Having dived in the same area his whole life, Domenico knew that the stiff breeze on this particular day would be a challenge. But, upon descending beneath the choppy waves, he was rewarded, finding himself ‘in an incredible sea of tunicates’ – marine invertebrates that form long, star-studded-ribbon-like colonies. Domenico framed a jellyfish against the celestial curtain.
Known as the mauve stinger, this relatively small jellyfish can grow to anywhere between three and 12 centimetres across. Although little, it can form large blooms, which are potential hazards to swimmers. Unusually for jellyfish, this species has stinging cells on its umbrella-shaped bell, as well as on its tentacles and the oral arms that trail from around its mouth.
Italy
Domenico's love of the sea began in childhood, spending hours observing its inhabitants with a mask and a snorkel. This passion and the desire to photograph led him to take more and more pictures of the beauty found in the Strait of Messina, between Sicily and Calabria, Italy.
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