Bombed by Tarpons in Bonaire

[drbill]

Did two dives today (The Lake and Rock Pile) then was picked up by Sue Douglass of Indian Valley SCUBA so I could meet their group of divers and hear the Coral Reef Foundation's talk on staghorn coral restoration. Sue & Jim drove me back to the Carib Inn and I got into my gear for a night dive on the house reef. I had only seen one tarpon previously on this reef, but my Sola 2000 video lights sure brought them in. The first one actually bumped into me from behind. I had a fantastic dive trying to film them as they swooped past me and rose vertically to snap up fish. You could hear the jaws snapping when they fed. Best tarpon encounter since my days working in Belize. Two quick screen captures from the unedited video footage:

 

[drrich2]

I enjoy them at night. I see one occasionally by day, but they really come in for night divers. Hope you're enjoying Bonaire!

Richard.

 

[djtimmy77]

Check out the salt pier if you want to get some daytime film of them.

 

[Hawkwood]

Yeah, they have definitely figured out that if they follow divers at night, the divers' lights will show them dinner.

 

[mbs]

Definitely Salt pier!

 

[diversteve]

Go dive off Habitat one night and see what happens...LOL

 

[diver 85]

They do make great dive buddies.........

[/URL]6 tarpon by GEAUXtiger, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[jimbeeler]

They are definitely at Salt Pier during the day... I think I probably saw 6 or eight small to medium sized ones. The biggest thrill was a night dive when a huge one (I don't remember the name they call him) at Buddy's reef swam between me and my outstretched arms holding the camera. Literally 6 inches away from my mask. I saw nothing but silver fish as he swam by. Pretty awesome.

Tarpon from daytime Salt pier...

Jim

 

[tkaelin]

On a solo night dive off Habitat I was swarmed. I did not know at the time that the lights attract them to feed. They always seemed so docile during the day. It caught me by surprise the first time to see them in action, swooping in and out, all around at speed - was a little disconcerting at first.

 

[diverjen]

Thanks for all the pics! We also enjoyed them by night off Bari and by day at Hilma, Salt Pier, and randomly Cliff one day!