On a scientific expedition in the Southern Ocean, a net was dropped more than a mile down for a "deep shot," to see what might be hauled up. Down there, most of the creatures are fairly small but they're as scary as they come.

In early morning, out of the mist of the ocean comes a pod of wild dolphins to swim among humans in the shallows of a remote bay in Western Australia. And then, of course, someone thinks it's amusing to stick bottle caps down their blowholes.

Komodo Island has become more popular since I used to go there, when the road was long and potholed and the dinghy trip was wet over a slapping sea. But in any case, the home of the Komodo dragons is a fearsome place.

A beach near the Great Barrier reef is one of the last high-density sea turtle rookies on mainland Australia. When loggerhead turtles arrive to lay their eggs in the moonlight, don't shine a light toward the sea or incoming turtles will be driven away.