Photos of Thailand Reefs (high bandwidth!)

[vol_reefer]

Hi all,

Before Sarah and I left for Thailand I promised I'd post some photos when we got back. Took me a while to color correct the underwater shots, but I've finally done all of them. I'll post a few selections and if people want, I can post more. It was an amazing trip. My greatest fear is that we've really spoiled ourselves by making this place our first ocean dive site!

These will be in no particular order...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169320585820723538"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70drz_1WVI/AAAAAAAAAaY/7S-sjHDmR4E/s800/IMG_1251_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Sarah examining a two-tiered tabling acro

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322454131498722"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70fYj_1XuI/AAAAAAAAAmA/GVvxPX8_8Gs/s800/IMG_1637_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
An Emperor Angel, and if you look close, an orange-spotted filefish hovering vertically in the upper right part of the image.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322518556008210"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70fcT_1XxI/AAAAAAAAAmY/zkLbSY-sKE8/s800/IMG_1640_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Another shot of the same Emperor.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323003887313058"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70f4j_1YKI/AAAAAAAAApo/8OeMRs3JCcE/s800/IMG_1715_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
A butterflyfish (forget the exact type) and a couple domino damsels

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322308102610562"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70fQD_1XoI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/8ylCfM0Irbk/s800/IMG_1625_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Not the best shot, but a lion with a couple Regal Angels. I have a Regal in my tank at home, so it was neat to see these in their natural habitat.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322007454899602"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70e-j_1XZI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/eglwtEz66Nk/s800/IMG_1585_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Better shot of a different Regal.

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[vol_reefer]

A few more shots - here's some corals:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321174231243522"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70eOD_1WwI/AAAAAAAAAd0/INLuCfMOS_w/s800/IMG_1441_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Colorful softies on a wall dive

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321058267126434"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70eHT_1WqI/AAAAAAAAAdE/WYGzVUqL-WI/s800/IMG_1421_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321066857061042"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70eHz_1WrI/AAAAAAAAAdM/bNFoV7xh9iA/s800/IMG_1423_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
I don't know if this thing is a coral or a sponge of some sort... it was big.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321960210259314"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70e7z_1XXI/AAAAAAAAAjA/_8kNb895XTQ/s800/IMG_1576_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
A nice assortment of stags and tables looking up a wall

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322205023395378"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70fKD_1XjI/AAAAAAAAAkk/0Al0NomWjHo/s800/IMG_1616_edited-2.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323343189729682"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70gMT_1YZI/AAAAAAAAArk/is98MJNpWC4/s800/IMG_1738_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Bannerfish cruising over a patch of stags

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323536463258162"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70gXj_1YjI/AAAAAAAAAs4/BycEzU8j7Bc/s800/IMG_1758_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Believe me, I thought about fragging this one... but it's a national park.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322355347250850"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70fSz_1XqI/AAAAAAAAAlg/W9ZDkLwIyrc/s800/IMG_1632_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Blue stag

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323600887767650"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70gbT_1YmI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/kxgP12N9s60/s800/IMG_1762_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323618067636850"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70gcT_1YnI/AAAAAAAAAtY/1mv31TVKmkE/s800/IMG_1763_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

I think RC is about to shut down for the evening maintenance, so more tomorrow.

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[ct_vol]

Great shots Jeff... Looks like it was absolutely gorgeous over there... I'm sure you and Sarah enjoyed yourselves immensely... Look forward to some more pics... Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[vol_reefer]

More shots...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323957370053458"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70gwD_1Y1I/AAAAAAAAAvM/O-7LElfrANo/s800/IMG_1785_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Regal and Emporer

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323849995870962"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70gpz_1YvI/AAAAAAAAAuc/xOwskdjQa8Q/s800/IMG_1776_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Blonde Naso

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323738326721218"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70gjT_1YsI/AAAAAAAAAuE/wZdwkSeLi5A/s800/IMG_1770_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Powder Blue

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323691082080930"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70ggj_1YqI/AAAAAAAAAtw/shZJ742hWH0/s800/IMG_1766_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Some kind of butterfly

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323579412931154"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70gaD_1YlI/AAAAAAAAAtI/f9ykDtF3vYQ/s800/IMG_1761_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323514988421666"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70gWT_1YiI/AAAAAAAAAsw/3APpwoZgbcY/s800/IMG_1755_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
That dark mass enveloping the coral below Sarah is actually thousands of fish

