Smooth trunkfish (<em>Lactophrys triqueter</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Turtle Farm Reef (West Bay)</h4> This large group of tarpon (<em>Megalops atlanticus</em>) has been hanging out at this overhang for years.<br /><h4>Site: Turtle Farm Reef (West Bay)</h4> A goldspotted eel (<em>Myrichthys ocellatus</em>), something we had never seen before. Because it was out in the open swimming around on the sand, we at first thought it was some sort of sea snake.<br /><h4>Site: Turtle Farm Reef (West Bay)</h4> A goldspotted eel (<em>Myrichthys ocellatus</em>), something we had never seen before. Because it was out in the open swimming around on the sand, we at first thought it was some sort of sea snake.<br /><h4>Site: Turtle Farm Reef (West Bay)</h4> Furry sea cucumber (<em>Astichopus multifidus</em>). This is the first sea cucumber we've seen in the Caribbean, and it continually rolled over and over in the sand. Very cool to watch.<br /><h4>Site: Turtle Farm Reef (West Bay)</h4> Finger coral (<em>Porites porites</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Turtle Farm Reef (West Bay)</h4> Christmas tree worm (<em>Spirobranchus giganteus</em>). I usually only get once chance for a closeup shot... once the flash goes off, the worm retreats into its tube buried in the coral head.<br /><h4>Site: Turtle Farm Reef (West Bay)</h4> Lowridge cactus coral (<em>Mycetophyllia danaana</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Julie's Wall (East End)</h4> Orange icing sponge (<em>Mycale laevis</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Julie's Wall (East End)</h4> A ball sponge<br /><h4>Site: Julie's Wall (East End)</h4> When divers approach, the queen conch (<em>Strombus gigas</em>) usually quickly retreats deep into the shell. I approached slowly from behind, and was able to snap a shot of the eye stalks peering out of the shell before it realized I was there.<br /><h4>Site: Julie's Wall (East End)</h4> Flamingo tongue (<em>Cyphona gibbosum</em>), a type of mollusk usually found feeding on gorgonian and sea fan corals.<br /><h4>Site: Lost Lens (East End)</h4> Spotted moray eel (<em>Gymnothorax moringa</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lost Lens (East End)</h4> Extended polyps of a giant slit-pores sea rod (<em>Plexaurella nutans</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lost Lens (East End)</h4> A large crab (haven't been able to identify which species)<br /><h4>Site: Lost Lens (East End)</h4> Pederson cleaning shrimp (<em>Periclimenes pedersoni</em>), which lives in association with the corkscrew anemone (<em>Bartholomea annulata</em>). The shrimp perches on the anemone's tentacles, and wave their antennae to attract fish.<br /><h4>Site: Lost Lens (East End)</h4> Flamingo tongue (<em>Cyphona gibbosum</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lost Lens (East End)</h4> Sea fan corals, branching tube sponges, and a barred hamlet (<em>Hypoplectrus puella</em>)<br /><h4>Site: No Name Wall (North Wall)</h4> Common lionfish (<em>Pterois volitans</em>), which we saw on almost every dive. While beautiful, these fish belong in the Pacific, not the Caribbean. A few were released from an aquarium decades ago during Hurricane Andrew, and have multiplied and spread throughout the Caribbean. They are having a huge and detrimental impact on the native fish species, and huge efforts are underway to hunt and eradicate them.<br /><h4>Site: No Name Wall (North Wall)</h4> Golden crinoid (<em>Davidaster rubiginosa</em>)<br /><h4>Site: No Name Wall (North Wall)</h4> Common sea fan (<em>Gorgonia ventalina</em>)<br /><h4>Site: No Name Wall (North Wall)</h4> One of my favorites, an indigo hamlet (<em>Hypoplectrus indigo</em>)<br /><h4>Site: No Name Wall (North Wall)</h4> This large nurse shark (<em>Ginglymostoma cirratum</em>) was the only shark we saw the entire trip. Most people would probably think that was a good thing, but we love seeing sharks (especially up close)!<br /><h4>Site: No Name Wall (North Wall)</h4> A white Christmas tree worm (<em>Spirobranchus giganteus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: No Name Wall (North Wall)</h4> Reef structure<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Yellowline arrow crab (<em>Stenorhynchus seticomis</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Swimming crinoid (<em>Analcidometra armata</em>), attached to a sea fan coral.<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> A closeup of the crinoid's red and white banded arms.<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Caribbean spiny lobsters (<em>Panulirus argus</em>) in hiding<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Closeup shot, obtained by sticking my camera into the reef crevice to get closer to the lobster.<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Lettuce and star coral colonies<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Structural detail of a grooved brain coral (<em>Diploria labyrinthiformis</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> This great barracuda (<em>Sphyraena barracuda</em>) was large and extremely curious. It followed us around, maybe <em>very</em> close passes, for nearly the entire dive.<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Hogfish (<em>Lachnolaimus maximus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> A nassau grouper (<em>Epinephelus striatus</em>) hiding under the reef.<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Flamingo tongue (<em>Cyphona gibbosum</em>), with a particulary rich spotted pattern.<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Common lionfish (<em>Pterois volitans</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> Common lionfish (<em>Pterois volitans</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Chinese Gardens (North Wall)</h4> We did one night dive during the week. The first thing we saw as we entered the water was a <em>huge</em> Caribben spiny lobster out hunting. During the day they hide in reef crevices, but are out and active at night.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Giant anemome (<em>Condylactis gigantea</em>) feeding on the worms attracted by our dive light beam.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Not sure what this fish is... still trying to identify it.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Giant anemome (<em>Condylactis gigantea</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Closeup of the tentacles, which would grab worms out of the water and place them into the anemone's mouth at the center.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Spotfin butterflyfish (<em>Chaetodon ocellatus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> A small southern stingray (<em>Dasyatis americana</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> It was foraging around the sand, looking for food, and let me get right up close with the camera.