Underwater Photography

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Gradient

Hmm sorry not too sure what you're looking at now. Here is a closeup of the tag plus a couple more coz they're such a magnificent animal

Absolutely amazing photos!
Many thanks for posting them.
The tag was not the little black cylinder I thought I could see on the left flank. How do they attach these tags?

SWL

[Prairie Chicken]

This was from post 111, and I've circled the item I don't understand. If you zoom in on the #111 image it is even more confusing.

I'd think that is a remora just forward of the item on his flank.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Prairie Chicken

This was from post 111, and I've circled the item I don't understand. If you zoom in on the #111 image it is even more confusing.

I'd think that is a remora just forward of the item on his flank.

I now see what you are referring to (I was looking at the other image of the hammerhead).

I have enlarged the whitish bit in question here:

[Gradient]

It's just a Remora looking head on, kinda like these fellas:

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Gradient

It's just a Remora looking head on, kinda like these fellas:

I have gone back and circled the bit in question (at least that is what I think Prairie Chicken is referring to ).

[Gradient]

They're its back fins like you can see here.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Gradient

They're its back fins like you can see here.

Thanks. It looked odd. Caught my attention too after Prairie C pointed it out.

Fantastic shots of the remora. I love the last one with the boat in the background. You have taken some amazing photos.

SWL

[Seaworthy Lass]

All the shots from the Bahamas make me think perhaps we need a lifting keel (or a cat ) so that we can visit this area.

The fish of interest here in the Med are generally either lightning fast and elusive like the Ornate wrasse that I still haven't managed to snap a decent shot of, or well camouflaged like the one below.

I think this was a Black goby (Gobius niger).
Edited to add: Reach identified this as a blenny and this matches well. I can't identify the species. Family may be Blenniidae, suborder may be Blennioidei or both may be correct.

He over confidently disguised himself by curving his body around a similarly dappled rock and I spotted him only by chance. Even faced with my camera only about a foot away, he did not instantly move. Gutsy!

Note the white tufts on the forehead. Is that a colony of Bryozoa ('moss animals') or some kind of very modified dorsal spine like the Decorated warbonnet has? A decent reference guide unfortunately can't be added on board until next year so I am struggling.

Edited to add: tufts on blennies are appendages called cirri.

Freediving @ 3m, Sporades, NW Aegean, Greece, August 2015:

[Kenomac]

How did you get a picture of that guy? I tried five or six times the other day on the same kinda fish without luck. I think my lights were scaring him away.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

How did you get a picture of that guy? I tried five or six times the other day on the same kinda fish without luck. I think my lights were scaring him away.

The fish here are frustrating aren't they!

I didn't dive straight down to the goby, but further away and then swam slowly up. He allowed me to do this several times, then moved only about a metre and froze again, making him an easy subject.

I am using no lights and no flash. I tried the flash and didn't like the effect. I also tried taking a torch down to shine the line obliquely, but that was not as good as natural light at the right angle.

SWL

[daletournier]

Thresher shark of Malapascua Island Philippines. They are usually very deep , so have to dive very early morning when come up for cleaning.

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Steadman Uhlich]

To All: Lots of nice photos!

To Dale: The Thresher is a very interesting shark to see. Really cool!

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Gradient

It's just a Remora looking head on, kinda like these fellas:

They leave funny marks on your hull. I thought Neil Armstrong had been walking about on our boat.

[daletournier]

The photo dosent to it justice, is was one of my best diving experiences. Nose to tip of tail some were approx 5m (15ft) long.

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Reach]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

All the shots from the Bahamas make me think perhaps we need a lifting keel (or a cat ) so that we can visit this area.

The fish of interest here in the Med are generally either lightning fast and elusive like the Ornate wrasse that I still haven't managed to snap a decent shot of, or well camouflaged like the one below.

I think this was a Black goby (Gobius niger). He over confidently disguised himself by curving his body around a similarly dappled rock and I spotted him only by chance. Even faced with my camera only about a foot away, he did not instantly move. Gutsy!

Note the white tufts on the forehead. Is that a colony of Bryozoa ('moss animals') or some kind of very modified dorsal spine like the Decorated warbonnet has? A decent reference guide unfortunately can't be added on board until next year so I am struggling.

Freediving @ 3m, Sporades, NW Aegean, Greece, August 2015:

At a quick glance I had a few things to note that might help: The white tufts are cirri that most blennies have with different levels of branching as an appendage. Also noticed the 'curved/sideways' perch is indicative of a blenny. Gobies often take a straight-line stance. They often stay still pretty well and pose for the camera since they rely on camouflage.

Loved seeing your octopus @ anchor BTW!