Testudo
Contributor
Since I received a few PMs regarding a comment in another thread about finding some vents or fumaroles, I thought I would provide the details so everyone can get the info.
I found Barefoot Beach on my February trip and noticed a strong sulfur smell while there (idyllic spot btw). Figured it was just rotting sea grass or maybe a fumurole. While snorkeling the area, the water looked like it was a brine, with fresh water mixing in and blurring the area in front of my mask. But I did not see any vents, nor was I really searching for any.
Last week when we returned to Barefoot Beach I again detected a slight sulfur smell; did not think anything of it since it was not as pungent as earlier.
Then, while at Anchor Point on Friday, I happened upon the vents as I was about to end my initial anti-clockwise snorkel of the area. The vents were 10-15 yards out if that, pretty much straight out from where the "coral" stairs that lead down from the entry path end, off the ironshore. The water is maybe 4-6 feet deep where they are located. Most of the openings were between three and six inches long on the sea bed, counted 8 or 9 in total. They were rimmed with yellow (assuming Sulfur) and you could see the gas mixing/blurring with the water. The immediate vicinity had a greenish-yellowish caste and had the same blurry visibility as Barefoot Beach. The discolored water was also visible from shore, if you looked hard enough. It was a real unexpected find.
As luck would have it, I planned on taking pictures there and at Queen's Monument, but left the battery in the charger back at our condo. I'll be back at the end of the month to take some pictures in case no one else gets there before then.
I did call Mark at the DOE to report a Lionfish in the coral shoal just past the vents and mentioned them as a place marker. I called dibs on naming them Testudo's Vents.
The approximate coordinates are:
Latitude 19°21'13.93"N
Longitude 81° 8'2.52"W
Sorry, couldn't get Google Map Maker to work
Let me know if you find them.
I found Barefoot Beach on my February trip and noticed a strong sulfur smell while there (idyllic spot btw). Figured it was just rotting sea grass or maybe a fumurole. While snorkeling the area, the water looked like it was a brine, with fresh water mixing in and blurring the area in front of my mask. But I did not see any vents, nor was I really searching for any.
Last week when we returned to Barefoot Beach I again detected a slight sulfur smell; did not think anything of it since it was not as pungent as earlier.
Then, while at Anchor Point on Friday, I happened upon the vents as I was about to end my initial anti-clockwise snorkel of the area. The vents were 10-15 yards out if that, pretty much straight out from where the "coral" stairs that lead down from the entry path end, off the ironshore. The water is maybe 4-6 feet deep where they are located. Most of the openings were between three and six inches long on the sea bed, counted 8 or 9 in total. They were rimmed with yellow (assuming Sulfur) and you could see the gas mixing/blurring with the water. The immediate vicinity had a greenish-yellowish caste and had the same blurry visibility as Barefoot Beach. The discolored water was also visible from shore, if you looked hard enough. It was a real unexpected find.
As luck would have it, I planned on taking pictures there and at Queen's Monument, but left the battery in the charger back at our condo. I'll be back at the end of the month to take some pictures in case no one else gets there before then.
I did call Mark at the DOE to report a Lionfish in the coral shoal just past the vents and mentioned them as a place marker. I called dibs on naming them Testudo's Vents.
The approximate coordinates are:
Latitude 19°21'13.93"N
Longitude 81° 8'2.52"W
Sorry, couldn't get Google Map Maker to work
Let me know if you find them.
