Day 241 - Anacapa

I saw this Calico Bass (Paralabrax Clathratus) resting on a rock; I snuck up around his blind side and went all paparazzi on him.

Day 240 - Anacapa

The current was strong; this Island Kelpfish (Alloclinus Holderi) was hunkered down in the rocks.

Day 239 - Anacapa

This is a Clown Dorid (Triopha Catalina), a nudibranch we hadn't seen before.

Day 238 - Anacapa

At maybe a half-inch long, I have no idea how Chris spotted this juvenile nudibranch.

Day 237 - Anacapa

For some reason, there weren't very many tube anemones this trip . . . don't know why.

Day 236 - Anacapa

I've gone diving in Channel Islands National Park each of the three years I've been back in California; Anacapa is the smallest island in the chain, but has some of the best diving.

This sheep crab covers its shell, legs, and claws with barnacles as a means of camouflage.

A Tease

I took some much needed time off this week and got two whole days EACH of baseball and diving . . . here's a tease from today.

Day 52 - Bonaire

Not only did Erin find this seahorse at Oil Slick all by herself, she went back a few days later and found it again. Remind me not to play hide-n-seek with her . . .

Day 51 - Bonaire

This is a Slipper Lobster; the large plates just left of its eyes are actually its enlarged antennae. Weird to see on a night dive . . .

Day 50 - Bonaire

A juvenile French Angelfish looks nothing like the adults.

Day 49 - Bonaire

We sat and watched this Spotted Eagle Ray feed for over half an hour. He's just like Mr. Ray, without the students.

Day 48 - Bonaire

This is a Pedersen's Cleaning Shrimp - they clean bits of food and parasites out of the mouths of other fish.

Day 46 - Bonaire

The Fairy Basslet is another fast-moving little fish that doesn't want its picture taken. I guess with colors like that (and those are its natural colors) it's hard to blend into the reef.

Day 45 - Bonaire

This Queen Angelfish did not want its picture taken. I have no idea if it's a male or female, but with a name like that, the other fish must sure pick on the males when they're little.

Day 44 - Bonaire

These orange cup corals only "bloom" at night when they're feeding.

Day 41 - Bonaire

These are Flamingo Tongue Snails, which feed on the soft corals.

Day 40 - Bonaire

I'm back from Bonaire, where I spent the majority of my time underwater. I'll post pics over the next week or so, catching up on my photo-a-day quota. Here's a juvenile Longfin Damselfish - they're quick little things, and hard to photograph, but very pretty.