Oh man, that's just amazing. I wonder how that has effected local sea faring businesses. The fishing industry must be hating it. I feel bad for those that can't feed there families. http://www.dsflyfishing.com

Amazing footage!!!!!!!!!
It was interesting zooming into the island thanks to google map.
Not one person is on the beach.

I loved the pictures. I'm a very amateur photographer and have never had the
opportunity to take shots like these. I enjoyed the comments whether I agreed
with them or not. I do believe God is in control of it all.

Tagaloa is taking a sneeze!
Enjoy reading the comments . . . i am in a class of Pasifika students who are viewing the images and talking about the USE of their languages!!
malo, fa'afetai lava, kia ora namaste, vinaka, kia orana, thank you

Thank you for posting such beautiful big pictures of the incident. I enjoy viewing them.

totaly amazing

I think we have really P.O. the Man upstairs and this is a 'gentle warning'

There are countless other cones of extinct volcanoes, both north and south of Tonga. They are shown on the ocean floor by the satellite image. It looks to me as if the evolution of the Tonga area sea bottom is proceeding according to precedent.

i think that the mens that were fishing is right because it was a big=hurge=

nice photo

Great photos.

Lots of very dumb comments though.

its SCIENCE!!!

i was there

God's answer to man's arogance believing he controls climate change. I understand a volcano's ash can decrease the global temperature. Seems the news lately has mentioned several new eruptions.

WOW! What a sight! This would be amazing to see in real life!

Great photos, pity about the ridiculous religious comments though! There certainly are a pack of uneducated and ignorant fools out there. Do yourselves (and the rest of us) a favour and buy or borrow a book on geology (or volcanology) and read it.

WOW that was a big volcano eruption!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes the end times are getting closer, there will be rumours of earthquakes, wars etc., just read the BIBLE, IT IS ALL IN THE BIBLE.

Jesus Is coming very soon,are you ready?

Really stunning photo's. Wish I had been there. If anything, occurances like this do make us think a bit further than our noses!!! The God who created this earth is still in control. Wonderful to know. How can one believe in evolution when one see's something this mindblowing?? That all this beauty and splendour came from nothing?? Never......We are seeing more and more of these explosions now days. Mother earth, she does protest. Treat her gently.....................

I'm enjoyed of viewing such a beautiful images, thanks.

Some brave and amazing shots. Thanks for sharing..

VERY REALISTIC......WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE A LAST
PICTURE OF WHAT WAS LEFT...A SMALL ISLAND?... A ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA NEAR THE OTHER ISLAND?..COULD IT BE A LESSON ON "HOW ISLANDS BECAME ISLANDS"?

WOW! Thats amazing!! lucky guys who got to see that!
God is indeed a GREAT creator!

ot this one related neither to the bible nor nothing of these mad ideas! ......... is the nature itself nothing more not nothing less ...... enjoy and see these beautiful photos!

Where's Al Gore? Surely he can make big money on this carbon footprint!

Wow, I find it amazing that so many people believe in fictional characters designed by early dictators to govern man through fear. I think science has proven how earth was created and how and why life on earth evolved. This is nothing more than a geological event. Pressure builds up in the earths crust and finds a weak point to relieve it. It's not some upset fictional character displaying his displeasure with us. Religon is a farce. Find strenght within yourself and stop looking up to the sky! And stop donating all your hard earned money to the businesmen you call priests and pastors. Save it or spend it in the economy.

SAWEEEEEET

that is so cccccccoooooooooooolllllllllllllllll.

legos

I did not mention my last name when I made claim to my nation I am Alana Grace Hoff Queen of this new nation of Uno

thank you to the inspired and courageous photographers! What an incandescent, life-changing event to have had the privilege to witness, and to record for the rest of us.

I particularly welcome the very scholarly info that certain writers are bringing to the discussion-- I am also interested in the plate tectonics, etc... I'm just getting started learning about this from popular science sources such as the book "Krakatoa"...

I also feel a bit shaken by how many odd interpretations are being offered as "explanations" or "warnings", and the representation of god or "God" as wrathful, the day of judgment at hand, etc.

This makes me sad, as I feel there are myriad ways to express the awe we feel as citizens of this planet; together we experience the great occurrences of nature, and together our voices could sing one splendid poem

I love the folks speaking in the island languages! I can't wait to Babelfish this one:

Fu'u kakaha e 'umu a Tangaloa mo Hikule'o ne ta'o ia pea puna e afi kia ki 'olunga.
Fekaia mo e 'ita lahi mo'oni 'a e ongo fu'u 'Otua mu'a ni 'ikai toe 'i ai ha me'i lusipi ke na kai E!

