Cozumel Underwater 3

Cozumel - Giant Crab
Now we're on the first night dive. A "Giant Crab" Mithrax (?) related to northern Spider Crabs.
Cozumel - Giant Crab
Mr Crab again.
Cozumel - Yellow Stingray
Yellow Stingray Urolophus jamaicensis
Cozumel - Stoplight Parrotfish
A sleeping Stoplight Parrotfish Sparisoma viride
Cozumel - Slipper Lobster
Slipper Lobster Scyllarides nodifer or
Sculptured Slipper Lobster Parribacus antarcticus
  • No claws, no spines, no teeth, no camouflage.
  • No fangs, no barbs, no bristles, no poison.
  • No strength, no speed, no brains.
  • You really have to wonder how they survive.
Cozumel - Common Atlantic Octopus
Common Atlantic Octopus Octopus vulgaris
Cozumel - Common Atlantic Octopus
Obviously not pleased to see me.
Cozumel - Common Atlantic Octopus
I found this one on my own and didn't share it with anyone, which is probably why I was able to get some decent pictures.
Cozumel - Punta Sur
Punta Sur. Going into the hole.
Cozumel - Punta Sur
Coming out of the hole. I still don't understand why people dive in holes.
Cozumel - Mostly French Grunts
Mostly French Grunts Haemulon flavolineatum
Cozumel - crab
Another crab, oddly out in the open during the day.
Cozumel - French Angelfish
French Angelfish. I think these are the most majestic of the Angelfishes. Not as gaudy as the Queens, and a lot bigger.
Cozumel - Stoplight Parrotfish
Stoplight Parrotfish ( female ). Males are bluish, like Queen Parrotfish
Cozumel - Queen Triggerfish
Queen Triggerfish Balistes vetula. Headin' for the hills - I'm surprised I got this close. ( Photo is cropped - you can guess the range from the colors. )
Cozumel - Blue Tang
Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleus and Squirrelfish Holocentrus adscensionis
Cozumel - Almost
Almost (Queen Angelfish)
Cozumel - Sharptail Eel
Nighttime again. Sharptail Eel Myrichthys acuminatus
Cozumel - Stoplight Parrotfish
Another sleeping Stoplight Parrotfish, the terminal male phase. The bright yellow dot at the upper end of the gill slit is a giveaway.
Cozumel - Yellow Stingray
This little Yellow Stingray was happily digging a hole after something in the sand, and didn't mind having his picture taken at all.


River Snail

Goniobasis virginica

Size: to 1"

Habitat: flowing water

Notes: This is one example of the many small snails you may find during a freshwater dive. They are very common in Round Valley Reservoir, which is filled from the Raritan River.

Printed from njscuba.net