A manatee makes the most of his underwater guests by rolling onto his back for a belly rub. The manatee appears apprehensive at first, but he soon cosies up to the divers. The photographs were taken by marine biologist Andrew Pearson in Crystal River, Florida at the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge. The 32 year old photographer, of Southampton, says: ‘We spent several days snorkelling with wild manatees.
A SPECTRUM of colours fills the sky during this spectacular and natural display of light .
A little caterpillar fearlessly scampers down a branch and confronts a praying mantis .
A baby sperm whale assumed the role of a friendly giant when faced with two awestruck divers .
POWERFUL bolts of lightning illuminate the night sky in an incredible autumn storm over the Sardinian coastline .
WITH THEIR adorable big round eyes and fluffy white fur, these baby seals are cute enough to melt any heart .
Some will get up close and personal with Mother Nature’s deadliest animals to get the perfect shot, posing the question, what lengths will a photographer go to for that all important picture? But in this case, the question should be what depths .
WITH SNOW COVERING the ground around them, these two polar bears play fight .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
A floating market in Indonesia is bursting with vibrant colours as wooden rowing boats loaded with fruit and vegetables crowd the river .
A GLOWING range of greens and blues sweep across the sky in a spectacular display of light .
A little brown bear cub shows his doting mum that she is always on parent duty as he uses her as a scratching post .
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and for this greedy camel he can't get enough of his morning feed, as he gate crashes his owner's mealtime .