Instead

Great pictures, I have seen them over and over again and to admire nature.

Churches ARE part of the economy. I'm tired of bitter ex-Christians and anti-Christians ignoring the GOOD works of the Christian church because they are barraged with the stories of fundamentalists. We liberals rightfully defend Muslims, working to dispel the equation of Islam and terrorism, while perpetuating this same persecution of Christians here in the states. I'm tired of us exoticising every Eastern religion - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam - they are all flawed. No religion is perfect. When you get to the heart of it - they are all hierarchical, sexist and homophobic. This does not mean that there are not many many positive aspects of them or that their followers don't do good works. The Christian churches in the United States host food programs for needy families, build homes, donate quilts and warm clothing to people in need, visit elderly people in nursing homes, provide meals for shut-ins - this is valuable work. Plus, a lot of this is done "no strings attached". When my mother hands out bags of groceries in my hometown where unemployment just hit 11%, she doesn't stop them to tell them about the Lord. The Bible says to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and not to be like the hypocrite that stands on the street corner boasting of his good works. In a lot of Christian religions (especially Protestant religions) followers are encouraged to live a "Christ-like life" where they are kind, helpful, and respectful of people and nature. Instead of going door-to-door to convert people, they are tasked with living a godly life. This is supposed to lead to a life of riches (not material, but spiritual). And wouldn't it? Wouldn't a life where you keep on the straight and narrow and live a god-like life lead to inner peace? Because that's pretty much what Buddhism is. Follow the eight-fold path, head toward enlightenment. So calm down. Quit persecuting the thousands and thousands of Christians in this country because they are not all alike.

In case you're wondering, I am not a Christian. Although I grew up in the Lutheran church where I learned about volunteering, environmentalism, and social justice. Those lessons are there if you just listen.

God-schmod!

This is a discussion forum about the pictures in question, not a platform for you to air your religous views. Focus is the key word here people.

Marcelo Panambi, Imagens impressionantes, jamais vistas por mim, sensacional

Brilliant pictures, but I really don't think "God" had much to do with it. It is just the end game of millions of years of geological pressure
If God is involved then He must take credit for the atrocities in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, Somalia and hundreds of other tales of horror.

nice pics but number nine is a little too close

Nobody said it wasn't nature. It's funny that anyone who identifies themselves as a "secularist" or "naturalist" is immediately hostile to the idea of God. Do you have to defend materialism against the tyrannical God you've been indoctrinated to hate? I believe God created the world in a beautiful way, and this is part of his creation. Who are you to tell me otherwise?

Spectacular Indeed!!!

AWSOMNESS DUDE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

No carbon credits for Tonga.

What a sight! It's almost not real. I wonder if there's any after shock on the way on some other area in the Pacific.

its interesting that a completely normal act of a volcano erupting has inspired such varied discussions from God to global warming. I think what I've learned here is that most of the people who post on website comments are retards with no pertinent lives whatsoever. its a volcano erupting. that's all. it doesn't mean anything else. you're supposed to appreciate the cool pictures, not try to decipher any hidden meaning or agenda. Volcanoes have erupted almost daily (above and below the sea) for thousands of years. Just because this one has cool photos doesn't mean anything beyond geography 101. Get a life, people. Other than that, great job photographers. I enjoyed your photos.

wow.... god is great.....

The yearly production of CO2 from ALL sources is about 800 billion tons. Of that total 0.3 billion tons is from all volcanoes worldwide. It is man who is driving climate change- not volcanoes.

Climate change has become one of the greatest drivers of biodiversity loss.” Indeed, the latest assessment by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that 20 to 30 percent of species would likely face an increased risk of extinction if globally averaged temperatures rise 1.5-2.5ºC above 1980-1999 levels, and that 40 to 70 percent of species could be rendered extinct should temperature increases exceed 3.5ºC, a temperature scenario that is becoming increasingly possible by the end of this century. A large portion of the species that are imperiled inhabit the world’s oceans, including fish, marine mammals, corals reef ecosystems, and plankton.

tenaz

Wow! I LOVE BEING IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE, wherever I was and there with that amazing show. Thank you guys for taking the photos. I love life so much and death is probably just as cool.

I live in the UK and am currently doing a BA Fine Art degree. I am fascinated by the idea of the Sublime relating to nature; something so beautiful in its presence and yet terrifying in its own potential. I am not a religious person myself but appreciate everyones own perspective and feel it a wonderful thing to have strong interpretations on the natural world, whatever your beliefs. The main importance that in ever which, way or how everyone appreciates the spector of these occurances and marvels at its splendour.
Warm wishes from the UK! :-)

The pictures are awesome! But some of the comments are ignorant, in thought, grammar! Where were some of you educated, or were you?