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323480628683266"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70gUT_1YgI/AAAAAAAAAsg/5tMGeP9krOY/s800/IMG_1751_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Not sure what these guys are - kinda look like squirrels, but their eyes look too small

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[vol_reefer]

and more...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323304535023986"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70gKD_1YXI/AAAAAAAAArU/vS_fBHJXfoU/s800/IMG_1736_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Collare butterflies

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323235815547202"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70gGD_1YUI/AAAAAAAAAq8/DM7Llz9ENz4/s800/IMG_1733_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Thousands of chromis

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323098376593634"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70f-D_1YOI/AAAAAAAAAqI/KPatnVX7Pdk/s800/IMG_1722_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Big trigger of some sort

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323068311822546"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70f8T_1YNI/AAAAAAAAAqA/sJrvvpAVKNA/s800/IMG_1720_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
These little yellow damsels or chromis (not sure which) were very common

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169323051131953346"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70f7T_1YMI/AAAAAAAAAp4/ccuN1GDb6LE/s800/IMG_1718_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Puffer


<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322969527574658"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70f2j_1YII/AAAAAAAAApY/H8lqbnQmElA/s800/IMG_1713_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Long-nosed butterfly

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322909398032466"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70fzD_1YFI/AAAAAAAAApA/vlcx2sw98qE/s800/IMG_1707_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Anthias

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322784843980786"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70frz_1X_I/AAAAAAAAAoM/JtN1xV1lasI/s800/IMG_1689_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Christmas tree worms macro shot

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322729009405890"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70foj_1X8I/AAAAAAAAAn0/_SkX9MgofJA/s800/IMG_1683_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
I think they were calling these guys "glass fish"

 

[tangboy]

Awesome... simply awesome. I love underwater shots especially of things that we see in tanks that are in their natural environment.

I hope that some of the reefs in HI look as gorgeous as those. Spring Break will hopefully find me snorkeling on some nice spots. I know a local and he said to get me in some nice areas...

LR anyone J/K

 

[vol_reefer]

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322698944634786"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70fmz_1X6I/AAAAAAAAAnk/wRx0TiILFqU/s800/IMG_1676_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Garden eels - these guys were really cool. They behave a bit like prarie dogs, all looking the same direction and then all ducking back into their holes simultaneously when danger approaches.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322673174830978"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70flT_1X4I/AAAAAAAAAnU/Vn01toMxnvM/s800/IMG_1673_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Some kind of hawk? Incidentally, all the shots from Randy's post down to this shot were from the same 50 minute dive at one site (Anita's Reef in the Similan Islands), and they don't even begin to capture the amazing diversity.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322385412021938"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70fUj_1XrI/AAAAAAAAAlo/i5BSp6rj8aA/s800/IMG_1634_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Not sure - pipefish of some sort? This shot and the next set are all from another site in the Simlans called "East of Eden."

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322295217708658"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70fPT_1XnI/AAAAAAAAAlE/LA_8jerMhhg/s800/IMG_1623_edited-2.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322226498231874"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70fLT_1XkI/AAAAAAAAAks/mDCihliZYIQ/s800/IMG_1617_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Anthelias (I think)

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322183548558882"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70fIz_1XiI/AAAAAAAAAkc/4wJA8vyTASc/s800/IMG_1611_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
A Niger trigger I think. Also saw a huge clown tigger on this dive, but he was gone before I could get a shot of him. These large triggers really cruise.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322166368689682"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70fHz_1XhI/AAAAAAAAAkU/A-27mbyBxL4/s800/IMG_1610_edited-2.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322144893853186"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70fGj_1XgI/AAAAAAAAAkM/MQU1FbDh-M8/s800/IMG_1609_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Check out the yellow trumpetfish on the right side.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322123419016690"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70fFT_1XfI/AAAAAAAAAkE/vc7HBb9UV_Y/s800/IMG_1605_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
This LPS was pretty big - nearly 1m across as I remember. Not sure what it is

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322093354245602"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70fDj_1XeI/AAAAAAAAAj8/H-6L4tJymqI/s800/IMG_1604_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Think maybe this is another type of trumpetfish (not sure) near the top of the image

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[cee]

Jeff, those are awesome pictures. What kind of current were you experiencing in the areas where the A. hyacinthus were growing? Also, Sarah looks a bit startled in that pic with all the fish under her. Did they catch her off guard?

