JIM PATTERSON, 36, SALES MANAGER, SANTA CRUZ, CA

“This image was taken in Monterey Bay near Carmel, CA, in the kelp forests bordering Point Lobos State Reserve. I’d heard reports of sea nettles down there, so one day I took my kayak out and anchored it to some kelp to dive. For the first 30 minutes, I barely saw any jellies—and then more and more arrived. I began shooting, using two Sea & Sea strobes for fill light. Soon, I was completely surrounded by jellies, but my fisheye lens let me find and close in on this individual.” (www.jimpattersonphotography.com)

Tech specs: Nikon D300 with 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 Tokina fisheye lens, in Aquatica housing; 1/160 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200. Adjustments in Adobe Photoshop CS3.