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO. That looks cool, but those people in that picture are crazy for being that close, much respect for those who have the heart to witness something like that and educate others on it.

Every year an average of 12 volcanoes erupt, putting about 41,700,000 tons of dirt on the earth every year. Over the past even evolutionists’ state that there were more volcanoes per year. But to take it conservatively we will keep it at 12 volcanoes per year. If you subtract just the soil put out by volcanoes the earth’s crust would have been gone 500,000,000 years ago. If that is true then there was no land during the Cambrian time. Does that make sense?
Evolutionist’s next problem is about how old the oceans are. Scientists have recorded that the 12 volcanoes that erupt each year put out roughly one cubic mile of new water per year. (New water is water that has never touched the surface of the earth before.) Scientists estimate that there is about 340,000,000 cubic miles of water in and on the earth. By subtracting the cubic mile of water that comes from volcanoes every year from the water that is on the earth right now and you can see that the earth is only 350,000,000 years old from volcanoes only. Here is another problem with the age of the oceans. 350,000,000 years ago was right in the middle of the age of fishes. Do you see the problem? Right in the middle of the age of the fishes there is no water on the earth.
One small example of this brainwashing is the Geologic Column. We've all seen these impressive layers of ground as we drive on a road that has been cut through a mountain or when we look at the walls of the Grand Canyon. We also see this Geologic Column on paper in our Geology books. Here's a dirty little secret the evolutionary scientists don't want you to know. The Geologic column in your school textbook doesn't line up with the actual geologic strata in the ground. Over 99% of all the layers in the actual ground are different than the official “Geologic Column” you see in your Geology book. Bottom line, it appears that way on paper, but not in the ground. The layers in the ground are actually all out of sequence, upside down, inverted, missing layers, etc. The layers are all randomly shuffled throughout the entire planet like a deck of cards. This is exactly what we would expect to see if there were a worldwide flood producing massive mud deposits all over the Earth. It is not what we should see if these layers supposedly represent the surfaces of the Earth over the last “500 million years”.
The Genesis account therefore has more validity than any other. Look around.

wow. amazing that these beautiful photos could inspire such an eruption of varying reactions and emotions. no, I don’t believe it’s a warning from God or an omen of coming tribulation, it’s just one of the many natural wonders this world produces daily, with or without human witness. I do happen to believe God is the living power behind the forces of nature, but that’s beside the point. what saddens me is the attitudes of contempt expressed here, either for lack of education, religious beliefs or otherwise. If people are fearful because of ignorance, why not respond with compassion and understanding. hostile words of judgment are only ignorance of a baser kind. these are beautiful photos someone was kind enough to share. how about a little grace.

Thank god save my tongan frenz in tonga from this eruption ,
so Jesus is Near ,Are you Ready.
So best thing is to do is pray , which is a best strategy

These pictures are amazing. God is great!

I really love those pictures.

These pictures are awesome...... & to all the religious ppl there this is Mother Nature not God. Oh & 2 the one that said they are sick of Atheist's sick of pushing there religious beliefs, wake up to urself we Atheist's do not push religious beliefs solely because we don't have religious beliefs so how can we push them. oh yea can anyone tell me why all the wars in our world are religiously based, Gee must be a real almighty god hey to allow that.

These photo's are amazing.

tha

Why can't everyone just enjoy the moment captured by camera and leave each other alone....very tiring....you cannot look at a single thing these days w/o people being mean to each other...let every one be who they are and believe what they want to believe w/o criticism.....how are we EVER going to make strides towards any kind of peace if we can bicker about a volcanic eruption in the ocean?

Just wonder why the is no big wave or dead fishes cause by this mighty eruption in the picture...still believe it just a CGI

Beutiful Pictures -- must have been noisy taking the pictures. What lucky
people to see this live, even if it was a little scarey. better than
a big fireworks show. Tony from Creston B.C. Canada.

Great Picture!!... Doing a report over it. I couldnt help but read all these comments on the wall. I dont know any of you. But my heart is for you. All of you have an opinion on this. But brother's and sister's you know who I am talking to dont argue just show Love thats all we can do. As human's we have free will.. this is just a test ;) were here today and be gone tomorrow.. Christ Bless

Great Pictures!! Wish I could of seen at first Hand.

