LOL. Shari you said it all for me.
Nature's Underwater Gardens
my friend the red-lipped blenny is watching too.....guarding his house and just poked his head out to check me out!!!
j
I'm hearing that Little Mermaid song, "Under the Sea"! HAHAHAHAHA Great photography folks!
OK I cheated. I didn't take this on any island. And I didn't go UNDER the water %^} but took this over the weekend at the Conservatory here in town. That fella with the black, in the center was probably 18-20" long. I wish the picture had turned out clearer. I think they might have had a problem with me getting into the pond. HAHAHAHA
Janet
Hmmmm... I just noticed the "Other Tropical Gardening Threads you might be interested in:" at the bottom there. That would be an excellent feature throughout Dave's. Is this available anywhere else on Dave's? Has it always been there and I just missed it?
Janet - Koi? In Texas?? Cool! Ya know, I didn't know what you were refering to there about the "other threads"....that is a neat feature! I don't remember seeing it before. But I think its great!
John, your Blenny looks just as if he wanted to come out and give you a big kiss! Talk about red lipped!!! Great shot as usual. This is a little dark - but if you look close at the rocks, you will see a Moray just peeking out. He and this nurse shark stayed in those relative positions for about 15-20 minutes! Would love to know what they were talking about!
I've seen few of them here. I used to have some in my back yard pond, but alas, hubby put the fish back into the pond before it was time (while I was out getting the chemicals) and they all went belly-up. (sniff, sniff) Since that time, the pond buckled in half during the hurricane. One of these days, I'm going to have another pond.
I just checked in the Davesgarden forum and found that it's something Dave added today. I thought to myself, surely I would have noticed it before. I also checked the other forums and the feature is there too.
I wonder if your creatures up there were having an attitude contest to see who'd blink first! HAHAHA
I'm gonna go to the Dave's Garden Forum and thank him/them. I think its a cool new feature!
I am glad to see the links at the bottom too!!! Thanks Dave and Terry, and all the rest of the folks that make this such a great site! Glad to be a member!!!!
Okay, today's pic, one of our favorite dive sites in the world. Babylon. Located on the North Wall and is spectacular. We dive it as a shore dive but it is a long kick on the surface but well worth the swim when you finally reach it...The sponge life here is incredible and black coral is still fairly common, although disappearing from jewelry makers....we are having to go deeper and deeper to see it....
Here is one from down the wall a ways, my bride in the background, brown tube sponge, red rope sponge, deep sea gorgonian...etc...
john
Way cool John! In looking through some pics I found this unusual guy....thought you might like to see....kind of a washed out pic - but in the blow up you can see him clearly...a Spotted Unicornfish swimming around the table coral....
'That's a cool fish!!! I looks like a member of the trunkfish family....spotted, cow, honeycomb, smooth...same body shape and apparent size....good find!!! Dang..can't find my trunkfish shots....oh well, try this burrfish on until i find the trunk file....
That burrfish would fit right in at work. lol. He looks jurastic. That's our theme this year. lol
This thread is perfectly beautiful. Incredible that we are worlds away and can share in an instant. Have been in Calvert, Texas. How does one wind up in the Pacific Ocean from there. I don't remember that Calvert even had its own high school. Whatever, thank you again and again for reminding me that we live on an incredible planet and our backyards are broad as the horizon.
Christi Lou
BTW I have started a very, very very very small water feature just this week. A 2.4.6 galvanized stock trough. Yesterday added 5 baby koi from wallyworld. What a contrast.
Christi Lou, you will enjoy your koi just as much as we enjoy our critters. You work with what you have.LOL. I know Cowboy will be answering you soon about Texas, so I'll leave that up to him. He told me last night that he was busy resizing his pictures, so that he can post em. Good thing, cuz I'm running out. (well, almost). Thanks for joining in here! Love the company.
John, love the burrfish! We have burr, box and puffers out here too. Thought I'd change my pace a little and move on to shells....here's a pretty Turban, with the eye.
Hey all...It's Friday!!!! yeah, glad to be able to work on important things now for the next few days....gardening, diving, some more diving...and, maybe load up the Nikon and get something new....I wont run out of images to post here for quite some time but maybe something fresh...like, pic of the day, today stuff would work for me....we receive praise for any images posted but are there any specific requests of any certain fish, shell, coral, anenome, mammal, etc. that anyone would like to see....I guess I need guidance for just posting any old pic stuck on the hard drive...if you leave it up to me, you will get something different with each post...please advise or not, and I will post something, but might not follow any kind of pattern....and the pic of the day from me is:
Neck Crab
aurabest,
john
John, I'm just tickled to death to see whatever you folks want to show me. It's most likely the only way I'll ever get to see your world under the sea.
