what can SCUBA hobbyists tell us about the natural environment...

Sk8r · #1 12/13/2007, 12:01 PM

...and behaviors of our corals and fish?

I'm anxious to hear [and see the pix!] re the wild environment. Where have you met things we keep in tanks? Behaviors, growth patterns you observed? What were the feeding conditions like? Anything else you saw/learned on that dive?

I've been fascinated by the breathebonaire.com link, watching the vertical movement of so many species; the schooling of many tangs...the appearance of what looks like sun coral not in a cave, but fairly far down...

Being a prisoner of the inland most all my life, I have never had the chance you guys have to really see this environment, except through the glass wall of the Seattle Aquarium, but anything you can show or tell that impressed you? much appreciated.

Rosseau · #2 12/13/2007, 12:15 PM

Prisoner of the inland

I like that...

I really want to get my SCUBA legs going however in the meantime I've been able to watch a lot of documentaries and I tend to perk up whenever I recognize an organism. Though not the same as watching them at your own pace I've enjoyed the movies.

dcombs44 · #3 12/13/2007, 12:18 PM

I was just certified last summer, and I've been on one marine dive in Cozumel.

It's just amazing to see it all in its own environment. There really aren't any words for it, and videos and pictures do it no justice. You're in their house now instead of them being in yours, and it's absolutely awesome. I live in Illinois, so I don't get to go often, but every chance I get, you can rest assured I'll be in the water.

I'd recommend it for anybody!

PSam · #4 12/13/2007, 12:36 PM

"what can SCUBA hobbyists tell us about the natural environment..."

Reefs don't look like phoenix bulbs lol. Here's a couple pics from Kaua'i this summer.

I've been diving 13 years (certified before I had a driver's license), and would recommend it to anyone, especially to anyone in the reef keeping hobby.

Guage32 · #5 12/13/2007, 05:56 PM

I used to live in western washington. There is a lot of good diving near you. The Puget Sound of full of interesting creatures. I have been diving there and it is amazing. Get certified and you will not regret it!

Sk8r · #6 12/13/2007, 06:03 PM

Thanks for the heads-up re Puget Sound.

I love the pix, espec. the angel 'bouquet'. It looks like it's exploding.

Anybody ID the black angel-shaped fish with the white tails?

I see a yellow tang, a white-tipped shark...a cluster of what look like squirrel-fish...

kraash · #7 12/13/2007, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dcombs44
I was just certified last summer, and I've been on one marine dive in Cozumel.

It's just amazing to see it all in its own environment. There really aren't any words for it, and videos and pictures do it no justice. You're in their house now instead of them being in yours, and it's absolutely awesome. I live in Illinois, so I don't get to go often, but every chance I get, you can rest assured I'll be in the water.

I'd recommend it for anybody!

I totally agree, when you get down there it's like a different world, I too was certified last summer, and I live in IL. Here is a couple pics from the Great Barrier, I had one pic that did not turn out, but it was a sea turtle taking a huge bite out of coral and then casually swimming off to the next bite. I found it interesting that the fish react to people just like a predator, retreating into the corals, and when you are past they are right back out. Underwater photography is a whole different challenge.

the last pic almost looks like an aquarium background, it is really a 150' drop off!

PSam · #8 12/14/2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
Anybody ID the black angel-shaped fish with the white tails?

I see a yellow tang, a white-tipped shark...a cluster of what look like squirrel-fish...

Yes, IIRC those were adult Dascyllus albisella - Domino damsels...

Sk8r · #9 12/14/2007, 11:53 AM

Adult fish---that's something that's a rarity in our tanks! Whole different color personality!

And a 150' dropoff---a waterflow that's a real challenge to duplicate, for sure---

PSam · #10 12/14/2007, 11:56 AM

Or did I totally read that dyslexic... you said black fish white tail lol.

I think those were Chromis hanui or C. margaritifer? Don't remember, I'm gonna check the hawaiian fish book when I get home.

bureau13 · #11 12/14/2007, 12:09 PM

A couple general things I've noticed. First, the bright almost neon colored corals you often see in tanks aren't all that well represented in any of the places I've been diving...browns and greens are a lot more common.

Second...I'm not sure the words "too much flow" mean much, compared to what you see along a wild reef.

jds

davocean · #12 12/14/2007, 12:46 PM

I can tell you what a goldfish may feel like in a tank full of triggers and lions!

I dive for enjoyment, and it's cool, but actually studying fish/coral is best observed in tanks, preferably sitting w/ GF and a glass of wine!
One thing about diving though, there's always some surprise you've never seen b4.
Last time I went diving for lobster at night, I was surprised at bright colors I saw when flashlight shined on bottom, very cool!
Then I chased a lobby that went into a cave, and was surprised to see a 4-5' moray eel, that chased my butt right back out!
Then there was that time in Mex, when a dogface puffer was trippin on his reflection in my mask, and just wouldn't leave me alone.
And then there was that time......