Dave

 

[vol_reefer]

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322076174376402"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70fCj_1XdI/AAAAAAAAAj0/fjFWxh-qvxo/s800/IMG_1602_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
There were Moorish Idols everywhere. Sometimes it's frustrating to see so many non-reef-safe on the reef - wish we could keep some of these in our tanks!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169322058994507202"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70fBj_1XcI/AAAAAAAAAjs/tYT1AYTyTA0/s800/IMG_1597_edited-2.jpg" /></a>
Sarah waving in front of a huge outcrop of montis

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321981685095810"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70e9D_1XYI/AAAAAAAAAjI/F_bmzTIhswE/s800/IMG_1578_edited-2.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321938735422818"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70e6j_1XWI/AAAAAAAAAi4/k3uf_i9kNfg/s800/IMG_1525_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
This shot (a large parrotfish) and the next few are actually snorkeling shots from a site called Monkey Beach on Phi Phi (pronounced "Pee Pee" - no joke) Island. We didn't see any monkeys on the beach, but it's probably a good thing - they're supposed to be kind of aggressive.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321912965619026"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70e5D_1XVI/AAAAAAAAAiw/zh-tx7eVsDk/s800/IMG_1522_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321900080717122"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70e4T_1XUI/AAAAAAAAAik/T3O6hQ5UiYY/s800/IMG_1521_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
You can see how the colors tend to be a bit more vibrant at these shallower depths - better light penetration of the full spectrum

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321698217254082"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70esj_1XMI/AAAAAAAAAhY/cIFWomUJIIc/s800/IMG_1512_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Some pink skunk clowns in a really large anemone

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321723987057874"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70euD_1XNI/AAAAAAAAAhg/6FBQxsRhLdE/s800/IMG_1513b_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321603727973442"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70enD_1XEI/AAAAAAAAAgY/JCDr777eXA8/s800/IMG_1494_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
I think these Sargeant Majors thought they were piranhas in their own minds by the way they circled us.

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[vol_reefer]

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321642382679170"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70epT_1XII/AAAAAAAAAg4/ISQQ8aiLEr8/s800/IMG_1508_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Another closeup of a green stag. Note the big teal-colored clam behind it.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321887195815218"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70e3j_1XTI/AAAAAAAAAic/dJeyL_ijh9U/s800/IMG_1520_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
YAMI (Yet Another Moorish Idol). I think that's what's called an 8-band butteryfly in the background. Another clam on the left.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321676742417586"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70erT_1XLI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/S7XmMqMoXa4/s800/IMG_1511_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
More skunks in an anemone.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321539303463938"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70ejT_1XAI/AAAAAAAAAf0/M1VPSI0izOA/s800/IMG_1486_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Chevron butterfly

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321388979608530"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jemoersch/R70eaj_1W9I/AAAAAAAAAfg/8YqghIWvw0k/s800/IMG_1483_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Think these are called Rainbow butterflies - one of those species they always say fail miserably in aquaria because they only eat coral.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321346029935506"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jemoersch/R70eYD_1W5I/AAAAAAAAAfA/i2LXbS5BTN0/s800/IMG_1476_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321376094706626"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70eZz_1W8I/AAAAAAAAAfY/HhT0eraTjf4/s800/IMG_1480_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321358914837410"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70eYz_1W6I/AAAAAAAAAfI/J0MQ_r-ZWcg/s800/IMG_1478_edited-1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321298785295202"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70eVT_1W2I/AAAAAAAAAeo/ISG4nWyNZn0/s800/IMG_1466_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Pipefish

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[vol_reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11903660#post11903660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cee
Jeff, those are awesome pictures. What kind of current were you experiencing in the areas where the A. hyacinthus were growing? Also, Sarah looks a bit startled in that pic with all the fish under her. Did they catch her off guard?

Dave

Those tabling acros were in an area of some moderate, unidirectional (at least while we were there) current. It was strong enough that I had to sort of pivot and put my head into the current whenever I wanted to stop for a shot. The rest of the time we just let it drift by like the world's greatest filmstrip.

I don't know if Sarah was surprised by all those fish or just checking them out. I think I just turned around and saw her there like that when I got that shot.

I have to go teach now. I'll post some more tonight. Hopefully this isn't too image intensive a thread for anyone (I did put a warning in the thread title!).

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[EvilMel]

I love garden eels SOOO much. They are the coolest thing!

 

[seased]

those are great pictures! About how deep were you when the pictures were taken?

 

[KafudaFish]

Those are really nice pictures. Thank you for posting. I cannot pick a favorite shot. Perhaps you need to post more please.

Garden eels +1. I wonder if anyone has a garden eel tank?

 

[misfitkris]

What beautiful pictures!

