Cozumel Underwater 3 ~ 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*

Close-up & Flash

By well-lit, what I mean is situations that fall within the normal range of your camera's exposure program. This is a combination of ISO (film) speed, shutter speed, and aperture which will result in capturing a desired image. On land, such situations occur all day long, but underwater they are rare. Clear shallow water with a bright sun shining overhead is the only environment in which your camera is likely to work unaided, as it would topside.

An unremarkable ambient light test shot, at a depth of about 100 ft. Note the loss of colors, even close-up. Flash would bring out all the hidden colors.

Cozumel Underwater 3

Cozumel

Photography - Well-lit Situations

Close-up & Flash