SuperAWE · #13 12/14/2007, 01:35 PM

"Second...I'm not sure the words "too much flow" mean much, compared to what you see along a wild reef."

That is so true on some wall dives.

CleveYank · #14 12/14/2007, 02:24 PM

Psam, it almost looks like you stole the pics out of my camera...lol carbon copy Kaua'i dive?

PSam · #15 12/14/2007, 02:31 PM

All the photos are from either Ke'e or Tunnels, pretty popular dive sites.

Worldwithin · #16 12/14/2007, 03:09 PM

What does the real aquarium look like?

(giant vase sponge - Scotts Head, Dominica)

(school of raccoon butterflys - Kona, HI)

(wall of metridium anemonies - Monterey, CA)

(school of snappers - Spiegel Grove, Key Largo, FL)

Sk8r · #17 12/14/2007, 03:17 PM

Wow! So neat!
It's bad enough when a school of sunperch go after bubbles on your legs....having a moray decide you're an intruder, or a puffer doing a dance on your faceplate, in his element---that's a worrisome moment, imho.

Almost more than sharks, almost! I think I'd be worried about getting so entranced I'd be putting my foot or my elbow or my backside into something I didn't see. And there's so much around there to choose from... But what a trip! Absolutely glorious.

And the *scale* of things. It's amazing.

Worldwithin · #18 12/14/2007, 03:24 PM

What does the real aquarium look like?

(giant vase sponge - Scotts Head, Dominica)

(school of raccoon butterflys - Kona, HI)

(wall of metridium anemonies - Monterey, CA)

(school of snappers - Spiegel Grove, Key Largo, FL)

Worldwithin · #19 12/14/2007, 03:30 PM

Bah.. double post.. Sorry about that.

As for life and activity on the reef, it is ever changing. I can hover just off a single patch of rocks or coral, and never get the chance to see everything that is going on. From the transient fish swimming by looking for something to munch on, to the gobie cleaning out his house, to the crab holding onto the kelp in the current... There is so much going on. I have taken hundreds of pictures of it all throughout the years, and have tried to recreate a scene from one place or another, but there is so much that can be done. I do think that there are some tanks out there that are definately packed so heavily that they look overly artificial, but at the same time, natural looks just so spread out.

Diving gives me a new respect for reefkeeping and vice-versa.

jeffbrig · #20 12/14/2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bureau13
I'm not sure the words "too much flow" mean much, compared to what you see along a wild reef.

Couldn't agree more. I've been in spots where a wave/swell going overhead moved you back 5-6' in less than a second, only to surge back ahead before the next one. Nothing made for an aquarium generates that kind of wave energy.

davocean · #21 12/14/2007, 03:45 PM

WORLDWHITHIN, well worth double post!
That sponge shot is bad a$$, and the butterfly shot is amazing.
Where in Monteray were the nems?
I was there a few years ago, diving the very cove where the guy on the scooter got swallowed up to his waist by a whitey a week later(goosebumps! he did live )

Worldwithin · #22 12/14/2007, 04:13 PM

Davo, the Monterey location is a dive spot called "Ball Buster". It is a 40-ish foot pinnacle with a max depth of about 110ft located near the mouth of the bay. Its name was created because you can find a number of lead ball weights that get stuck in the rocks near the base. Excellent dive if the conditions are nice.

Scoobaman17 · #23 12/30/2007, 03:07 AM

I just saw this thread and must put a few thoughts in. I can't compete with expert shots since I don't have the funds for the better underwater camera gear. however I love scuba so here are a few shots.

These are a few pics from Catalina island and cabo san lucas. My sea of cortez pics are on my other computer so when I get to it I will post more.

To start here is the Catalina goby. COLD WATER and boy are they EVERYWHERE. When you find them you will find thousands of them. I found hundreds of these along a steep slope of about 20-40 feet below sea level.

Next here is just an urchin and a star in Catalina.

Now..... You know those cute 2 foot white tip sharks you see sometimes at LFSs? Here is there true potential in Cabo San Lucas. 7-8 foot long.

Saving the best for last. On last years thanksgiving my brother, father, and I did a day dive for lobster and a nice little swell gave me an unexpected surprise................................................ My girlfriend was pulling the urchin spines out of my head for the following two days.

Scoobaman17 · #24 12/30/2007, 03:14 AM

Also I have only seen one turtle but unfortunately I surprised it by jumping in the water a mere 10 feet from it not knowing it was sitting there on the bottom. When I saw it we both flipped out and it took off. I have more bat ray pics coming right up to me from nowhere.

edr42 · #25 12/30/2007, 07:28 AM

If you want to know what the real thing looks like, there's only one way to find out.
You just gotta try it for yourself!

Having said that, i've got some snapshots of the underwater world that give you an idea of what its like. These are all from the Great Barrier Reef.

Sorry for all the photos, but i just get carried away sometimes!
Check out this thread if you want to see more:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=980833