Incredible Coral Kaleidoscope Images

Using a kaleidoscopic effect, these coral reef photographs are turned into exquisite, mirrored works of art. Taken by 79 year-old scuba diver Georgette Apol Douwma, the images are mesmerizing, showing vibrant complex corals and colorful fish, mirrored.

From Papua New Guinea to The Philippines to Egypt, Thailand and Indonesia, the dedicated dives show impressive nature scenes below the surface of our oceans, but showcasing it in a new, artistic manner.

Check out the collection below, which gives us a sense of the biodiversity of the oceans.

Learn more on the June 2024 issue of National Geographic.

GORGONIAN SEA FAN

SOFT CORALS

“Teeming with life, coral reefs occupy less than one percent of the ocean floor but sustain 25 percent of marine species.

These hubs of biodiversity now face existential threats, from ocean warming and acidification to destructive fishing practices and pollution.

It’s their stunning beauty that first caught the attention of photographer Georgette Apol Douwma during a trip to the Great Barrier Reef in the 1970s.

Some 40 years, many scuba dives, and thousands of pictures later, Douwma began to reimagine her catalog by duplicating and reversing images to create symmetrical patterns similar to a kaleidoscope’s.

The results emphasize the vibrancy and brilliance of these vulnerable underwater wonders.”

–National Geographic

LYRETAIL ANTHIAS

BRITTLE STAR

CRINOID

BUBBLE-TIP ANEMONE