New Jersey Scuba Diving

Cozumel Underwater 3

Cozumel - Giant Crab — Now we're on the first night dive. A "Giant Crab" *Mithrax* (?) related to northern Spider Crabs.

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 - Punta Sur — Punta Sur. Going into the hole.

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 - 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*

Sharks - Offshore

Here is an assortment of large sharks that can be found in New Jersey waters, by no means all of them. These are more likely to be found offshore in oceanic waters. Sharks are seldom a danger to divers, they seem to be put off by the noise and bubbles. Nonetheless, all should be treated with caution.

Realistically, sharks in our waters are not a great concern. In over 350 northeast ocean dives, I have seen sharks on only several occasions ( not counting harmless little Dogfishes ) and only once while in the water. That one was in the Mud Hole, on the Arundo, to be precise. It was a Blue, or possibly a Mako, and wanted nothing to do with me, which was a relief since I had half an hour of deco left to do at the time! That would have left me very bent otherwise.

Note the difference between the toothless Basking Shark at left
and the very not toothless Great White Shark at right.

Note the difference between the toothless Basking Shark at left
and the very not toothless Great White Shark at right.

If you think about it, humans must taste terrible to sharks, and scuba divers especially - with rubber suits and big metal tanks. Many shark attacks occur in murky water where the shark is not sure what it is attacking. Some attacks have been the result of the shark being stepped on in shallow water. Most shark attacks on humans are abortive, the shark taking only one exploratory bite, then realizing its mistake and breaking off the attack. Unfortunately, with a large shark, one bite and you're dead. Many predators, from bears to tigers, will prey on humans when sickness, injury, or old age make them unable to catch their normal prey. Sharks are probably no different.

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