sites have scallops, including Cove 2 and the San Juan Islands. Les Devis is my favorite place to photograph them.
How to Find π: Go slow! Not just to spot them, but also because scallops are super shy and open ones make for the most incredible photographs.
Season ππ: Year Round
Red-Gilled Nudibranch. Predaceous Aeolis.
Favorite Show? The Walking Red
Another common but welcome find in Seattle! These guys can be distinguished from Red Gilled Nudis because their cerate (red floppy floppies) are densely packed vs the Red Gilled Nudi which has sectioned floppy floppies. It’s been noted the red “core” of each floppy is a lighter red but also noted this color can change based on diet. Apparently the white tips are stinging cells which can be used for defense.
Key ID Points π: Tightly clustered red or orange cored cerate with a white tip. There is a white line down the back and on each rhinophore (the bunny ears on their head).
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Pretty much everywhere
How to Find π: Red Gilled Nudis love to snack on hydroids!
Season ππ: Year Round
Red Irish Lord. Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus.
A Twinkle in Your Eye
Despite the regal name, the Red Irish Lord is another type of sculpin. Their scientific name comes from the Greek words “hemi” or “half” and “lepis” or “scale” referring to the distinct band of scales down its back. A stout, armored, and spiky head aids the RIL in fending off predators as it lounges in gravely or rocky environment waiting to ambush prey. On the menu? Snails, crabs, and even octopus! Fun fact, the current record size for a RIL is 51cm.
The RIL is found in the Bering Sea, from Russia to Alaska to Washington. RIL’s can often be found in shallow locations and as deep at 275 meters.
You would think the vibrant mottled colors of the RIL would make it hard for them to hide, but they are surprisingly effective at camouflaging. They can even change their colors to match their environment. Despite a beautiful range of colors including red, pink, white, and brown, its actually their eyes that are their most unique feature.
Their eyes are like mini galaxies! Neon disco balls! Sparkle magic. What’s fascinating is each RIL I find has its own unique twinkle in the eye. Their eye sparkles are like a unique fingerprint.
Key ID Points π: A stout, spiked head and single vertical dorsal fin divided into 3 parts by notches. Coloring is a mottled pattern of red, whites, pinks, yellows, and browns.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Intertidal zones with gravel or rocky bottoms appear to be their preferred habitats. I’ve had most luck at sites at more northern sites such as Whidbey Island.
How to Find π: Search for the RIL lying in wait along rocky bottoms or in crevices.
Season ππ: Year Round
Sailfin Sculpin. Nautichthys oculofasciatus.
Sail-ebrate when you find one!
Ranging from the North Bering Sea to California, the SFS is a common but striking find. These shy beauties are unique for the giant sail-like first dorsal fin on their back (whoever named them was having a moment). Their faces are unique for the thick, vertical black band running through their eye. The babies, which I find in the springtime, are ridiculously cute and incredibly pink.
Their large sail like fin can be raised like a sail, or tucked down or sideways. SFS raise it when swimming, needing to appear aggressive, or blending into their environment. Their second dorsal fin sways and waves in a ribbon like pattern, also to help them camouflage while residing in algae or kelp.
Key ID Points π: Up to 20 cm long. Tall first dorsal fin and long, ribbon like second dorsal fin. Black vertical band running through the eye. Colors range from tan, brown, and even pink.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: They’re not uncommon, but sites like Edmunds Underwater Park and Redondo seem to be good places to look.
How to Find π: Keep and eye on crevices, large rocks, or sandy bottoms. They like to hang out upside down for some reason.
Season ππ: Year Round
Stubby Squid. Rossia Pacifica.
Famous PNW Outlaw… Billy the Squid!
Stubby Squids are members of the cephalopod family. Looking like a cross between an octopus and a squid, these adorable google-eyes babies are actually closely related to cuttlefish. They live on sandy or muddy bottoms (while being adorable) and spend much of their day buried with only their eyes above the sand (adorable). The smallest ones I’ve found were no larger than my pinky nail… and adorable.
Adults only grow to a max of 2 inches for males and 4 inches for females. They have 8 suckered tentacles and 2 retractable arms, as well as 2 fins on either side of their mantle (head). Their body is covered in a layer of mucus, which causes sand, rocks, etc to cling to them like a coat. Or an adorable sand hat!
Like octopuses, they can expel ink when threatened and change their color to camouflage. And like octopus, they die soon after laying eggs.
Stubby Squid found in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan and Korea, to Puget Sound and California. Here in Puget Sound, they are more likely to be found in the winter. They like sandy bottoms, where they can dig down and hide when necessary. In the Summer, they like to go deeper, even as deep as 1,300 meters.
Key ID Points π: Giant round, google-y eyes on a large oblong mantle. Their color ranges from red to purple, even grey or green when they feel threatened.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Any site with a sandy or muddy bottom is a great place to start.
How to Find π: Scan flat, sandy or muddy bottoms carefully. They prefer to move along the bottom than swim in the water column. During the day only the eyes are typically exposed, and at night they are more active. Typically they are found at 60 feet or below, but I’ve found them as shallow as 30 feet.
Season π: Winter. In the summer they go deeper.
Winged Sea Slug. Gastropteron pacificum.
The Winged Sea Flip Flap Flop Fall
Do you believe you can fly? This amazing slug does.
WSFFF are TINY. With their wingspan they’re less than half an inch wide, about the size of a thumbnail. Much of their life is a mystery, such as their diet or why they fly. Is it to avoid predators? Part of their reproductive cycle? Who can say. I’ve also seen them curl into a ball and crawl on the sea floor like a regular sea slug.
What we do know is that these slugs are hermaphrodites, and that only sexually mature adults can fly. We also know they their egg sacks are LARGER than the actual animal. Why? Once again, not sure but it may be due to seawater expanding the egg sack.
Key ID Points π: Thumbnail sized, transparent body with darker colored spots in red shades.
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Technically they can appear anywhere. Great sites to be extra aware are Sunnyside Beach Park and Redondo.
How to Find π: Search the water column. I’ve had the most luck in shallow water (<15 feet).
Season π: Early fall through winter is they’re typically seen swimming. In Early spring (March-May ish) you can see balled up sea slugs and their eggs on sandy, shallow bottoms.
White Lined Dirona. Dirona albolineata.
Never take these for Granite!
Or as I like to call them, Crystal Dirona. The first one I ever found was about 13 cm and for a moment I swore I was looking at a living quartz. Apparently this is an average size for a fully grown one, although the record is 17.5 cm.
Ranging from both the eastern and western Pacific coast, Crystal Dironas can appear on mud, rocks, and pilings. Although they’re mainly transparent or white, they can appear in many shades depending on their diet. I’ve found them in hues of orange, pink, even light purple once!
These dironas are also fierce hunters, who crack open snail shells to hunt their dinner. It has been known to shed its cerata when stressed or threatened.
Key ID Points π: Translucent white body with spiked cerate (crystal quart porcupine spines).
Where to Find πΊοΈ: Everywhere
How to Find π: Look
Season ππ: Year Round
