20200812_Swiss Cheese Reef

 Martha and I left the apartment at 6:35 am and got to the beach by 6:45 am. We geared up and were in the water at 7:00 am swimming to the buoy line and descending at 7:19 am just North of the buoy pin. We headed East to the Wrap Around Ledge then East to the Rock Line where we turned North to the tire. From the Tire we went East to the Crescent Moon Rock and then up on the rubble swimming North to the Staghorn Coral. We swam along with a small group of Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus).

We found some staghorn coral, but not the patch we wanted. I did get this nice picture of a Bluestriped Grunt (Hamulon sciurus).  

The current likely took us farther North than we needed to go. I started swimming more East than North. The area was interesting, but not what we were looking for. After another ten minutes I went to the surface and we were well North of the Mayan Hotel. 

Found some bigger coral heads and this Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) but they were probably North of the Swiss Cheese Reef. 

We decided to head South and finally ran into some familiar territory.  We were East of the Swiss Cheese Reef and almost to its Southern end. Indeed, we swam to the West and found the Sectioned Rock. 

We continued West and found the Staghorn Coral and this  Spotfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ocellatus). Then we headed SW and got to the sand flat and found the Crescent Moon Rock. From there it was an easy swim in to the beach. 

Got this picture of a Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) on the sand.

We surfaced in 8 feet of water and heard thunder from a dark cloud bank to the North. We hurried to  make our way to the Jeep. 

Our dive time was 107 minutes at a maximum depth of 18.6 feet. My AC was 23.07 psi/minute; my SAC was 15.86 psi/minute and my RMV was 

.41 cubic feet per minute. 

20200811_SE of buoy pin off Tower 4

Woke up early and loaded the hoops and other dive gear into the jeep. Martha got up soon after and we headed for the beach in time for sunrise. Chris got to the beach a little later. We all geared up and swam to the buoy pin to descend at 7:40 am. 

 Chris carried the hoops into the water and out to a sand flat SW of the buoy's pin. We swam North across the sand flat and found a place to set up the hoops. I use hula hoops tied together with a zip tie so that one hoop is on top of the other.

Chris tries to move slowly through the top hoop of the first pair using his breathing to control his buoyancy. Once he clears that hoop, he swims to a second pair of hoops where he comes to a complete stop level with the higher of the two hoops. He then lowers himself to the level of the lower hoop by changing his buoyancy and then gently swims slowly through that hoop. From there he swims to the first pair of hoops, stops at the lower level and floats up using his buoyancy and then begins again. 

The goal is for the student to relax and lie flat so he does not push excessive water in front of him. He should hold his hands still and use only a gentle kick to propel himself horizontally. He should use only his breathing to move himself vertically in the water column. Like most students Chris initially has trouble going slowly. He wants to build speed and coast through the hoop. We want Chris to learn to hover and maintain his position in the water column so he does not stir up silt or disturb the bottom. After 30 minutes he gets the idea, but will need more practice to master the skill.

I have Chris lead us on a 45 degree bearing up to the Staghorn Coral, where we take a break and swim with the various fish there: White Grunts (Haemulon plumierii), French Grunts (Haemulon flavolineatum), Smallmouth Grunt (Haemulon chrysargyreum), and  Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus). He does not hold the bearing well and needs to correct our bearing as we see the coral to our East. 

We also found a  Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans). These fish are new to the reef and have no local predators to keep them in check. Divers are encouraged to kill these fish to protect the other populations already settled on the reef. 

Chris was low on air so we headed for the beach. We surfaced inside of the vessel exclusion buoy line and swam in on the surface. 

Our dive time was 70 minutes at a maximum depth of 18.1 feet. My A/C was 31.89 psi/minute; SAC was 22.87 psi/minute and the Residual Minute Volume was .59 cubic feet per minute. I was burning through air. 

20200810_Swiss Cheese Reef

Martha and I got up a little later this morning. We got to the parking lot behind Tower 4 about 7:20 am, geared up and got in the water about 7:40 and swam to the buoy line to descend at 7:50 am.

Martha spotted a little Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)  under the ledge near the blocks and I got some pictures. 
  

I also found a Juvenile Highhat (Pareques acuminatus) in the tire on the Rock Line. 

