Vivid orange starfish and textured purple and green sea anemones cluster together in a shallow, rocky tide pool, framed beneath a massive coastal stone arch during a golden sunset.

Firebrick sea stars (Asterodiscides truncatus) and intertidal sea anemones.

Treasures of the Tide

As the tide retreats along the rugged margins of southeastern Australia, a hidden kaleidoscopic world is momentarily laid bare within the rocky intertidal zones.

David S. McMeans

Jervis Bay Marine Park, New South Wales, Australia

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Channels

Treasures of the Tide

As the tide retreats along the rugged margins of southeastern Australia, a hidden kaleidoscopic world is momentarily laid bare within the rocky intertidal zones. Framed by the monumental geology of a wave-carved coastal arch, shallow rock pools transform into vibrant sanctuaries where firebrick sea stars stretch across wet stone alongside densely clustered sea anemones and spiny urchins. These resilient echinoderms weather the volatile shift between the crashing surf and the open air, anchoring themselves firmly against the elements while waiting for the inevitable return of the sea.

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