4 Jan 2016

Swimming with the Fishes

by | posted in: Bahamas, Bahamas 2015-2016, Family and Friends | 2

One of the things I like the most about the Bahamas is the water. I love sailing and boating during the New England summers, but the northern water cannot compare to this water –turquoise, aqua, teal colors and so clear. Should I also mention warm?? 78-80 degrees. It is a delight to swim in this water where you can see so much. We snorkeled often through the holiday week. The winds had died down and the sun was “out” more than it was “in.” Our three snorkeling adventures were extra special because Dan brought his GoPro camera along and generously shared the photos. This blog post will be mostly photos, LOTS of photos —  Thank you so much, Dan, for sharing them so that I can preserve these memories!

Only a picture can describe the beautiful water. Out near Johnny's Cay.
Only a picture can describe the beautiful water. Out near Johnny’s Cay.

On Christmas Day we dinghied out to Johnny’s Cay where Dan and Marcia showed us a little underwater arch.

The arch southeast of Johnny's Cay.
The “arch,”  southeast of Johnny’s Cay.
That's us, through the arch.
That’s us, through the arch.
Marcia and Dan
Marcia and Dan (I got to use the GoPro that time. No viewfinder, you just point and click, and hope for the best.)
That's us again.
That’s us again.

On New Year’s Day, we began 2016 with another snorkel around a nearby coral head that usually has some nice fish. Al showed me a very curious large fish hiding in one of the holes – big white lips, bug eyes and a fat face. We aren’t sure what it was; perhaps a grouper??

Even the dinghy looks pretty cool from below. Nic clean bottom!
Even the dinghy looks pretty cool from below. Nice clean bottom!
Dan photographed the three of us from below.
Dan photographed the three of us from below. What a shame he couldn’t do an underwater group selfie!
Dan, laying on the bottom waving back at us. He can dive deeper than any of us!!
Dan, laying on the bottom waving back at us. He can dive deeper than any of us!! We swear he has gills.
Al and me, swimming around (Marcia's legs also.)
Al and me, swimming around (Marcia’s legs also.)
Do we look like surprised frogs??
Do we look like surprised frogs??
Me
Me, trying to dive a little below the surface.

On January 2nd, we took advantage of the calm seas, very light wind, and blue skies to travel to Fowl Cays National Park. A rare (this season) perfect day for snorkeling. Instead of a dinghy trip, the four of us all went on Kindred Spirit, 7.5 nautical miles northwest of Elbow Cay, and just beyond Man O War. The underwater pictures  are so much better because of these terrific weather and sea conditions.

The highlighted green area shows the The Fowl Cays National Park, a new 1,920-acre reserve.
The highlighted green area shows the The Fowl Cays National Park, a new 1,920-acre reserve.
Fowl Cays
Fowl Cays National Park
Fowl Cay National Park
We anchored Kindred Spirit on the west side of the National Park and dinghied over tot he reefs.
We anchored Kindred Spirit on the west side of the National Park and dinghied over to the reefs.
Getting ready to snorkel.
Getting ready to snorkel.

I am including all of my favorite photos that Dan shared from the GoPro camera. Take a deep breath and go under with us.

Sergeant majors swimming about. There's always a lot of them.
Sergeant majors swimming about. There’s always a lot of them.
AL swimming with the
Al is swimming with what looks like blue tangs or blue parrotfish?
Al, with me in the distance
Al, with me in the distance, and a few fish of unknown type.
Snorkeling around the reef
Marcia, with Al and me in the background, snorkeling around the reef.
Edge of the reef
Edge of the reef
Coral and fish
Coral and fish
A school of little blue fishes swimming by.
A school of little blue fishes swimming by.
Stoplight parrotfish - blue one is mature with accents of many colors. The reddish speckled on his an immature stoplight parrotfish.
Stoplight parrotfish – blue one is mature with accents of many colors. The reddish & speckled one is an immature stoplight parrotfish.
Blue tangs?
Blue tangs? Or blue parrotfish?
A beautiful purple fan coral. It was amazing to see so much of this coral alive and well.
A beautiful purple fan coral. It was amazing to see so much of this coral alive and well.
A shy yellow pencil fish hiding in the coral.
A shy yellow pencil fish hiding in the coral.
Marcia and me, both wearing pink today (so no one mistakes us for the fish?)
Marcia and me, both wearing pink today (so no one mistakes us for the fish?)
A yellow tail snapper swimming away.
A yellow tail snapper swimming away.
A southern stingray has covered himself in sand and lies on the bottom. So cool to see!!
A southern stingray has covered himself in sand and lies on the bottom. So cool to see!!
On our way back to Kindred Spirit on the other side of Fowl Cay
On our way back to Kindred Spirit on the other side of Fowl Cay
A group selfie after the snorkeling.
A group selfie after the snorkeling. What a day!!

Let the photos speak for themselves because I can’t describe how cool this was, especially the Follow Cays National Park – best snorkeling here!

I wish I could identify fish better. I tried to visually memorize as many as possible so that I could check a fish guide afterwards and find their names. (We really need to get our own fish guide.) Then I googled each name and downloaded a photo so that I could record them here and make my own personal guide and record.

Blue Tangs and Blue Hamlets
French grunts and Blue stripe grunts (I cannot tell the difference!)
Sergeant major and Squirrelfish (left)
Stoplight parrotfish, immature and mature (right)
Schoolmaster snapper and Yellowtail snapper (left)
Yellowed wrasse and Bluehead wrasse (right)
Long skinny pencil fish and a southern stingray, not covered with sand

2 Responses

  2. Michele Boulay
    | Reply

    Great photos! We have a GoPro & love it. Looking forward to some snorkel trips after seeing yours! Have fun. We are waiting out weather in Green Turtle.

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