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Stoplight parrotfish (<em>Sparisoma viride</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Sponge brittle star (<em>Ophiothrix suensonii</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> The mouth of a giant anemome (<em>Condylactis gigantea</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Southern stingray (<em>Dasyatis americana</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Southern stingray (<em>Dasyatis americana</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Southern stingray (<em>Dasyatis americana</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Stoplight parrotfish (<em>Sparisoma viride</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> A common lionfish (<em>Pterois volitans</em>) hovering right above the parrotfish.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> A blue tang (<em>Acanthurus coeruleus</em>) – during the day they are solid blue in color, but at night they display white vertical stripes. This is the first time we've seen them at night.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> A bearded fireworm (<em>Hermodice carunculata</em>), another first for us.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> At the very end of the night dive, we came upon this small Caribbean reef octopus (<em>Octopus briareus</em>) out feeding on the coral head.<br /><h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> <h4>Site: Sunset Reef (East End)</h4> Rock beauty (<em>Holacanthus tricolor</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Whitespotted filefish (<em>Cantherhines macrocerus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> A medium sized hawksbill turtle (<em>Eretmochelys imbriocota</em>) munching on the reef.<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Peacock flounder (<em>Bothus lunatus</em>) camouflaged in the sand.<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> A closeup of its eyes.<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> A yellow Christmas tree worm (<em>Spirobranchus giganteus</em>)... the color variations with this species are incredible.<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Porcupinefish (<em>Diodon hystrix</em>), one of the few fish you can actually describe as cute.<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Gray angelfish (<em>Pomacanthus arcuatus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> French angelfish (<em>Pomacanthus paru</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Smooth trunkfish (<em>Lactophrys triqueter</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Stoplight parrotfish (<em>Sparisoma viride</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Caribbean spiny lobster (<em>Panulirus argus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Brown bowl sponge (<em>Cribrochalina vasculum</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Giant barrel sponge (<em>Xestospongia muta</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> The texture inside the giant barrel<br /><h4>Site: Lighthouse Reef (West Bay)</h4> Pink vase sponge (<em>Niphates digitalis</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Anchor Point (East End)</h4> This monstrous sponge (almost as tall as a person), located about 100 feet down on a sheer wall, is known as "Sponge Bob".<br /><h4>Site: Anchor Point (East End)</h4> Banded coral shrimp (<em>Stenopus hispidus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Roger's Reef (East End)</h4> Bent sea rod coral (<em>Plexaura flexuosa</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Roger's Reef (East End)</h4> Yellow tube sponge (<em>Aplysina fistularis</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Roger's Reef (East End)</h4> Cactus coral<br /><h4>Site: Roger's Reef (East End)</h4> Red boring sponge (<em>Cliona delitrix</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Roger's Reef (East End)</h4> Giant barrel sponge (<em>Xestospongia muta</em>) with very defined, prominent ridges.<br /><h4>Site: Roger's Reef (East End)</h4> <h4>Site: Roger's Reef (East End)</h4> Brown tube sponge (<em>Agelas conifera</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Roger's Reef (East End)</h4> Gorgonian fan corals hanging off the wall edge.<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> Common lionfish... this one was huge. As beautiful as they are, it is so disturbing to see them in this environment.<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> Dive operators and some private citizens are being granted spearfishing licenses so that these fish can be eliminated from the reefs. Given the numbers we saw, however, and with no natural enemies in the environment it seems like it will be a losing battle.<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> The local culinary scene is trying to come up with recipes to use with lionfish, in an attempt to generate demand for the fish as a food source.<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> <h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> As we ascended from a wall dive, we noticed a tiger grouper (<em>Mycteroperca tigris</em>) at a cleaning station, with a cleaner wrasse moving along its body and into its gills and mouth cleaning away parasites and debris.<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> After about a minute, it closed its mouth and gills and swam off. No sooner had it left this ledge when another individual, who had been waiting off to the side, swam in to the exact same spot and assumed the "I'm ready to be cleaned" position. Observing such peculiar behavior underwater is a fascinating and extremely rewarding aspect of diving.<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> Trumpetfish (<em>Aulostomus maculatus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> Cluster of yellow tube sponges and sea rod coral growing together.

Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)

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Yellow tube sponge (<em>Aplysina fistularis</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> Barrel sponge<br /><h4>Site: Jack McKenney's Canyon (East End)</h4> Large brain coral colony<br /><h4>Site: Sir Isaacs (East End)</h4> Spotted drum (<em>Equetus punctatus</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sir Isaacs (East End)</h4> French angelfish (<em>Pomacanthus paru</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sir Isaacs (East End)</h4> French angelfish (<em>Pomacanthus paru</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sir Isaacs (East End)</h4> In the past, French angelfish were relatively abundant and usually found in pairs. On this trip, we saw only a few, and these was the only paired up individuals we encountered.<br /><h4>Site: Sir Isaacs (East End)</h4> Elkhorn coral (<em>Acropora palmata</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sir Isaacs (East End)</h4> Brown bowl sponge (<em>Cribrochalina vasculum</em>)<br /><h4>Site: Sir Isaacs (East End)</h4> Yellow tube sponge with an unusual shape.<br /><h4>Site: Sir Isaacs (East End)</h4> Shore diving site at Lighthouse Reef Part of the beach at our resort Rooftops at the resort View of the beach from our balcony View from our balcony towards one of the pools and the main dock. Our building at Morritt's Grand Resort