Hetland
Contributor
I found out about an afternoon trip to the Oriskany on the H2O Below and decided it was way better than another day dodging snapper fishermen on public reefs (another story). I hit the dock in time to see the morning trip folks unload and readied myself and my camera for some critter watching.
The ride out was smooth, as the wind had been kind to our part of the Gulf over the last few days.
The topside water was bathtub warm, and there was a layer of the usual whale snot until you hit the thermocline around 30ft. It was cooler below, but comfortably so, like walking into an air-conditioned house on a hot day. At-depth viz was around 70 to 80ft, and the water had that blue tone that I love so much, but it was a tad darker, mostly because of the aforementioned whalesnot, but also because it was later in the day.
We encountered snapper of all makes and models, amberjack, barracuda, damsels, queen angels, mingos, blue chromis, two kinds of butterfly fish, pencil urchins (don't remember seeing them here before) slipper lobster, doctorfish, blennies, and more.
I snapped a few photos and took some video. Not sure if I have enough video to bother editing, but I'll post the link here if I decide to do it. In the meantime here are the photos I'm not completely embarrassed by:
Freddie the Frogfish (formal name apparently)
Male stripper disguised as a scuba diver
Doctorfish
Barracuda (check out the parasites around its mouth and eye)
Something for everyone: Urchin, pencil urchin, blenny, chromis, and a red fish I can't place...
Spotfin butterfly fish
Some other kind of butterfly fish (can't be bothered to look it up)
Damsel
Grey snapper (aka mangrove snapper, aka black snapper)
Queen angelfish (out of focus, I know, but the colors are just so pretty on that crown)
Queen angelfish
Spanish hogfish maybe?
Spanish hogfish maybe? and damsel
Surface interval snacks (chips and cookies not shown)
DecoDogs!
Yep, it was pretty much an awesome day to be diving! Thanks to Capt. Doug and the H2O Below for the usual hospitality.
The ride out was smooth, as the wind had been kind to our part of the Gulf over the last few days.
The topside water was bathtub warm, and there was a layer of the usual whale snot until you hit the thermocline around 30ft. It was cooler below, but comfortably so, like walking into an air-conditioned house on a hot day. At-depth viz was around 70 to 80ft, and the water had that blue tone that I love so much, but it was a tad darker, mostly because of the aforementioned whalesnot, but also because it was later in the day.
We encountered snapper of all makes and models, amberjack, barracuda, damsels, queen angels, mingos, blue chromis, two kinds of butterfly fish, pencil urchins (don't remember seeing them here before) slipper lobster, doctorfish, blennies, and more.
I snapped a few photos and took some video. Not sure if I have enough video to bother editing, but I'll post the link here if I decide to do it. In the meantime here are the photos I'm not completely embarrassed by:
Freddie the Frogfish (formal name apparently)
Male stripper disguised as a scuba diver
Doctorfish
Barracuda (check out the parasites around its mouth and eye)
Something for everyone: Urchin, pencil urchin, blenny, chromis, and a red fish I can't place...
Spotfin butterfly fish
Some other kind of butterfly fish (can't be bothered to look it up)
Damsel
Grey snapper (aka mangrove snapper, aka black snapper)
Queen angelfish (out of focus, I know, but the colors are just so pretty on that crown)
Queen angelfish
Spanish hogfish maybe?
Spanish hogfish maybe? and damsel
Surface interval snacks (chips and cookies not shown)
DecoDogs!
Yep, it was pretty much an awesome day to be diving! Thanks to Capt. Doug and the H2O Below for the usual hospitality.
Please don't tip the stripper!!!
