New Jersey Scuba Diving

Leeches

Macrobdella spp.

Size: to 10"

Habitat: aquatic

Notes: It's not a nice thought, but there are leeches in our freshwaters, and in marine habitats as well. The species shown is one of the largest and most attractive, if you can say such a thing. It feeds exclusively on vertebrate blood - a good reason to wear a wetsuit, although I've never encountered one. Leeches are actually worms, not insects, but ...

Insects

Insects are almost completely lacking in the marine environment. I recall something about saltwater having a very bad effect on their lungless respiratory system ( although this does not affect spiders. ) Insects are quite common in freshwater environments though, both as larvae and adults. A little digging can turn up myriad types, but be careful, some of them can bite very painfully.

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Manasquan River Inlet

Manasquan Inlet — Low tide, winter.
Point Pleasant on the left /south
Manasquan on the right / north

Type:: tidal river inlet with stone jetties or bulkheads on both sides
Depth:: 30 ft

This inlet has a long slightly L-shaped jetty on the north side and a longer straight jetty on the south side. Both jetties are made of large stones and concrete, and the ends are built out of man-made concrete "jacks", shaped like an H with a 90-degree twist in the middle.

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