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Prairie Chicken · 07-08-2015, 10:36

Gradient, what's the scoop on that hammerhead shot? It looks like he has a marker or something on his side? With rope on it?

Muckle Flugga · 07-08-2015, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reach

What a colorful gem & crisp photo of the pink squat lobster! Would love to see a squat lobster, not sure if they're too common in the Caribbean.

Those hairy details remind me of a teeny crab I found living in a sponge crevasse. These little blue 'arms' moving caught my eye... he was only 1/2 inch big and hard to get a clear photo while getting buffeted by current.

He was even harder to identify. The photos revealed a critical detail in that the blue arms were feather-like dusters waving around that I couldn't see with my eyes. That helped identify him as a porcelain crab.

Great capture of the porcelain. Hard to focus down into that coral crevice! Nice shots.

Muckle Flugga · 07-08-2015, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prairie Chicken

Gradient, what's the scoop on that hammerhead shot? It looks like he has a marker or something on his side? With rope on it?

PC, I think you are looking at some sharksuckers attached to her skin and swimming close formation. They commonly attend sharks and rays, and in French Polynesia, if you freedive, they will attend divers as well. > Gradient's shot of that hammerhead is sweet though for sure!

Reach · 07-08-2015, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muckle Flugga

Great capture of the porcelain. Hard to focus down into that coral crevice! Nice shots.

Thanks

... & also for the spell check

noticed when it was too late for editing

Reach · 07-08-2015, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gradient

We're a bit shark mad so here are some pics of our toothy mates, all taken in the Bahamas last winter.

Oooh, beautiful... but don't fancy getting that close to one or being in a school. The reef shark photo is sweet with sky reflection.

Now I'm excited about that clear blue water! Heading back to Bahamas in a few months, last time was w/out camera.

That & the Med seem to have great clarity. Perhaps the price will be cooler temperatures than I've been used to in S Carib. I'm a whimp and most comfortable at 84*F yet that usually comes with a lot of growth in the water.

belizesailor · 07-08-2015, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Gradient, they are awesome!
What a fabulous first post. Welcome to CF

.
Hope to see lots more photos from you.

No sharks here in the Med (or at least not enough to worry about), but I have a fascination too. Bronze Whalers are the only significant ones I have snorkelled with back in Australia, but reef sharks in a feeding frenzy were fascinating to watch as well once (from about 12m above them). My husband was not quite so thrilled to discover what I had found when I enthusiastically called him over

.

SWL

No sharks? No coral? What's the attraction? ;-)

belizesailor · 07-08-2015, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muckle Flugga

Loving the kids dual world and the bicycle… and of course the Bahamas famous sea pigs!

...

The bicycle is certainly one of the more unique arricifical reefs Ive ever seen. Great shot.

belizesailor · 07-08-2015, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muckle Flugga

Great shark shots! Lovely clarity! Nice species range. Here's a little shot I took in a pass in the Tuamotu islands. Mostly greys, silvertip and longnose. Average around 6 feet long.

+1. Great shark shots. I especially noticed the stripes on the Tiger...those big boys always keep my attention.

**Seaworthy Lass** · 07-08-2015, 14:35

Hot off the press:
My jaw literally dropped when I saw this octopus draped leisurely over an anchor. Even my snorkel didn't hinder my big grin

. Within seconds of diving down he had slid under the fluke, but I managed to snap a few shots.

I think this is a Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_vulgaris

This particular species is highly intelligent (they have been known to even learn how to unscrew jars, more than I can do sometimes

). They have eight legs, three hearts, and two meltingly big brown eyes, although faces only a mother could love:

He initially retreated deeply under the anchor, but after a few dives emerged enough for me to take the next shot. The greenish mass is part of his breathing apparatus. Note how he has compressed the distance between his eyes.

A case of being in the right spot at the right time with a camera in hand

:

Muckle Flugga · 07-08-2015, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Hot off the press:
My jaw literally dropped when I saw this octopus draped leisurely over an anchor. Even my snorkel didn't hinder my big grin

. Within seconds of diving down he had slid under the fluke, but I managed to snap a few shots.

I think this is a Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_vulgaris

This particular species is highly intelligent (they have been known to even learn how to unscrew jars, more than I can do sometimes

). They have eight legs, three hearts, and two meltingly big brown eyes, although faces only a mother could love:

He initially retreated deeply under the anchor, but after a few dives emerged enough for me to take the next shot. The greenish mass is part of his breathing apparatus. Note how he has compressed the distance between his eyes.

A case of being in the right spot at the right time with a camera in hand

:

Double whammy! Octopus AND anchor!

Gradient · 08-08-2015, 01:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prairie Chicken

Gradient, what's the scoop on that hammerhead shot? It looks like he has a marker or something on his side? With rope on it?

That's just the Remora, this shark also had an acoustic tag fitted but I don't think it's visible in the photo.
I dived with this fella twice. With the big sharks its all about dominance and you have to be able to hold your space to establish yourself in the pecking order. In the photo the shark was making a typical head on pass to see what you do, if you stay where you are it will turn away and keep doing its thing. The second time I encountered this guy I was underweighted and a strong current was running. He made several passes at me and each time I lost some ground with the current and had to fin hard to get back. This immediately took me down a rung or two in the hierarchy and he wanted my space next to the food. On his next passes he started gaping, gill popping and dropping his pectoral fins which is a warning for me to move away which I promptly did. 20m away was not a problem and that's where I had to stay for the rest of the dive. Diving with sharks is safe but you have to be able to read the body language and show due respect.
At least the hammers are very easy to fend off

Prairie Chicken · 08-08-2015, 03:16

Gradient, it's definitely not remora. An acoustic tag sounds more like it.

**Seaworthy Lass** · 08-08-2015, 03:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prairie Chicken

Gradient, it's definitely not remora. An acoustic tag sounds more like it.

It looks to me like one remora is on the left flank of the shark (adhering with that oval 'sucker' on top of its head) and one is underneath.

The acoustic tag may be attached just behind the remora on the left side? That black oval seems about the right size and shape. Gradient will hopefully elaborate.