Made a pleasant and slow swim through the Wrap Around Ledge and over the rubble past the Giant Barrel Sponges to the Staghorn Coral. Saw lots of Grunts and some Jacks on the way by,  below.

including this White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii).

From the Staghorn Coral, we swam East to the Sectioned Rock and then turned north to follow the Swiss Cheese Reef. 

 Got this shot of a Striped Parrotfish (Scarus iserti). 

and this picture of a Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris)

We went East past the end of the reef, then headed South along a sandy pathway just East of the Reef. Turned West a little early, but found the Sectioned Rock and the Staghorn Coral

I got this shot of a Cero (Scomberomorus regalis). 

and this shsot of a Yellow Jack (Caranx bartholomaei).

 Also spotted a Red Lionfish in the rumble on the way to the Rock Line sand flat.  

Killed some time at the Wrap Around Ledge but then swam West and surfaced inside the buoy line.

Dive Time was 125 minutes at a maximum depth of 18.7 feet. My A/C was 21.44 psi/minute; my SAC was 14.74 psi/minute and the RMV was .38 cubic feet per minute. 

 

20200808_East Ledge off Tower 17

Martha and I got to the beach at 6:48 am. Luis was right behind us at 7:03 am. We geared up and swam out past the buoy line to the blocks, where we descended at 7:30 am. We swam on a 90 degree bearing. Came to the gunsight but apparently got set well to the North as we ended up at the single green coral head near the Perpendicular Rocks. We went to the Swept Rock and then the Big Coral Knoll. 

We just crossed the Knoll but did not circle it. Instead we headed South to the Fish Camp Rocks where I got this shot of a Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus). We spent about 15 minutes exploring the Rocks then headed East to the Eastern Ledge. We got to the Ledge about 50 minutes into the dive at 8:24 am. 

There is a 35 foot drop off at the Eastern Ledge    and for 30 minutes we swam North over the sand and as we swam along parallel to the ledge, I got this shot of a Butter Hamlet (Hypoplectrus unicolor). It was 80 minutes into the dive and I had only 1100 psi in my tank. I turned the dive and we headed West.  

Martha and I swam up the dropoff and got into 20 feet of water. Martha swam to me and I followed her back towards the Ledge where she had spotted a Sharptail Eel (Myrichthys breviceps). 

I also got a shot of these three Atlantic Spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber) below.  Martha and I swam West for approximately 10 minutes and came to the Southern most of the Fish Camp Rocks. I had about 800 psi left at that time, which was plenty of air to make it to the beach.

We swam on the surface to the beach and easily exited the water. Luis swam underwater and towed the flag in.

Our dive time was 112 minutes at a maximum depth of 35.2 feet. My A/C was 23.89 psi/minute; my SAC was 14.60 psi/minute and my RMV was .38 cubic feet/minute.

 

20200807_Tower 17

 Martha and I got to the beach about 6:45 am. Chris Coney was not long behind. I put 14 pounds on him initially but swapped 2 pound weights for his 3 pound weights and that allowed him to inhale and rise some. Martha joined us and we began swimming for the closest buoy which was off Tower 16.  

When we finally got to the buoy, we took a few minutes to calm down then descended at 7:34 am. I indicated to Chris that he was to swim on a 90 degree bearing for 25 kick cycles then return. I watched him swim out but lost sight of him after 10 feet. I thought it might take a while for him to complete the swim, but next thing I saw was Chris swimming over Martha to complete his reciprocal leg. I signaled that I saw him and that he should next run the square pattern.

He acknowledged my message then started off to make the square. I followed to see how well he performed. He made his first corner after  swimming 20 feet, then made his second corner 40 feet from the first. On his third  corner he swung inside for 135 degrees and had to corrected his bearing in order to finish with a fourth and final corner of 90 degrees. Once he made that corner he swam straight to me to finish. I signaled that we should surface to debrief. It ws 8:00 am.

 We all surfaced for a brief review of his skills demonstration then we descended to head for the Big Coral Knoll and the Fish Camp Rocks. I had hoped to spot the Sphinx-like rock by the rocky rise that Martha and I had visited yesterday, but I saw nothing I recognized until we spotted the Swept Rock just South of the Big Coral Knoll. 

We swam past the Swept Rock to the Knoll where I got this photograph of a Yellow Stingray (Urolophus jamaicensis).

I also got this shot of a White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) while we were on the Big Coral Knoll. 

