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*

Doing It Right?

"DIR" or "Doing It Right" is a system of diving developed by cave divers which involves extremely rigid gear configurations and methodologies. To its adherents, DIR takes on an almost religious significance. For the true follower of DIR, no deviation may be tolerated, because DIR is perfection.

DIR is designed for cave diving. The usual object of cave diving is to go in and come back out alive. In line with this goal of accomplishing essentially nothing, DIR espouses an absolutely minimal equipment kit: "When in doubt, leave it home." DIR also espouses teamwork, mutual interdependence, and close lock-step buddy diving, things that are pretty much unavoidable in the confines of a cave anyway.

More: Doing It Right? ...