Snorkeling photos

[Dave C]

Here are a few shots from my latest snorkeling efforts in Destin and Panama City Beach in the Florida Panhandle. This is not a "great" snorkeling location per se because the water is usually a rather murky greenish color with a typical visibility of about 20 ft. Also, being so far north in Florida, the marine life is considered more "warm temperate" instead of tropical. Still, there is a smattering of tropical species in the warmer months and the fish density can be greater than I have seen in the tropics. These pics are all best viewed by clicking on the bar to see the larger size.

Spadefish at the Destin jetty:

Black sea bass (temperate zone member of the grouper family) at the Panama City jetty:

Sea anemones at the Panama City jetty:

Arrow crab at a small wreck in St. Andrew Bay, Panama City:

See all my snorkeling photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31486092@N05/sets/72157609425630116/

 

[LewnessMonster]

Nice pics, I like the arrow crab pic. Have the waters in your region improved since the BP oil spill last year?

 

[Dave C]

Thanks Lewness. Despite what appeared to be imminent doom at the time last year, this area (Destin-Panama City Beach) received only a relatively small amount of tar balls from the oil spill, and these were quickly gone. You can see absolutely no effects now. Perhaps some underlying biological effects may eventually turn up, but so far, so good.

 

[Testudo]

Well that didn't turn out as expected...re-posting embedded images.

 

[Dave C]

Man, are those some great pics! The trumpetfish and the last embedded one with the parrotfish are fantastic, especially when viewed full size. By the way, I will be going to Grand Cayman again after Thanksgiving for the second year in a row. This will be my fifth trip there over the past 15 years.

 

[Testudo]

Glad you liked them, I know I sure enjoyed taking them. Surprised they came out so well considering I was sans weight belt for my outings this visit.

If conditions warrant and you are in the area, try getting out to the Rum Point Boulder Gardens and the barrier reef area (starting at the the East end of the Retreat Condo property and working West), as that is where the above and following images were captured. The Staghorn forest out at the reef is really healthy and laden with fish (or was early this month and in July).

 

[Miguel124]

Wow beautiful. Those shot was incredible what camera you use? You have a quality of a pro.

 

[Testudo]

I believe Dave C. uses a Canon A630 with an underwater housing to capture his awesome images and I am now using a Canon D10.

 

[danvolker]

How about video shot while snorkeling off the beach on Singer Island ( Palm Beach, Fl) which includes 2 other snorkelers in 10 to 15 feet of water, with a monstrous bait ball
Baitballs going by Resorts on Singer Island.... - YouTube

 

[Testudo]

Now that is pretty amazing! Did you know the bait ball was forming there or was it dumb luck you came upon it?