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.