From the Knoll, we swam South to the Fish Camp Rocks where I got this shot of a Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) 

and I also got this shot of a Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus). From the Fish Camp Rocks we swam West to the Gray Mid-way Rock and then continued West to the beach.

As we swam inside the buoy line, we were joined by this Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). As we got out of the water, Chris helped Martha and I over the step on the beach. 

Our dive time was 135 minutes at a maximum depth of 21.1 feet. My A/C was 21.33 psi/minute; my SAC was 14.21 psi/minute and the RMV was .37 cubic feet/minute.

 

20200806_Tower 17

 Martha and I got to the beach about 6:50 am and got in the water at 7:00 am. We swam out to the buoy line when I noticed that I had forgotten to take the lens cap off my camera. I swam back to the Jeep, opened the housing and removed the lens cap. I was in a hurry and although I had forgotten to shave, I skipped it. We descended at 7:34 am and I discovered that the lens was no longer set to auto focus. I made three mistakes, but I went diving anyway. 

We swam ESE to the blocks and E to the Gray Mid-way Rock, but we ended up at the Green Coral Head across from the Perpendicular Rocks and just South of the Big Coral Knoll, where I spotted and swam with a large Green Sea Turtle. Missed a few good shots. Spent some time on the Knoll then decided to swim South to the Fish Camp Rocks. 

Spent some time at the Rocks then swam South to the Columnar Coral and Southwest to the small knoll with a Sphinx-like rock protecting it. From there we headed West to the beach, but in no particular hurry. Spotted a Squid and followed along but really just missing the camera. 

Our dive time was 135 minutes at a maximum depth of 21.1 feet. My A/C was 21.53 psi/minute; my SAC was 14.21 and the Residual Minute Volume was 0.37 cubic feet per minute. 

20200804_Swiss Cheese Reef

Martha and I got up early and left for the beach well before 7:00 am. We geared up, got in the water and swam out to the buoy line where we descended at 7:31 am. Visibility about 15 feet, which was much better than yesterday. I was using Leo's external macro lens and got this photo of a small Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata).

The wind was less today so the waves were smaller. We made our usual dive: down at the pin, East to the Wrap Around Ledge then over the rubble to the Rock Line where I got this picture of a Juvenile Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus). 

We swam North along the Rock line to a large tire buried in the sand. At the tire we swam East to the Crescent Moon Rock where I found and photographed this small Yellow Stingray (Urolophus jamaicensis).   

From the Crescent Moon Rock we swam SE past Giant Barrel Sponges to the Staghorn Coral.

On the Staghorn Coral I got a good shot of  this White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii). We swam South and West to try to pickup the Wrap Around Ledge. I missed the main body of the ledge, but ended up just South of the Ledge. We turned West and headed over a sand flat towards the beach.

Along the way, I spotted some Blue Dartfish (Plereleotris calliura) who swim into the current near their nest and pick food from the flowing water.  I also got the shot below of 3 Gray Snappers

 Martha had picked up two large Conch shells and was carrying one in each hand as we got to the beach. She put one of the Conchs down as we headed into the beach. I got this shot of some Gray Snappers (Lutjanus griseus).

Going in at high tide made our lives much easier, even though Martha was carrying an 80 cubic foot tank instead of her smaller 65 cubic foot tank.  I carried the flag, Martha's fins and a Conch shell to the beach, but I didn't have to take my tank off, so walking back to the Jeep was not so onerous has it had been yesterday. We surfaced inside the buoy line at 9:46 am, Our dive time was 135 minutes at a maximum depth of 21.3 feet. My A/C was 22.30 psi/minute; my SAC was 14.72 psi/minute and my RMV was .38 cubic feet per minute. 

  

20200803_Swiss Cheese Reef

Martha and I decided to go diving. Hurricane Isaias had passed without much if any damage and we were eager to get in the water. We left the apartment a little after 7:00 am and headed to the beach. We geared up and I had 3178 psi. We swam out to the buoy line where we descended at 7:58 am.  Got this shot of a Juvenile Cocoa Damselfish (Stegastes variabilis). 

We headed to the Wrap Around Ledge and then the Rock Line a little further East where I got this shot of a Green Razorfish (Xyrichtys splendens).

