You know, I encountered a little bit of the same thing when I was down there, the guides didn't really know jack poop about some of the things they were showing off. Yeah, the boat did have a marine biologist who lectured while the boat was underway and she knew her stuff but getting the guides to show you stuff ... I dunno, I just sort of expected them to know more. It's bad when you find yourself wanting to correct them! "Here is the clownfish family, the dad and the mum, and the babies." "Well actually .. that's a female and her male, and the smaller ones are more like males-in-waiting".
I'm shocked they would sort of poo-poo the clams. That's just .. that's just wrong man!!!
I found that the inside reefs, close to places like Low Isles for example, did have a "dirtier" look to them. Silt, algea, etc. However the outer reef was more pristine, at least I found.
And I agree, nothing like seeing a real reef to inspire you to "do better" with aquascaping
