Diver Denny’s Marine Science Videos

Denny Chasteen diving

N. Dennis Chasteen, Professor Emeritus

I’ve been scuba diving since 1956 and have had the privilege of observing, photographing, and videoing marine life in many parts of the world.  The cold waters of the Gulf of Maine remain one of my favorite places to dive.  For me it is “home” where I still dive regularly.  I’m often asked what I see down there.  In response to this question, I’ve prepared videos highlighting marine life in the Gulf.  They are intended to educate the public about the many interesting plants and animals found in our coastal waters as well as serve as a resource for primary and secondary school teachers and marine science educators in New England and elsewhere.  Follow my adventures on my YouTube channel! 

 

eelgrass meadow

A Dive in an Eelgrass Meadow

nubble light

A Dive at the Nubble Light

pressure chamber

Pressure Chamber Demonstration

Eelgrass meadows are important coastal ecosystems worldwide. They serve as nurseries for fish and other marine species, remove excess nutrients from the water and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and help protect coasts against storm damage. Come explore this special place and observe the plants and animals that live there.

Nubble Lighthouse is the most popular dive site in New England owing to its great diversity of marine life and habitat. Come explore the waters around the Nubble and learn about the many unusual and interesting creatures that are found there.

A pressure chamber simulates what happens when a diver descends into the depths of the ocean. Watch what happens to the diver's wetsuit, “arms and legs”, and “lungs” when breath holding and to a stack of marshmallows when under increased pressure!

crab

Crab Feeding Frenzy

sand lances

Sand Lances. A vital link in the food chain

 

A crab’s life in the Gulf of Maine is not an easy one.  They are preyed upon by just about everything.  For their part, crabs eat just about anything with meat, including other crabs.  Watch crabs attack one another as they compete for a newly found meal. 
Sand lances are unusual fish because they lack a swim bladder, have small streamlined pelvic fins and a pointed snout, enabling them to rapidly burrow and hide in coarse sandy bottoms. Sand lances are also called “sand eels”, but they are not true eels. They are important food for many larger fish, sea birds and marine mammals, including whales. Watch this video to learn about these unique fish.

 

Photos: Through my travels and photography, I’ve had the opportunity to document the beauty and diversity of marine life that share our planet.

Garibaldi, Channel Islands, CA Wreck of Tugboat, Culebra, PR Reef Shark, Walker’s Cay, Bahamas Reef Scene, Dominica Reef Scene, Little Cayman Island Manatees, Crystal River, FL Diver Lori, Ship’s Anchor Chain, Bonaire, NA Hawksbill Turtle, Little Cayman Island Diver Lori, Devil’s Den, FL Forbes Sea Stars Feeding on Mussels Ogunquit, ME Southern Stingray, San Salvador Island Lion’s Mane Jellyfish, Nubble Light, ME Giant Kelp, Channel Islands, CA Giant Kelp, Channel Islands, CA Giant Kelp Bladders, Anacapa, Channel Islands, CA Sharptail Eel, Dominica Spotted Scorpion Fish, Dominica Sea Peach Tunicates, Nubble Light, ME Nurse Shark, San Salvador Great Barracuda and Diver Dick, Little Cayman Island Threespot Damsel Fish among Boring Sponges, Dominica Frogfish, Dominica Spotted Moray Eel, Dominica Diver Dick, Little Cayman Is. Rock Crab, Nubble Lighthouse, Cape Neddick, ME Banded Butterflyfish, Culebra, PR Blue Spotted Stingray, Red Sea, Egypt Frilled Anemones, Coast Guard Pier, New Castle, NH Flesh Eating Anemone, Vancouver Island, CA Blacktip Shark, Andros Island, Bahamas Torpedo Ray (electric), Dominica Christmas Tree Worms, Dominica Blue Tang, Dominica Green Sea Urchin, Nubble Light, ME Winter Skate, Nubble Light, ME Nassau Grouper, San Salvador, Bahamas Feather Duster Worms, Bonaire, NA Rock Crab, Ogunquit, ME Frilled Anemones, Coast Guard Pier, New Castle, NH Spotted Morey Eel, Culebra, PR Moon Jellyfish, Nubble Light, ME Pufferfish, San Salvador, Bahamas Atlantic Wolffish, Nubble Light, ME Horse Mussels & Urchins, Nubble Light, ME Feather Duster Worms, Little Cayman Island Torpedo Ray (electric), Dominica Acadia Hermit Crabs, Coast Guard Pier, Newcastle, NH Forbes Sea Stars, Nubble Light, ME Snappers, Bonaire, NA Plumose Anemone, Nubble Light, ME Hawksbill Turtle, Little Cayman Island Blood Star, Nubble Light, ME Lionfish, Turks and Caicos Islands Spotted Trunkfish, Dominica Divers, French Cay, Turks & Caicos Flamingo Tongue, Grand Cayman Island Acadia Hermit Crab, Nubble Light, ME Sea Butterfly, Nubble Light, ME Manatee Nursing Calf, Three Sisters Spring, FL Queen Angelfish, Bonaire, NA Blacktip Shark, Walker’s Cay Bahamas Blacktip Shark, Walker’s Cay, Bahamas Tube Sponges, Dominica Sea Raven, Nubble Light, ME Moon Snail, Appledore Island, ME Giant Anemone, Bonaire, NA Short Horned Sculpin, Fort Foster, ME Harbor Seal, Isle of Shoals, ME