About 22 minutes into the dive, my computer dropped my tank pressure reading to 0. I figured that I was good for another 100 minutes, at least, so we simply continued the dive but it was disconcerting to look at my gauge and see 0 gas pressure. 

We headed down the Rock Line to the tire and then to the Crescent Moon Rock. From there we headed NE to the Staghorn Coral where I got a shot of this  Squirrelfish (Hollocentrus adscensionis).

I also got a shot of a fish I could identify from my fish identification books. It looks like a pale silver snapper, but the edges of its tail and dorsal fins are a bright red, suggesting that it is a  juvenile Mahogany Snapper (Lutfanus mahogoni). Unfortunately it lacks the dark spot below and to the rear of its dorsal fin that the Mahogany Snapper would have.   

We then swam East to the Sectioned Rock and then North along the reef where I shot this Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster rostrata).

I turned the dive at 90 minutes and we slowly swam back along the reef. At the Sectioned Rock we turned West to the Staghorn Coral. 

I got this shot of a  Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentatus)  on the Staghorn Coral. From there we swam West to the beach.

We surfaced in 4 feet of water. The waves were strong and one simply lifted me up and set me down on the beach. I dropped my camera and weights on the sand then went back to the beach to help Martha. 

Our dive time was 126 minutes at a maximum depth of 21.8 feet. My AC was 22.05 psi/minute; my SAC was 14.55 psi/minute and my RMV was .38 cubic feet per minute. 

and 

20200729_Swiss Cheese Reef

Woke up early, checked my email and had some coffee. Took Mia for a walk then got Martha up. We left the apartment about 6:30 am and got to the beach by 6:45 am. Not a lot of cars in the parking lot, but a lot of small boats at anchor off the beach. We geared up and got in the water about 7:00 am. We swam out to the buoy line then descended at the pin at 7:18 am when I had  3140 psi. 

Spotted this little Blenny soon after descent. I have no idea what he is; I know only that I cannot find him in the Paul Humann and Ned Deloach books.

We swam East to the Wrap Around Ledge; up and over the rubble to the Rock Line; then North to the tire. At the tire we turned East again and headed across a large sand flat to the Crescent Moon Rock. From the Rock, we swam up on a stretch of coral and rubble where I got this shot of a Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus). At 30 minutes into the dive we were headed NE to the Giant Barrel Sponges on the way to the Staghorn Coral. 

Along the way, I spotted and photographed  this Spotted Moray Eel (Gymnothorax moringa). I tried to coax him out of the rocks, but he wasn't having any of it. 

Took this picture of a Cushion Sea Star (Oreaster reticulatus) on the sand flat just South of the Staghorn Coral.

Got this shot of a  Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentatus) slowly hunting on the Staghorn Coral. As you can see from the picture, the reef is made up of several layers of Staghorn Coral that have created a mound of living and dead coral.

From the Staghorn Coral, we swam East to the Sectioned Rock which is so named because as you look at its West face there are deep cracks marking the rock into four sections.   

The Sectioned Rock begins the Swiss Cheese Reef and protects a Giant Anemone (Condylactis gigantea)  

Martha over the Staghorn Coral.

Just as we left to the Staghorn Coral, I got this shot of a  Sand Diver (Synodus intermedius). We were about one hour into the dive and my gas was at 1950 psi.  

This is one of my favorite shots. It is two White Grunts (Haemulon plumierii) arguing. They push against each others mouths until one of them concedes. They don't bite and neither appears suffer any injury beyond the loss of pride. 

 

We continued North along the reef until we ran into some teenage divers hunting lobster from a small boat that was dragging its anchor across the rocky bottom. We were 90 minutes into the dive and I was down to 1300 psi so we turned the dive and swam around them about 40 feet to the East. We were dropping back onto the Swiss Cheese Reef at the Sectioned Rock and I got this shot of a Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) 

Got this shot of mostly White Grunts but also some Bluestriped Grunts and some French Grunts.  

We swam West to the Staghorn Coral then SW across some rubble to the Wrap Around Reef. We swam West to the beach and surfaced in 4 feet of water. Our Dive Time was 130 minutes at a maximum depth of 20.8 feet. My AC was 21.04 psi/minute; SAC was 14.46 psi/minute and RMV was .37 cubic feet per minute.  I had 405 psi left in my tank. 

 and surfaced at 2 hours and ten minutes. I still had 405 psi.