Ginnie shooting (GoPro) a Caribbean Reef Shark

Here's Ginnie shooting a Caribbean Reef Shark (smallish female) at Jack McKenne's Canyon on the east end of Grand Cayman. 

Yep, that how close you need to be to your subject. She got that close by being very still and waiting for the shark to make a close pass. They are very curious and inquisitive creatures. It's a totally amazing experience to be in the water with a majestic creature that you've been told you whole life to be afraid of and to realize that they want nothing to do with you and are perfectly harmless unless molested. Ya just have to be still and calm. The experience is priceless. It changes you forever.

 

Trumpetfish

 

Trumpetfish and coral/fans against the deep blue!

Can you guess what this is?

 

The Photo:

Close up of an unusual coral colony. I do not know what type it is, but I think this is the first one I've seen in 400+ dives!

Blue Tang at a Cleaning Station

 

Cleaning Stations are commonplace under the sea. 

Smaller fish that would on other occasions represent a meal, are allowed to clean the dead skin and parasites off the bigger fish. 

The bigger fish get still and posture, by opening up their mouths and gills signaling the smaller (little yellow guys in this photo) that they are ready to be cleaned. A symbiotic relationship; Win/Win of the highest order! 

Four Eyed Butterfly Fish

 

The Photo:

Shot at Maggie's Maze east end of Grand Cayman in Dec. 2022

Sharpnose Pufferfish

 

Squirrelfish

 

The Photo:

Squirrelfish 

Positive ID is:

 1. Yellowish spiny dorsal fin. 

Common sighting on Caribbean Reefs

Coral landscape

 The Photo:

A coral landscape I shot at Franks Sound on the east end of Grand Cayman. 

I just love the blue water visible through the holes in the reef system. Endlessly fascinating!!

 

Cocoa Dameselfish

 

Yellowtail Damselfish side view

 

Here's a side view of the Yellowtail Damselfish - You can see why they call is a yellowtail!

Yellowtail Damselfish

 

Yellowtail Damselfish turning around to take a look at me. 

Can I help you??

Lionfish

 

The Photo:

One of the very few Lionfish that I spotted on this last dive trip to the East End of Grand Cayman.

I captured this one at Franks Sound Garden, a shallow dive on the East End.

It's the spines that are deadly poisonous to touch! 

NO TOUCHING ANYTHING WHILE DIVING! HANDS OFF!!

 

Soft Coral Garden

 

The Photo:

Soft Coral Garden shot at Breakers Cut Back, east end of Grand Cayman.

Hard Coral Bleaching

 

The Photo:

At the top is what healthy hard coral polyps look like, then the disease (Bleaching) in white, the bleaching kills the polyps; The lower portion of this image is what dead polyps look like. This particular specimen will in all likelihood be completely 'bleached'. I'm not sure how long it takes or if there are measures that can be taken at this stage to save the coral head. This phenomena is occurring on coral reefs all over the world. The Oceans are under stress and all living things in the Oceans are also under stress. 

Save the Oceans! 

Four Eyed Butterfly Fish with large vase sponge and soft coral

 

Two Sharpnose Pufferfish amongst soft coral

 

The Photo:

Shot at Kathleen's Reef - North side of Grand Cayman - 

Balloonfish

 

The Photo:

Can you spot the Balloonfish? It's hiding the best it can inside this sponge. I shot this photo on Kathleen's Reef on the north side of Grand Cayman. This is the only specimen that I saw on this trip. They are kind of shy!

Threespot Damselfish in a Barrel Sponge

 

Flamingo Tongue

 

The Photo:

A Flamingo Tongue that I shot at Kathleen's Reef on the north side of Grand Cayman.

Flamingo Tongues are a common sighting and easy to shoot  because then move very slowly (a snails pace;^)

Tube Sponges and soft coral scene from Kathleens Reef - north side of Grand Cayman