Freshwater Plants

These are all true plants. In freshwater, much of the algal growth is in the form of slimes that grow on rocks, plants, and other surfaces, and of course microscopic phytoplankton. While freshwater algae is an important part of the ecosystem, it is not very remarkable to the typical scuba diver.


Microscopic Filamentous Green Algae
Microscopic Filamentous Green Algae ( plankton and attached )

Cattail

Typha latifolia

Size: to 7 ft

Habitat: water's edge

Notes:





Duckweed

Spirodela polyrhiza

Size: to 0.1"

Habitat: floating free at surface

Notes: Among the smallest seed plants; important food for many waterfowl.


Yellow Water Lily

Nuphar advena

Size: to 9" (leaves)

Habitat: rooted in muddy bottoms with leaves floating at the surface

Yellow is the most common color, but you may also find white and pink.


Hornwort

Ceratophyllum demersum

Size: to 10 ft

Habitat: beneath the surface in quiet waters

Notes: May form dense thickets


light

Unlike ( or just like ) the Caribbean, diving in New Jersey is actually better at night in many ways. That's obviously not true if you are out to survey a shipwreck, but for inlet diving, there is no comparison. During the day, the day critters will be wide awake, and you won't be able to get near them, while the night critters will be down in their holes where you'll never see them.

At night, you can go right up to the sleeping day critters and pinch them, even the fish. Some even seem mesmerized by your light, which will also draw in many small invertebrates by itself. Meanwhile, the night critters will be out prowling around, including the king of all night critters, the lobster. And if you shut off the light and wave your hands vigorously, the bioluminescents will put on a show for you.