Sep 16, 2006 L is for Lobster
Today we rented a boat to go snorkeling off of Key Largo. It was a beautiful day. After a quick boating lesson and map of the snorkeling/diving layout we headed out. When boats go out to the reef they have to be moored onto a buoy. This is the buoy layout of Molasses Reef, where we were at.
At first we went to the first buoy we came to. It was kinda deep, 40' to 50'. So we ventured to another buoy to see if we could find a shallower place. We ended up going further away, to Pickles Reef, a deeper location that had a lot of jellyfish. So, we went back to Molasses Reef. We found some more shallow waters and settled in. It was amazing and somewhat tiring too. The boat rental was for eight hours, but I think we were out for six hours. There was so much to see out there. These are some of the fish we saw that were memorable to me:
French Angel Fish
Stoplight Parrotfish
Redband Parrotfish
Queen Parrotfish
Blue Parrotfish
Barracuda
The barracuda were few in number as they appeared to be loaners and rather astute observers of their territory. I kinda got used to them watchin' me. I think the Redband parrotfish was my favourite of all. Of course there were many many more fish that I don't have listed here. And by the way, these are all borrowed photos from the internet. I wish I had an underwater camera for this trip.
At one point we got a little bored and started to investigate towards the tower on the reef. After the trip I learned a little more about it. It's Station MLRF1 - Molasses Reef. Apparently this tower collects marine data. Here's the site for it: Molasses Reef Florida 1 When we saw this tower had a lot of birds squawking on it and it appeared to be at a much more shallower location for us to snorkel at, like 5' or less.
Pretty much we got kinda bored and started harassing these spiny little creatures under the coral.
Until today, I had no idea how they swam. They are amazing! Needless to say, unknowingly, as the amateurs we are, we caught a few large ones and had some for din din. Don't get me wrong. It was tasty and all. It's not exactly something I would indulge on a regular basis. During the excursion at the tower we also found an abundance of live conch shells. These guys were crazy looking with their beady little tentacle eyes. We left them alone though. They didn't like being picked up and discovered in the shell.
Somewhere along there I also found a beautiful Spotted Eel. And in the distance I saw a shark. Now, I know this wasn't a nurse shark, because I've swam with them before. This one was less decorated and larger. I think it was a Grey Reef Shark. At first it kinda scared me but then it was cool cause he kept swimming away with some fish family. Nothing like a little excitement added to the adventure.
Spotted Eel
Grey Reef Shark
At first we went to the first buoy we came to. It was kinda deep, 40' to 50'. So we ventured to another buoy to see if we could find a shallower place. We ended up going further away, to Pickles Reef, a deeper location that had a lot of jellyfish. So, we went back to Molasses Reef. We found some more shallow waters and settled in. It was amazing and somewhat tiring too. The boat rental was for eight hours, but I think we were out for six hours. There was so much to see out there. These are some of the fish we saw that were memorable to me:
French Angel Fish
Stoplight Parrotfish
Redband Parrotfish
Queen Parrotfish
Blue Parrotfish
Barracuda
The barracuda were few in number as they appeared to be loaners and rather astute observers of their territory. I kinda got used to them watchin' me. I think the Redband parrotfish was my favourite of all. Of course there were many many more fish that I don't have listed here. And by the way, these are all borrowed photos from the internet. I wish I had an underwater camera for this trip.
At one point we got a little bored and started to investigate towards the tower on the reef. After the trip I learned a little more about it. It's Station MLRF1 - Molasses Reef. Apparently this tower collects marine data. Here's the site for it: Molasses Reef Florida 1 When we saw this tower had a lot of birds squawking on it and it appeared to be at a much more shallower location for us to snorkel at, like 5' or less.
Pretty much we got kinda bored and started harassing these spiny little creatures under the coral.
Until today, I had no idea how they swam. They are amazing! Needless to say, unknowingly, as the amateurs we are, we caught a few large ones and had some for din din. Don't get me wrong. It was tasty and all. It's not exactly something I would indulge on a regular basis. During the excursion at the tower we also found an abundance of live conch shells. These guys were crazy looking with their beady little tentacle eyes. We left them alone though. They didn't like being picked up and discovered in the shell.
Somewhere along there I also found a beautiful Spotted Eel. And in the distance I saw a shark. Now, I know this wasn't a nurse shark, because I've swam with them before. This one was less decorated and larger. I think it was a Grey Reef Shark. At first it kinda scared me but then it was cool cause he kept swimming away with some fish family. Nothing like a little excitement added to the adventure.
Spotted Eel
Grey Reef Shark