The continuing sagas of the Blue Heron Bridge

[jet126]

Video Dude and I spent a nice 2+ hours under the bridge this morning. Water temp 77 - a little chilly for my 3mm plus 3mm vest. Could have used the 5. Viz about average except for the rotor tillers - WtH? There should be a buoyancy test before you can do the skinny swim through ... of course I also think there should be a test before you're allowed to use the self check-out lane at the grocery store.

Lots and lots (and lots) of octopi everywhere. People tonight: pay attention. You'll stop to take a picture of one and be on top of another!



I was looking for a still-elusive frog fish when Video Dude swam over. He gave me the "little" sign, followed by "shark." I'm thinking: "Little shark??? A baby nurse hiding between the pilings?!?" And he points to a hole in the rubbly bottom. Suddenly a sailfin blenny pops up. Oh! THAT "shark." Those little buggers are f-a-s-t. Hopefully VD got some good video.

Puff update: someone will get lucky very soon and witness another seahorse birth. He was not moving much at all today. I think too pregnant to do much of anything except just hang on. Here are close ups of his belly (zoomed way in so sorry blurry):


May 1
April 11

 

[fisheyeview]

Nice octo pic! And I agree about the self check-out.

 

[jet126]

A few more from today ...

[-]"Little Shark"[/-] Sailfin Blenny


This is the same pretty girl as above - just such a willing subject! why is it I can take such a crystal-clear photo of an octopus but can't photograph a seahorse to save my life?



He seemed to be holding his own ...

 

[fisheyeview]

Will be at the bridge Thursday morning.

 

[divebob8]

Perpetrators of these crimes have been identified..Octopus..lobster..crabs...bristleworms..

First night dive at the Bridge last night. I gotta tell ya. Not only was it my best night dive ever but it was my best dive ever. ( dive 171 lifetime ) Ok. I guess I've lived under a rock but I have dived the FL keys many times, Bonaire 2X, CozumeL and Bermuda and have never experienced as much action as last night's dive. Out on the flats I came upon a purple sponge with movement. There on the sponge was a perflectly camoflaged octo. Next up were the seahorses. Their attachment was so cool and they were totally surrounded by arrow crabs ( any symbiotic relationship here? ) On to the killings and the food fest. The octo was consuming a fish and putting on a light show while he was doing it. After about 4 min. he slid off the fish and I could see the gaping red hole where it was doing its' thing. Then came the lobsters and crabs pulling in their prey for dinner. Gliding over the top of the debri pile my light spied a raft of bristleworms consuming their fish. On the way east to exit, my light illuminates a small southern ray which swims toward me and right into my light. Right behind is a big southern ray settled in for a good sleep. He completely covered the tire and then some. Well, my light disturbed him and the ray started moving its' wings and in what seemed like slow motion lifted off and swam away.
All that and more. Incredible. Wow..wow..wow! What a dive.
BTW, It semed I was better able to see outlines of creatures( rays, flounders ) buried in the sand due to the contrast with the dive light. Is that my imagination?

 

[scubajim 1]

Fun dive at the bridge today. Viz wasn't too good but dove with beepbird and saw Bob being a bubble watcher.

Water was 78 and 79, viz maybe 30 ft. We dove for 94 minutes and saw a few tiny octopus and sharp tailed eels.

See you there Thursday and we'll hope for better viz.
PS...this was my 88th dive at the bridge in the past 12 months...does that qualify me as a bridge troll? I have the looks for it.
PPS that is not me in that photo

 

[fisheyeview]

You are definitely a Troll.

 

[mntlblok]

Sailfin Blenny

View attachment 93871

Suddenly a sailfin blenny pops up. Oh! THAT "shark." Those little buggers are f-a-s-t. Hopefully VD got some good video.
View attachment 93872 View attachment 93873 May 1
April 11

By coincidence, was just learning about sailfin blennies in the behavior book this morning. Hope to get to wear out a bunch of electrons on them someday. . .

Kevin

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

By coincidence, was just learning about sailfin blennies in the behavior book this morning. Hope to get to wear out a bunch of electrons on them someday. . .

Kevin

You'll have to tell me if it is viewable, or if photobucket damaged it... It isn't showing properly here....

 

[divebob8]

Fun dive at the bridge today. Viz wasn't too good but dove with beepbird and saw Bob being a bubble watcher.

Water was 78 and 79, viz maybe 30 ft. We dove for 94 minutes and saw a few tiny octopus and sharp tailed eels.

See you there Thursday and we'll hope for better viz.
PS...this was my 88th dive at the bridge in the past 12 months...does that qualify me as a bridge troll? I have the looks for it.
PPS that is not me in that photo

Maybe head troll. No, that's Jim. Your second in command.