what can SCUBA hobbyists tell us about the natural environment... - Page 2

S_Stoney_S · #26 12/30/2007, 08:35 AM

You guys make me jealous and want to go diving now. Been certified for 10 years and divemaster for 3. I will try to dig out my old flicks and get them digitised.

One of my favorite dives was in Hurgada harbour in the Red Sea. Really murky water from all the boats, but 30m down we were rewarded with the sight of the wreck of a Egyptian gun boat from the Israli - Egypt war. It was covered in life even in the short time it had been there. Huges herds of black spiney urchins all over, with some of them at least 1m in diameter.

For me to see the building of a new reef on wreck is an ammazing process, and somewhat mimicks what we create in our living rooms.

Sadly recently been diagnosed with diabetes and supposedly 'cant' dive again. But i'm going to read up all I can on the dangers and probably get straight back in, maybe just shallow dives from now on.

barjam · #27 12/30/2007, 10:10 AM

Lots of people say go with 10k or lower lights to be more natural but every shot I have ever seen of the reef looks blue. Bluer than just about any fish tank I have ever seen even the 20k ones.

*shrug*

corals b 4 bills · #28 12/30/2007, 10:30 AM

The one thing I can't get over is the size of the fish, I mean when you see a two foot trigger or puffer it really makes you feel like your inside a tank yourself, these guys can rip you to shreds, but on the other hand seeing schooling fish is the best, I once stood on top of a giant sea turtle not knowing he was there. when a Reefer goes into the Ocean for the first time all he keeps saying is "Do you know how much that fish would cost in a store!"

LobsterOfJustice · #29 12/30/2007, 10:32 AM

edr42, GREAT shots!!!

I havent been diving nearly as long as some of you all on here, but I'm still certified and still have been a few times. I think one of the important things (which is displayed in edr's photos) is that the fish selection we choose for our tanks is usually way off. People usually get whatever single fish they like, and dont consider the overall look of all their fish. So you end up with one Powder Blue Tang, one Yellow Tang, one Regal Angelfish, one Harlequin Tusk... etc. In the real reef, there are usually TONS of one or two types of fish, and then single others mixed in. So if you were doing a carribean tank, it would be more accurate in my experience to have maybe 10 Seargent majors, 1 tang, and one angel. Or a certian pacific tank could have 15 chromis, and maybe three different single fish (tang, angel, rabbitfish, etc). Certian species of Anthias make another good choice for group fish. Or if the tank is large enough, the group of fish can be tangs. We usually keep tangs as single fish in our tanks, but many types form large shoals in nature.

Regardless, I think it is more accurate for a tank to be dominated by a large group of fish, and then have a few "stragglers" thrown in.

snorvich · #30 12/30/2007, 10:36 AM

[IMG]

Well here are some images you might not find in an aquarium . . .

snorvich · #31 12/30/2007, 10:43 AM

Of course you can get these only with a LARGE aquarium . . .

deansreef · #32 12/30/2007, 10:52 AM

simply beautiful!!!!

kidako · #33 12/30/2007, 11:00 AM

I have been diving just over 9 years, My friend are under water photographers.I have been to the Bay Islands(Honduras- Roatan,Utila,where we swam with a 30 ft (baby) Whale Shark)Bonaire,Cozumel(100lbs or more grouper on a night dive)
The corals, are beautiful,the schools of fish are sometimes breath taking,sharks I have only seen several nurse,turtles,rays ,octupus,triggers, schools of dolphins.If you have a chance you should try scuba,snorkelling its a wonderful under water world.

wabio · #34 12/30/2007, 11:26 PM

I haven't progressed to SCUBA yet being that grad school is sucking up all my money and time. But I snorkeled off La Jolla shores in San Diego almost everyday for 3 weeks. With those new snorkels you can just about do anything. I was swimming so far down I almost blacked out. Even in 10 ft. of tide pool water there is some amazing life.

Scoobaman17 · #35 12/31/2007, 01:46 AM

I can now finally do 25 feet down free dive without tanks. I got those other pictures from the Sea Of Cortez. Here are a few nicer shots. I'll start with the wild dragon eel I found in shallow waters.

cowcio · #36 12/31/2007, 11:43 AM

Thanks for all of the wonderful pictures!

Dack77 · #37 12/31/2007, 01:23 PM

Ive been diving for about 6 years now and have had the opportunity to do some diving in quite a few places. I work for a dive shop on a part time basis teaching classes, etc. I have a ton of photos but most are all on my computer at home. Anyway here are a couple photos of some of my dive trips.

The first two photos are in Roatan, they were photos I took with my own camera/flash setup. The lobsters were very cool. We did a couple night dives and just about every rock ledge we came to, there were lobsters hanging out. We saw quite a few during the day, but the sea came alive with them at night.

This last picture was my very favorite dive. Of all the things I have been able to do, this just blows everything away. And yes, I did get bit, which made it even that much better. I would not do this with more aggressive shark species. Sharks have always fascinated me, more than any other fish. To be able to see how the sharks interact when food is in the water was amazing. Sharks have great eyesight, but what was really cool was seeing how they would swim past you, and then immediately do a U-turn because they picked up the electromagnetic field of the metal rod and fish stuck to the rod. Truly one heck of an experience.

thor32766 · #38 12/31/2007, 01:44 PM

wow I ljove teh shark photos. I hope to do that some day.