Your creatures are so exotic to view. So far, you all have done a marvelous job of giving us a lovely mix of everything.
Enjoy your diving and come back to show us what you saw. :-)
Janet
Boy, a whole day with nobody posting anything here! I'm crushed. I've been real busy, and I log on expecting tons of comments....and .....gee! John, I'm sure glad you're keeping up your end. Come on folx...let's see some underwater pics....I KNOW that John and I aren't the only ones...Cowboy - you got your's re-sized yet???? We want to see! Here's a cutie pie peeking out from his anemone home....enjoy!
Hi guys!! I just got home not too long ago so I am just now posting. I went to a friend's house and got skunked by one of her dogs. LOL. I smell like a skunk now.
Keep posting whatever you take pics of. I will try to take a pic of a fish for you guys tomorrow. Goin fishing!! Whoo hoo!! LOL. Not underwater but it's related so I have to get a good one.
Hiya Pep! Been missin ya! You are always welcome here, pics or no pics....but if you catch a pretty fish - take a photo and then let him go. I keep telling my SIL - I only eat the ugly ones!
LOL. I always catch and release. I let some former coworkers of mine get the good eating ones. And in my opinion almost all freshwater fish are ugly. Especially the century old catfish. Ugly buggers. lol
Just got in. Grandson had graduation tonight and couldn't miss that.....65 miles south of here....tomorrow night dance recital for grandaughter 100 mile northwest. Another long evening but wouldn't take for it. As to the pictures, any and everything is fine with me. Am totally mesmerized by the beauty that you get to see first hand. Take care. Will be watching.
LouC
Talk about ugly....this guy is eeewwwh gggllyy!
Lou - can't miss those grandkid things....they are waaay more important than anything you could be doin here. May be a drive, but worth that and more, right?!
Hey all, we got ugly here too, and not just when looking in the mirror...lol...
speaking of catfish, this pic is of a Toadfish. I believe that they are only found in Cozumel Mexico....I was there a couple of years ago and found this guy...Notice his catfish-like whiskers!! Also, notice his stripes that even go through his eyes!!! I don't know if he is totally ugly 'cause those stripes are cool!!!
j
I just noticed, mr. toadfish was the 100th post on this thread!!! We're doing good here kids...and as Shari has asked, get out there and shoot some shots....are we the only u/w photographers here????
j
thank you again and again for sharing nature's unbelievable beauty.........I believe it is said "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"......that said they are all beautiful.
LouC you are too right in that, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...and our underwater planet is truly beautiful..as divers, we see some really spectacular sites and have interacted with some unbelievable creatures. I am happy to share some images here with the hopes that some of you will look into learning to dive....the more people learn and gain respect for the beauty, the better chances the reef systems of the world have to survive...
Thanks for taking the time to share on this thread,
aurabest,
john
This message was edited Jun 9, 2007 10:19 AM
Actually, I never learned to swim. I am 65+ and done many water sports in my day but with plenty of "life jackets" to go with it. Took swim lessons almost every summer of my life but am very poorly coordinated. I appreciate you and your friends beyond measure. The courage it takes is beyond me. Just know that I and others are here cheering you on and appreciating your skills. Thank you for sharing as I fantasize of what might have been. Our creator puts all of us in the place where we may best serve Him. Your pictures are fantastic. Anything you choose to post will be more than good. God bless you and keep watch over you.
LouC
Hey everyone!!
Hope this finds you well...Katie and I shot an underwater wedding today...what a blast. The happy couple had come to us a few weeks ago and inquired about how to do it as Katie and I had an underwater ceremony as part of our celebration a few years ago.....our's was a bit different as we shared a single tank, full gown, vows lamenated, etc....today's ceremony was at the same location as ours, with the mermaid offering her blessing on them as she did for us....Here is a pic of Katie and I during the moment.....(you guys said..."anything underwater")
john
oh, i forgot to mention...
the flowers in Katie's bouquet were of the plastic variety....the bride's flowers today were fresh cut.....an angel fish and a yellowtail snapper would not let the poor girl alone...plucked the bouquet clean during the entire ceremony....I shot video and still....when I get the shots together I can post some of these fish eating the flowers....sad for them but quite commical just the same....we all cracked up watching them....have you ever tried to swat a fish???? lol...
aurabest,
john
Oh my goodness! I love it!!!! John, you are a one of a kind dude! I can't wait to see the ones you took today.
