Looks amazing and nice to have the good Viz back. We will be there tomorrow.
Blue Heron Bridge Trolls III
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Attended the bridge today for snorkeling and diving. The park was not crowded. Visibility remained unchanged from yesterday, 50-60ft. Sea temp remained unchanged from yesterday at 78F. Tuesday and Wednesday the current was stronger than what I would consider usual, today it was not as strong, what I would consider "usual strength". Snorkeled the trail before diving. Except for the first five minutes of the dive it was just me and all the fish on the west side. Found four pipefish in the first ten minutes, one of which was a Crested Pipefish Cosmocampus brachycephalus. Crested pipefish has only been recorded four times out 175,00 REEF fish surveys, three times in Roatan, and one other time at BHB this past May. The school of 300-400 Crevalle Jack put another appearance in at the channel barrier. Observed 10 Gray Angelfish swimming together, I have seen groups of up to 8 before but never 10, what I consider a Squadron of Angelfish. Respectively, Black Grouper, Crested Pipefish, Angelfish Squadron, Shark Statute Wide Angle on snorkel, Spotted Moray out for a swim, and channel barrier wide angle.
Catito
Contributor
...and I sat at my computer in an office in WPB today. Sigh.
me too..
Left something out of my last post, did a REEF fish count, 73 species in 60 minutes.
Went to the bridge for diving today. More people were at the park than yesterday, but it was still not crowded. High tide was at 1319, sea temperature was 79F, visibility 50-60ft. Entered the east side at 1205, and did a 60 minute dive, counted 67 species including a Whitenose Pipefish, and Jack Knife Fish. Exited the east side, walked across the parking lot and did a 75 minute dive on the west side, counted 67 species again, including 3 Shortfin Pipefish, and a Crested Pipefish (I believe the same one from yesterday). Respectively, Jack Knife Fish, Juvenile Night Sergeant, Whitenose Pipefish (all on the eastside), and wide angle Spadefish taken on the west side.
Beautiful today, and great viz. Not crowded when you can see more than a few spots before the washrooms 
I might try again on the -weekend, could be that the sub-80 water is scaring off the snorkelers, good for us!
While some shots didn't come out we caught a glimpse of a huge manatee on the west side and an eagle ray too. A friendly octopus, a colony of garden eels and even a small cornetfish. Such an amazing place we always feel blessed to be able to visit frequently.
Anyone have any idea what that little guy is in the last picture??
I might try again on the -weekend, could be that the sub-80 water is scaring off the snorkelers, good for us!While some shots didn't come out we caught a glimpse of a huge manatee on the west side and an eagle ray too. A friendly octopus, a colony of garden eels and even a small cornetfish. Such an amazing place we always feel blessed to be able to visit frequently.
Anyone have any idea what that little guy is in the last picture??
I was looking at the pipefish image and first thought it was a Shortfin Pipefish (the most common pipefish species at BHB), however on closer examination I think it is a Banded Pipefish because of the short snout. If you look in Humann's book it is deceiving because that particular image has exaggerated banding. However Banded Pipefish come in a lot of different colors. Nice find!Beautiful today, and great viz. Not crowded when you can see more than a few spots before the washrooms
While some shots didn't come out we caught a glimpse of a huge manatee on the west side and an eagle ray too. A friendly octopus, a colony of garden eels and even a small cornetfish. Such an amazing place we always feel blessed to be able to visit frequently.
Anyone have any idea what that little guy is in the last picture??
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Short snout indeed, thanks for pointing that out. I do think that's right. It was very small/thin compared to others we had seen, we suspected a juvenile. We went back today to search for him again but no luck. Surely hiding from the weekend crowds kicking up a storm!
We had one guy stagger by carrying two open beers yell at us for wearing a wet suit (because we're in Florida he said). It just ain't the same on the weekends.
We spent much of our time in the south/west area and lucked upon a large mantis shrimp ,one of the resident batfish and lots of juvenile filefish. Nice Rosie Blenny, Tiger Gobi and a Ciliated Shrimp. Adding a few pics to share with those that are hoping to get back out there. Check our the 50+ Viz. Very Nice.
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