Week 14b

I got another perfect dive day Thursday with very little current. I went in at Villa Blanca and slowly drifted down to Blue Angel. This time I set the camera up for close-ups, no flash, and a white balance for cloudy skies (Blue light). This way I am focused on specific situations that suit my camera set up rather than trying to 'shoot it all'. In the past my culls (defective pictures) were mostly the result of my forgetting the last camera set-up and not adjusting to the new situation.

I no more than get in the water and get started cruising when I happen upon this 'Stoplight Parrotfish'
image- blue, red, yellow fhish

 It's hard to believe but according to the book both the yellow and purple sponges are different variations of the same 'Branching Tube Sponge'. Like all sponges they earn their living by fanning food and oxygen laden water in through their exterior surface with microscopic whip like extensions on the cells called flagella and exhale out from their center chambers. To the left is a 'Black Ball' sponge
image- blue and yellow sponges

It's fortunate that this next coral-head is just deep enough we're not be able to step into it from the beach.
image- hollow coralhead filled with black sea urchins

The humorless little fellow below is actually a 'Clown Wrass'. I wonder if those blood red eyes feel like mine used to years ago. I also wonder what it feels like to have electric blue spots all over your body.
image- small blue/green fish with red eyes.

Next we have a small 'Golden Eel' waiting for lunch. I wonder if that
Clown is available.

This 'Brittle Star' has found an accommodating place to 'hang'.
image- britle star embracing a yellow sponge

Here are some sponges that just look good together.
image- several different colored sponges together

These are a nice match too, plus the Christmas Tree worm as a broach.
image- more sponges of different colors

You'd almost expect to find this 'Finger Coral' in the desert.
image- cactus like finger coral

   This next guy doesn't frequent the shallows. The camera was still set for close-ups so it's a little soft, sorry.
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image- Barracuda

Here's another fan coral for Joe.
image- blue fan coral

This 'Queen Angel' gave me 25 chances to get the perfect pose in her little boudoir but with the light current and the darned shutter lag in all digital cameras I seemed to always just miss the shot.
image- Queen Angelfish

Our next visitor is aptly named 'Rock Beauty'. That 'Grunt' in the upper left certainly has a disapproving glare. Maybe I looked too long.  =)
image- Yellolw and Black fish

One of these next two 'Basket Sponges' looks like it's been eaten on. These are a favorite of 'Sea Turtles' but it's a little too shallow for them. Also they tend to feed from the edge. Keri at 'Blue Angel' was puzzled too.
Pretty, nonetheless.
image- basket sponge

image- basket sponge

This will make you think. . . . . . . it's a 'Brain Coral'. Note the cerebral cortex.  =)
image- brain coral

Here is another Fan for Joe. Note that there is an extra flap.
image- fan coral

This juvenile 'Blue Head Wrass' has found a lovely home in this 'Giant Sea Anemone'.
image- small fish in an anemone

Here's another 'Basket Sponge' with a nice 'Lettuce Coral'.
image- coral and sponge

I wonder if this 'Spotted Eel' is waiting for someone for lunch too.
image- B&W spotted eel

Between the unusual lighting and Photoshop, I just couldn't leave this last shot alone.
image- backlit anemone

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