ROTFL!! My eyes are watering and burning now!! Thanks alot John!! LOL. I agree with Janet, can't wait to see today's pics.
I took a ton of pics when I went fishing awhile ago. Will post them tomorrow. My dad caught one fish and it was a baby. Very few nibbles out there. Lots of people out on boats and they weren't catching anything either.
Katie just informed me that the flowers the fish could not resist today were Asta Maria's (sp)....I mean to tell you these fish attacked the bouquet....i didn't mean to laugh but it was hysterical....the bride connected with a couple of right jabs but they kept coming back....once we placed the flowers in the mermaid's hand, albeit without blooms, the fish finally eased up and we finished the ceremony....glad to bring tears to your eyes Pep!!!
john
LOL. I just can picture it so perfectly.
okay, last one for tonight....about halfway through our ceremony, the Atlantis Submarine appeared out of the blue, full of tourists, and the looks on their faces when they witnessed our wedding taking place was the coolest. Katie and I did our "Walk down the Isle" as we say, around the sub for all of them to see....we even tossed the plastic bouquet to the pilot of the sub....They still mention the wedding in their briefings to guests when they tell them what they might see on the trip....a copy of this image used to hang in Atlantis' office but not sure if it's still there or not...Hurricane Ivan took alot of things from alot of people.....anyway, thanks for letting Katie and I share this with y'all....catch you kids tomorrow....
aurabest,
john
That's a great picture!!
WOW...I have had the most wonderful adventure reading this thread...meeting Cowboy and "better half"...great photos of underwater!!! When we sailed thru the S. Pacific we did a lot of snorkeling which we both prefer and I remember unbelievable areas in Fiji where we had to get VERY special permission from the President to visit. Pristine gardens of coral and masses of brilliant fish big and small and only about 20 feet at the deepest... No underwater cameras...just all in my heart!
Thanks Shari and John and all of you who contributed...WOW.
Carol
Hiya hiya hiya! John, you are just too cool. Katie has to let the rest of us share you! Katie - I don't think I have ever seen a prettier bride - including my daughters, whom I think are gorgeous. Wow and Wow again! That is something that is truly special....of course everyone thinks that their wedding is special, but you guys really set the barre high!
By the way, I don't think your toadfish is ugly....at least not in that picture! He is competing for "cool dude" award with you! Those stripes are awsome!
Now, for ugly not much beats the octopus. This pic is a little over exposed,,, but look for the brown mass near the middle. Granted there are some way cool looking octopi....this is NOT one of them.
Yeah, octo's are pretty ugly but are truly amazing...Did you know that they will sacrifice any and all legs to save the body??? guess what an octopus is call with no legs is called?...lol....
i have an ugly one for you...the previous longlure frogfish i posted was red....this guy is grayish-green....we found him on a rope sponge at 83 feet...Cayman is not known for it's frogfish population, these are the only 2 i've ever seen here in 13 years....over 1100 dives...it is truly special to find one and get a photograph of them. Bonaire has a bigger population of them but I have never been there....it's on the list!!
j
This message was edited Jun 10, 2007 6:50 AM
The thing about octopus is they have a copper/iodine blood system that allows them to change colors instantly. The common octopus that Shari posted is brown in color, that is when it is under no threat...Pictured here is a Caribbean Reef octopus that is in it's happy, just cruisin', not threatened mode....When frightened, they turn solid white, when mad, reddish brown, etc...they change color so fast it's amazing....No, it's not the mirrors!! LOL..
john
Ugh, that frogfish is U-G-L-Y. lol.
To get back to purty pictures here is where I went fishing last night.
Hey Pep...that looks like top-water bait heaven....give me a woodchopper, 12 lb test, 6.5 foot baitcaster....WHOAH!! Come here HOSS!!! I miss that kind of fishin'....When I resided in Arkansas, did it a bunch....traded me bass boat for dive gear and cameras!!!LOL....
j
LOL. We just fish from the shore right now. Trying to talk my dad into getting a nice old john boat to take out there. Be more fun.
Here's another pic.
