Groupers, Crab & Stingray off Costa Maya & Cozumel

[drrich2]

Hi:

Had a cruise & hit Costa Maya on 1-18-11 (dove with Dream Time Diving, the ship's contracted operator, in Costa Maya & had fun; dove with Jeremy Anschel & Living Underwater in Cozumel & had a great time with them - strongly recommend Living Underwater! They had the big 120 cf steel tanks!!!).

In Costa Maya at Dos Ojos ('Two Eyes') dive site, I saw a really big grouper; maybe 4 feet long. This is the fellow, & I'd like to know what he is.

This grouper in Cozumel at the Santa Rosa site I was told is a Black Grouper. I post it here because it's probably used to being fed by divers & swam to us & close enough that I think I could've touched it.

But what kind of grouper in Cozumel is this one? (We also dove Palancar Gardens; not sure which of the 2 sites it was at).

This large (perhaps bigger body than a softball, smaller than a foot ball) crab was at Palancar Gardens, but what kind is it?

And what kind of ray at Palancar Gardens is this? Maybe a bit smaller than a frying pan?

Thanks in advance!

Richard.

 

[deborahdelamar]

First 3 groupers are Blacks. Individuals can change color -- you captured both light & dark phases. Black groupers are easy to ID by the wide black bands on the fins and blocky patterns.
The other grouper is a Yellowfin, so named due to yellow on the pectoral fin.
The ray is a Yellow Stingray.

 

[designbysue]

Is the crab a channel cling crab?

 

[Sully3]

yes crab is a channel clinging crab

 

[drrich2]

Thanks, guys! I never would've figured any of those out!

Richard.