ReenyDiver
Registered
I logged 5 dives at the bridge in January for a total of 11 1/2 hours of bottom time. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR - but the manatees and spotted eagle rays this time of the year are worth it. It allows for sharing dive stories and hot chocolate 
with fellow mucksters.
Jan 8th was a special treat - a group of 8 manatee did a swim by - 2 sets of adults with a youngin' in tow and 2 other adults
I'm always amazed at how starfish can grow back a missing arm...or is it a leg ? sometimes they grow back one and other times they get 2 for the loss of 1 !
Jan 9th I went back searching for the manatees :uwphotographer: but as the bridge would have it - didn't see a single one ! I did however for the first time in several years get hooked on a fishing line. It caught my fin strap, it took a minute or two to figure out what was going on. As I hang there, kicking with my free leg my buddy came over and unhooked it just as I was reaching for my knife.
No unique treasures to share from today.
Jan 15th was dive 3 - todays special treat was a manatee that swam right up to me, I think it wanted me to take it's pic
so who was I to refuse ?
Jan 22nd I encountered a playful southern sting ray, hanging out with the jack gang. I stalked them a little later, they tried to dodge me by going around the pilings so I snuck around to the other side - only the jacks came out, the sneaky ray pulled a fast one on me - he went between the pilings. He looked like he was having a good ole' time leaning from side to side to navigate the swim thru. I found 3 lionfish on the NW side today.
(
I love the positions the starfish get into too - this one was just hanging around. I figured either sun bathing or he had a really rough night and doesn't recall how he got there.
Jan 23rd - not sure what happened but the lionfish were exterminated - the triggerfish really seem to like them... I guess they taste like chicken ???
I found another 6 leg/arm starfish
some adorable little shells that quickly disappeared into the sand
a NICE triggerfish for once - unlike the usual attack triggers that I usually encounter.
and last but not least - to end my dive - sheepshead in what appeared to be a mating ritual. I stayed with them for about 15-20 minutes photographing and shooting video - they finally told me to get lost !
I attempted to add the images as I wrote about them - I hope it worked !
with fellow mucksters.Jan 8th was a special treat - a group of 8 manatee did a swim by - 2 sets of adults with a youngin' in tow and 2 other adults
I'm always amazed at how starfish can grow back a missing arm...or is it a leg ? sometimes they grow back one and other times they get 2 for the loss of 1 !
Jan 9th I went back searching for the manatees :uwphotographer: but as the bridge would have it - didn't see a single one ! I did however for the first time in several years get hooked on a fishing line. It caught my fin strap, it took a minute or two to figure out what was going on. As I hang there, kicking with my free leg my buddy came over and unhooked it just as I was reaching for my knife.
No unique treasures to share from today.
Jan 15th was dive 3 - todays special treat was a manatee that swam right up to me, I think it wanted me to take it's pic
so who was I to refuse ?Jan 22nd I encountered a playful southern sting ray, hanging out with the jack gang. I stalked them a little later, they tried to dodge me by going around the pilings so I snuck around to the other side - only the jacks came out, the sneaky ray pulled a fast one on me - he went between the pilings. He looked like he was having a good ole' time leaning from side to side to navigate the swim thru. I found 3 lionfish on the NW side today.
(I love the positions the starfish get into too - this one was just hanging around. I figured either sun bathing or he had a really rough night and doesn't recall how he got there.
Jan 23rd - not sure what happened but the lionfish were exterminated
- the triggerfish really seem to like them... I guess they taste like chicken ???I found another 6 leg/arm starfish
some adorable little shells that quickly disappeared into the sand
a NICE triggerfish for once - unlike the usual attack triggers that I usually encounter.
and last but not least - to end my dive - sheepshead in what appeared to be a mating ritual. I stayed with them for about 15-20 minutes photographing and shooting video - they finally told me to get lost !
I attempted to add the images as I wrote about them - I hope it worked !
