Ricordea, Zoas and other cool creatures

[Speckled Grouper]

A few pictures from our dives this past weekend - I have plenty more if you are interested

 

[Speckled Grouper]

 

[REDDAWG43]

Dam Andrea...thats awesome.
I love all your pics...

 

[ninjamini]

Wow is that just in the sand? Like you can just reach out and take some?

i think you can collect if few if there not attached and its not in the park.

 

[illal]

where was this ??

 

[Fish2reef]

Great pictures, what are you taking them with?

 

[MediaHound]

Wow, nice pictures!
The colors you were able to capture are amazing.

 

[Lifes A Beach]

Beautiful pictures and beautiful reef! How deep were you diving?

 

[Speckled Grouper]

To answer the questions:

Ninja, not as easy as it looks, they are very much attached and you have to take great care not to hurt them. But you are correct, as long as it's not in the parks or sanctuary, you can collect up 20 specimen with your Saltwater Licence.

This is in the Lower Keys

Water depth about 20 to 30 feet

The camera is a Canon A-75 with underwater housing.

 

[ninjamini]

I would love to learn to dive. Any suggestions on where and how? My wife is/was certified and went all over as a kid. She was even in a ship wreck.

 

[Speckled Grouper]

We got certified at Diver's Cove in Davie. I think it doesn't really matter where you do it, the quality of the instructor is what's important.

 

[Lifes A Beach]

Were these pictures taken in a sanctuary? It's beautiful!

 

[invertigator]

Andrea,

Your pictures are wonderful.

 

[45commando]

Hi Andrea,great pics.The coral in the picture above the Porites/worm rock,was it fragged,or are the white tips from fish predation?

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Darcy, I guess it might be Parrot Fish, that are nipping on them.

This firecoral packs a powerful sting though, I can attest to that first hand

Here's a couple more shots of some

 

[45commando]

yea, I've had a run in or two with Fire coral years ago.Looking at the bottom pic,it definatley looks as though something has been keeping the colony in check-stubby growth witn many growing tips.It's amazing that something that packs such a powerful sting/toxin is regular food for something on the reef.Once again great pics,Best Darcy.

 

[SouthFloridian]

I am very intersted in diving where there are some ricordia.
Is it possible to take a few pieces?

Where were these pictures taken?

Was it a boat trip.

Was it in a park?

 

[leoslizards]

Just beautiful!