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[derrikd]

WOW.... More

 

[ct_vol]

I'm surprised at how colorful a lot of the corals are... I guess I'm used to seeing Carribean pics... The only other nice ones I've seen were of the GBR...

 

[vol_reefer]

Dave (seased) - I think our deepest dive was something like 22 meters, but most of the photos were from shallower than that - maybe 10 - 15m for the scuba shots and very shallow (1-3 meters) for the snorkeling shots.

Mike (kafuda) - I have this vague recollection of seeing a garden eel tank somewhere not too long ago... maybe the Georgia Aquarium? I don't know if they have any special care requirements... don't think I've seen them in the stores. They are super cool, though - very comical.

Randy (ct_vol) - the colors are pretty real, I think, but the photos have been color corrected to account for the weaker red light illumination at depth. In some cases I was able to use Photoshop Element's "remove color cast" where you just pick an area where you know the color should be grey or white and it comes up with a correction for the whole image based on that. In other cases, I had to use something people on one of the scuba boards refer to as the "mandrake correction" which is more sophisticated (translated, I'm not completely sure what it does, but it works). However, if no colors were present to begin with, I don't think these corrected images would show the color variability you see.

Anyway, I don't have too many more really good shots, so let me post them now:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321195706080034"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jemoersch/R70ePT_1WyI/AAAAAAAAAeE/_nbZcDNfwrY/s800/IMG_1448_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
A gorgonian?

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving/photo#5169321187116145426"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jemoersch/R70eOz_1WxI/AAAAAAAAAd8/IXE30cQ5PIk/s800/IMG_1442_edited-1.jpg" /></a>
Softies and a monti on a wall

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Two bar rabbitfish. I had hoped to see a magnificent foxface because I have one of those at home and they're supposed to come from the Andaman Sea (where we were), but no such luck.

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??? No idea what these are

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An assortment of wrasses. The second from the left might be a Christmas wrasse (which I have in my tank) but could also be one of the thalassoma wrasses. Cleaner wrasse on the far left. We spotted a couple cleaner wrasse cleaning stations where the other fish line up like they're at a car wash, waiting to be picked clean.

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Open brain of some sort

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More softies. All the pics in this post are from a site known as Bida Nok, by the way.

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[vol_reefer]

These are from another site, a place called Siam Bay off a little island south of Phuket called Racha Yai.

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Moray

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Blue ridge coral, I think - there was a lot of it at this site

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Close-up of the edge of a tabling acro

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Some kind of fire coral I think

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Purple fungia - I have one of these. It was the only thing I saw on these dives where the version I have in my tank is actually bigger!

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Butterfly - I thought it was a threadfin, but I just looked at some online photos of those and they don't seem to have the vertical black bar on the trailing edge and tail like this guy

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Wrasse - looks like maybe a cousin to my Christmas wrasse (halichoeres sp.)

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[vol_reefer]

Last set of shots

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Big softie

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Blue linckia

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Looks like something from Mel's old tank

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Our divemaster pointed this bad boy out to me - never would have spotted him on my own. Made me a little nervous even getting close enough to it for the photo, but I think you're ok if you don't startle them, step on them, or get too close...

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Chromis and I think some kind of bicolor blenny

For anyone who is interested, the photos I've posted here are a subset of the ones I have in an online album at http://picasaweb.google.com/jemoersch/ThailandDiving, although I think the ones I put here are some of the best. Even the ones posted in that album are a subset of the total that I took (around 500 frames!).

All of these were shot on a little Canon Powershot SD800 digital compact camera in an underwater housing. I've also got around 1300 above-water shots from the trip taken with this camera and a Canon Eos 40D SLR, but while they're also interesting I figure they're probably not as germane to this board. If folks are interested, once I have them processed and uploaded to an online album I can post a link here. The pics we got of the temple ruins at Angkor in Cambodia turned out particularly nice.

Last thing, in case anyone ever stumbles on this thread when doing a search on diving in Thailand: I give my highest recommendation for the dive shop we went with, Phuket Pro Dive (http://www.phuket-scuba-diving.com/). It's owned and operated by a Canadian/Japanese couple, Richard and Megumi, and they really are top notch. Megumi was our divemaster on all the dives, and she was very safety-oriented and just totally had her act together - very organized and efficient. I looked around a lot before picking this outfit, and got the definite impression that a lot of the dive businesses in the area are not as organized. Megumi tailored our dives perfectly for our novice experience levels, but I'm also certain she could cater to any level.

Jeff (vol_reefer)