A rare photo of a rare species. The Lake Taal Sea Snake (Hydrophis semperi) has rarely been seen or studied by outsiders, having only been isolated from its ancestral species in 1754 when Taal Volcano's large eruption closed the bay, turning it freshwater over time. The story... After my grant was denied (probs 10% success rate), a Masters student from @UST1611official took on the project with small gov't funding. After 18mo of planning, we arrived to the Philippines and to Lake Taal. Then high winds from a passing Super Typhoon killed ½ our field days..