Caribbean underwater pics

[Lance]

Originally Posted by PoonTang

Very nice. No fair teasing us cash strapped common folk.

Yeah right, Mr. Bahamas

[Delphinus]

That's hilarious about your wife (all women seem to clue in eventually about me, what's up with that?!) but yeah gee that's kinda sad about the lionfish and state of the reefs. Only been to Mexico once, 11 years ago now in year 2000 (how did the year 2000 become 11 years ago? What the ... ?) and I remember gorgs being everywhere. I was into reef tanks already back then but I had no idea how hard it was to get gorgs seeing them everywhere like that. Loved watching them whip back and forth in the waves.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

That's hilarious about your wife (all women seem to clue in eventually about me, what's up with that?!) but yeah gee that's kinda sad about the lionfish and state of the reefs. Only been to Mexico once, 11 years ago now in year 2000 (how did the year 2000 become 11 years ago? What the ... ?) and I remember gorgs being everywhere. I was into reef tanks already back then but I had no idea how hard it was to get gorgs seeing them everywhere like that. Loved watching them whip back and forth in the waves.

The state of the reefs down there is quite sad. We saw very few corals aside from some nice large Brains. I was chatting with a fellow from England who's been coming to the Caribbean for 20 years. He said back then the Elkhorn colonies seemed to go on forever in some spots; and the Sea Fans and Gorgs were like trees. Sponges of all colours were seen everywhere. According to him the hurricanes in the last decade have caused considerable damage as have the absence of urchins which were nearly wiped out due to some disease. Urchins help keep the algae in check and without them the corals were being overgrown. The good news is we saw lots of urchins: apparently they're making a come back. There are still lots of fishes though. We saw all kinds of Atlantic Blue Tangs, Parrotfishes and many Wrasses. Damsels, Angels,
and Triggers, as well as lots of Rays and Turtles. And of course one damn big Barracuda that followed me right to the beach!

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Very nice photos.
from the last photo it sure is shallow.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by elias

Very nice photos.
from the last photo it sure is shallow.

Yeah, that area was really rocky and kept the swimmers away. Hence, no damage.

[PoonTang]

Originally Posted by Lance

Yeah right, Mr. Bahamas

Exacly! I am still paying for the last trip and you just made me want to go back

[Treebeard]

What dive shop did you go with and which sites did you dive? We spent a week in Akumal on Half Moon Bay in early January and went with Akumal Dive Adventures. We also did some dives from Isla Mujerus but the reefs were not nearly as nice as Akumal, however the fish variety was spectacular. We also saw some huge spotted eagle rays on a wreck dive. Hopefully next time I will have an underwater housing for my camera.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Treebeard

What dive shop did you go with and which sites did you dive? We spent a week in Akumal on Half Moon Bay in early January and went with Akumal Dive Adventures. We also did some dives from Isla Mujerus but the reefs were not nearly as nice as Akumal, however the fish variety was spectacular. We also saw some huge spotted eagle rays on a wreck dive. Hopefully next time I will have an underwater housing for my camera.

Unfortunately, we didn't do any diving at Akumal. (I developed an inner ear problem a week into our stay and wasn't supposed to dive) We only snorkeled at the south beach, didn't get to Half Moon Bay, but from what I've heard about it I'll definitely be back. I heard quite a bit about the Yal-Ku Lagoon as well. Did you happen to go there?

[lastlight]

Cool shots man!

It's funny...it was seeing sergeant majors in mexico that finally pushed me to get a tank! Then of course I discovered that nobody really keeps them in reefs except mother nature

[lorenz0]

seems like alot of people go to xelha alot. Its cool and the fish are huge

did you make it over to cozumel?