@NitroxSam, that is an exceptional observation. According to the REEF database, Smooth Butterfly Ray has only been reported 14 times out of 194,000 surveys in the Tropical Western Atlantic. So, that is 1 in every 14,000 surveys submitted. I have seen them twice at BHB in approximately 1550 hours of bottom time there. Always on the look out for them.
LF are now appearing in the Mediterranean in bigger numbers. They are passing through the Suez canal in larger numbers since the canal was dredged and made deeper and easier for fish to pass through in 2015.
@BoltSnap that is interesting, I wonder what other species are making that trek as well? Or if other species from the Med make it in the opposite direction?
@mattfish, the Whitenose Pipefish is a great observation. According to the REEF database recorded in Florida 52 times out of 51,000 surveys.
Went to the bridge for diving today. Arrived at 1000 for a 1225 high tide. Park was not crowded when I arrived. Went and snorkeled the trail prior to diving, to do a REEF survey. By the time I was finished snorkeling the park was filling up. Blue water has returned, visibility was about 40ft, and sea temp was 84f. However, a layer of fresh brownish water could seen on top west of the west lifeguard stand.
I entered the water to snorkel close to the staircase on the east side. Less than a minute into it a Nurse Shark went cruising by. I have been seeing a couple Nurse Sharks cruising around the last few times I have been at the bridge. Don't know if it is the same shark(s) are not. As the Nurse Shark cruised by it, almost collided with a small Green Sea Turtle. The sea turtle started eating sea grass right below me. It was unconcerned with my presence, perhaps because I was on snorkel and not on scuba. I did six minutes of video on it. Eat a little bit, go to the surface breathe, go back down and eat some more. A mother and son snorkeling team came up next to me, and I thought "there goes the turtle", but it remained unperturbed. In the meantime other snorkelers are passing just right or left of us heading to the snorkel trail, and missing it. Moved on from the sea turtle and completed the snorkel trail, exited west, donned scuba, and entered west on scuba.
Did about a two hour dive. Hitting the west end of the snorkel trail drifting, west and then north. Did another REEF survey on scuba. Did not find anything as interesting as Whitenose Pipefish, or Smooth Butterfly Ray. I was a little surprised at how hard the current was moving close to when slack tide was supposed to be, but that's okay its the stronger currents that bring the blue water, and pushes the brown green fresh water back. Got some good images of Tiger Gobies, Cottonwicks, and Twospot Cardinalfish. However, I think the Green Sea Turtle being so cooperative deserves full attention.
