The clear water is back, The temperature at depth was 80* and the critters of the sea are everywhere!
The morning started with a brisk chilled wind of (aprox) 60* but luckily the water was a nice 80 degrees! The first dive was Center Street. Nice reef and viso was about 40 - 50'. There where the usual tropicals and a few lobster to be seen and I think one snared. I elected to not get a lobster stamp this year since my scheldule is too busy to waste my precious dive time looking under rocks and missing the relaxation of flying through the beauty and relaxing. I spotted a Spanish Lobster (shovel nose) and pointed it out to another diver (Steve) who expertly grabbed the critter and made it's dinner reservations.
I also got the chance to see something that I have never seen before. A smallish grouper swam by with a spotted eel in it's mouth. The grouper came to rest under a ledge where I observed the grouper with the eel still hanging out of it's mouth. I did not know grouper ate eel but the captain (PAUL) said grouper will eat anything.
The next drop was Lighthouse Point (not in FtL) a quick look down and YEP could see the bottom 80' below. Many turtles! I love turtles! The Dive Misstress (Kimberly) swam with one of the turtles actually I think it was more like the turtle swimming with her. She would bend and float and the turtle would turn a flipper and glide along it was one of the more majestic things I have ever seen. Guys, she is engaged and her "husband to be" was on board, and he is really a great guy, good luck to them.
There where two LARGE green moray's all the usual tropicals and reportly a shark swimming around though I did not see it.
I spotted a molted lobster head on the bottom. Steve the retired Colorado cop was working the ledge south of me moving north. I stuffed the head in a hole with the antennae sticking out. The Dive misstress saw me do this and with a EVIL Sadistic grin hit the button and a few "Quacks!" got Steve's attention. She pointed to the hole and he slowly sneaked up on the lobster hull. He expertly, slowly and VERY carefully stuck the snare in behind the lobster and started forward with the loop. The hull fell out of the hole and tumbled down the ledge. I got a good drink of water laughing but it was worth it!
At about mid dive steve and myself drifted into a awesome sight. The ledges formed a circle about fifty feet across and ten feet high. The entire bowl was full of small tropicals swimming and swirling with colors and flashes. A barracuda swam around looking for his next victim. The whole thing was like one of those dive dreams you have that you wake up from and swear you can taste the salt on your lips.
At the very end of the dive I was pushing my time limit to the final seconds (table diver) the scenary was undescribable. I was just in total awe of the fishes, the corals, the sea fans all moving in rhythm I wanted to stay there as long as possible but alas the ever moving hands on the watch showed :40 min and I turned to the dive misstress to signal that I was going up and she already was looking my way with the thumbs up and a okay sign.
I can't wait to get back, but I gotta work to get money so I can dive more!
The morning started with a brisk chilled wind of (aprox) 60* but luckily the water was a nice 80 degrees! The first dive was Center Street. Nice reef and viso was about 40 - 50'. There where the usual tropicals and a few lobster to be seen and I think one snared. I elected to not get a lobster stamp this year since my scheldule is too busy to waste my precious dive time looking under rocks and missing the relaxation of flying through the beauty and relaxing. I spotted a Spanish Lobster (shovel nose) and pointed it out to another diver (Steve) who expertly grabbed the critter and made it's dinner reservations.
I also got the chance to see something that I have never seen before. A smallish grouper swam by with a spotted eel in it's mouth. The grouper came to rest under a ledge where I observed the grouper with the eel still hanging out of it's mouth. I did not know grouper ate eel but the captain (PAUL) said grouper will eat anything.
The next drop was Lighthouse Point (not in FtL) a quick look down and YEP could see the bottom 80' below. Many turtles! I love turtles! The Dive Misstress (Kimberly) swam with one of the turtles actually I think it was more like the turtle swimming with her. She would bend and float and the turtle would turn a flipper and glide along it was one of the more majestic things I have ever seen. Guys, she is engaged and her "husband to be" was on board, and he is really a great guy, good luck to them.
There where two LARGE green moray's all the usual tropicals and reportly a shark swimming around though I did not see it.
I spotted a molted lobster head on the bottom. Steve the retired Colorado cop was working the ledge south of me moving north. I stuffed the head in a hole with the antennae sticking out. The Dive misstress saw me do this and with a EVIL Sadistic grin hit the button and a few "Quacks!" got Steve's attention. She pointed to the hole and he slowly sneaked up on the lobster hull. He expertly, slowly and VERY carefully stuck the snare in behind the lobster and started forward with the loop. The hull fell out of the hole and tumbled down the ledge. I got a good drink of water laughing but it was worth it!
At about mid dive steve and myself drifted into a awesome sight. The ledges formed a circle about fifty feet across and ten feet high. The entire bowl was full of small tropicals swimming and swirling with colors and flashes. A barracuda swam around looking for his next victim. The whole thing was like one of those dive dreams you have that you wake up from and swear you can taste the salt on your lips.
At the very end of the dive I was pushing my time limit to the final seconds (table diver) the scenary was undescribable. I was just in total awe of the fishes, the corals, the sea fans all moving in rhythm I wanted to stay there as long as possible but alas the ever moving hands on the watch showed :40 min and I turned to the dive misstress to signal that I was going up and she already was looking my way with the thumbs up and a okay sign.
I can't wait to get back, but I gotta work to get money so I can dive more!