Gott sei Dank, kein einziges Segelboot in der Naehe ....

tennlarry #377 - then please explain dinosaurs and the COMPLETE lack of evidence that man lived among them but lived after them. Why would God put dinosaurs here before man? Also please explain why God only sought to speak to and guide people in Biblical times and does not do so today? Where are the present day Noah's, Abraham's, Moses etc? Where was a present day Noah to save all those lives lost in Katrina? Sure seems pretty cruel to me. Isn't it more conclusive to assume that the Bible is a collection of stories and parables to teach moralities and life lessons? VERY good stories to teach valuable lessons and moralities. And if there is only ONE true God how do account for other cultures independent of each other around the world developing their own religions and Gods that pre-date Christ? I am NOT an atheist. I am a reformed Catholic who has seen religion for what it is - a way to control the masses. I don't knock anyone for believing - if it brings you comfort thats great. I don';t need it.

tennlarry #377 - You are mocking something you have shown that you obviously know very little about. It's great that you have a control of mathematics, but there is this thing called "Plate Tectonics" that screws with your whole hypothesis. It is "Plate Tectonics" that is also responsible for those beautiful pictures. The Geologic Column you purport to be in text books is always relative to where you are. You are making the assumption that everything is static, and anyone who knows something about Geologic Time will tell you that is not the case. That our world is quite dynamic. Get a clue and don't talk smack about something you obviously don't understand.

The photo's are good, but, reading all the comments is better.
"A pictures worth a thousand words." For Sure!!!

Can not believe what I am seeing. The pictures are awesome. Have never view pictures that showed a volcano that good. November

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just well praying for the life of our tongan people, my roots my life my home will be safe, even though its smaller than any other islands, i have faith it's still going to remain strong. Wonderful pictures, sadly killing all nature creatures like fish, other than that im thankful our island didn't get blown up or half of the island is destroyed, malo ia.....

wow that was HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow...these are some spectacular photos of this eruption.

That's crazy how close the people get to it though! Wow...

Kimberly :)

WOW
how sad for those who died!
i'm a tongan
just sooo shocked about it
god bless all

Hey guy's thankyou for this great pic's,amazing what nature can tell us that there's
a higher power who controll thing's that our human mind cannot understand,God
is great,God is one,malo 'aupito,nofo a

These pictures were very nice!!!!!!!!

Volcanoes DO emit gases in addition to lava and ash.
They emit all the gases that are emitted by the normal activity of nature such as creation of oxygen by plants, and the same as those caused by human action.
Climate change is a constant and cannot yet be measured accurately.
To say that mankind is a cause is ludicrous.
The same climate changes such as icecap increases and melts on other planets occur when climate changes occur on earth.
It is time science prevails, not emotion, or stupid clinging to unproven comments by politicians or those who profit from "climate warming hysteria".

I suppose these were a c ouple of photographers who were laid-off due to lack of work in the States. Sooo,they took a cruise and ,lo, an under -ocean volcano erupts right underneath them! Coolness! Hoping they made a million for these extraordinary photos... and their risks taken to bring them to us.Thanks guys!

Don't say Web Bot didn't tell us this was coming...

voice of reason #389
Only God can answer your questions? Because only God understands where you ar e coming from. So why not just ask Him? You do not need a priest or a man or woman to tell you. This volcanic eruption only says that the God who created the universe is real and exciting. And all creation cries out loud that God is Great and awesome. So listen to His voice as it sings loud and clear to you.
Enjoy
a nice Guy

gee what great pictures there was so many faces in the clouds there i saw so many . the creator sure so us how greatfull we need to be at times . does he
thank u for sharing them. i will keep them

i think it is very cool

volcanos rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow its a mirraccall
i think verry big blast

i think all of those pics were amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the picture is very nice

these picture are the best i thought they werent real they are that good OMG you rock

When your local volcano blows
and you Know there's no God.but
"oh God!
whoever--whatever, who knows!
Help me now, hear my PRAYER!"

omg!

could be a senseless question but, did this eruptions create big waves or tsunamis?

Imagine what our maker does in other places. But yes,Grandioso,Magnifico,OhMeoMio if you live in harms wayo.
Some the greatest pictures I have ever seen of "Mother Nature."
Love All

by 'last march 13' does that mean march 13 2009?
thank-you this site is really good. pictures are amazing!!
also, was anyone hurt?

i am a kid and i really think that thats soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool.i wish i was with them underwater volcanoes rock

im researching for a big project then i found THIS!

hello im 5 yrs old i love the earth i love to learn thank you for showing me what u see the valcano exploded under the sea it was big
one day i will be a scientist cheerleader and a fire girl
ahnalesa alvarado

think it is awesome that a volcano erupted not so long ago

OMG! Those pics are off the hook!

o my god!!!! thats super cool!!! :)

now thats sumtin u neva c every day

that is the most terrifying thing ive ever seen

Wow, i find this amazing. It is just so beautiful. Some people find these type of things horrifying but i find it . . . Just amazing. All i can say is WwOoWw!