Crazy amounts of Scuba and Skin Dive Pics from Cuba! [Archive]

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:05 AM

Cuban Scolys
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0447.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0448.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0452.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0453.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0460.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0461.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0466.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0467.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0482.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0484.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0487-1.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_12.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:06 AM

Brains
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0438.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0470.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_1.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_27.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_32.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_51.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_53.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_59.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_78.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Picture132.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:06 AM

Sponge Type
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0456.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0469.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0485-1.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0489-1.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba1.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_11.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_13.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_17.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_19.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_21.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_29.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_34.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_4.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:07 AM

Other Corals
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0451.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0454.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0471.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0475.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0479.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0480.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0488-1.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_10.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_15.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_16.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_2.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_24.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_25.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:08 AM

Other corals cont.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_26.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_28.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_30.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_33.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_35.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_36.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_38.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_39.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_45.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_46.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_54.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:09 AM

Other corals cont.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_55.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_56.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_6.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_60.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_66.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_8.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_9.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0246.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0267.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Picture131.jpg

Trigger Man

02-06-2009, 03:09 AM

I gotta go to Cuba, pics look great, keep them coming. I hope you got some good fish ones coming.

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:09 AM

Some Fish and other randoms
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0457.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0462.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0463.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0464.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0465.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0468.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0472.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_14.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_18.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_20.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_22.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_23.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_31.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_37.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:11 AM

More fish and randoms
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_40.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_41.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_5.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_76.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_77.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_81.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_82.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_85.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Picture150.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Picture152.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Picture153.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:13 AM

Urchins
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_3.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_42.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_47.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_52.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_62.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_44.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:14 AM

Zoos and General Inverts
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_36.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_41.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_43.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_48.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_49.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_50.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_57.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_58.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_61.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_63.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_64.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_65.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_80.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_88.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:14 AM

Porchipine Puffer
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0493-1.jpg

Fying Gurnard
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_73.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_74.jpg

Green Morray Eel
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0496-1.jpg
Not the best pic, I got pretty close but didn`t get much time with it as someones tank was leaking

rocketlily

02-06-2009, 03:15 AM

Amazing pictures!

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:15 AM

The star attraction!!! LIONFISH IN THE CARIBBEAN!!! Lots of lionfish, I mean tonnes!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_67.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_68.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_70.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_71.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_72.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_86.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/Cuba_87.jpg

bignose

02-06-2009, 03:21 AM

Great pics. Looks like you had fun.

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:30 AM

Flying Gurnard
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_23928287.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=23928287.flv)

Neon Goby
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_678a14c5.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=678a14c5.flv)

Peacock Flounder
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_0d9f2c4b.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=0d9f2c4b.flv)

Fish Eating Urchin
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_05f507d7.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=05f507d7.flv)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_cfdfce81.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=cfdfce81.flv)

GF Holding Puffer
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_48c45cb1.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=48c45cb1.flv)

School of Tangs
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_9f5d8b81.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=9f5d8b81.flv)

Royal Gramma
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_43a7434f.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=43a7434f.flv)

Lance

02-06-2009, 03:36 AM

Wow! Great Shots! Love that Lionfish.

lastlight

02-06-2009, 03:46 AM

Thanks for sharing. Loved these!

PoonTang

02-06-2009, 03:50 AM

Awesome pictures. The wife and I are trying to plan a trip to cozumel soon hoping to do a little reef diving.

Chowder

02-06-2009, 04:03 AM

Great pics thanks for sharring.

sphelps

02-06-2009, 04:09 AM

Three Lions under one rock
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_1b79e8eb.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=1b79e8eb.flv)

Three more!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_108452e7.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=108452e7.flv)

Four Lions under one rock
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_7d16d1f8.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=7d16d1f8.flv)

More!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_4c1f80c3.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=4c1f80c3.flv)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_eb61bf5b.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=eb61bf5b.flv)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/th_d517ee0c.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/?action=view&current=d517ee0c.flv)

BlueAbyss

02-06-2009, 05:45 AM

Wow great pics and videos, makes me want to go snorkelling in the lagoon at Xcaret again :biggrin: Thanks for posting!

Borderjumper

02-06-2009, 05:50 AM

aww man Im so jealous!! beautiful pictures.
I have a question.. did you see any little scolys? Ive always wondered how they multiply.. never see any little ones in the stores.

johncody

02-06-2009, 06:37 AM

Absolutely stunning , thanks so much for sharing your picture's

Rbacchiega

02-06-2009, 06:57 AM

rad!

Love the urchin cap

sphelps

02-06-2009, 12:02 PM

did you see any little scolys? Ive always wondered how they multiply.. never see any little ones in the stores.
Yes these were about the size of a dime
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Dive%20Pics/Full%20Size/IMG_0482.jpg

sphelps

02-06-2009, 02:55 PM

These are thumbnails
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2135.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2135.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2148.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2148.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2188.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2188.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2193.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2193.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2198.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2198.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2209.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2209.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2213.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2213.jpg)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2215.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2215.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2217.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2217.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2225.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2225.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2226.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2226.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2561.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2561.jpg) http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/th_DSC_2576.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Cuba/DSC_2576.jpg)

bignose

02-06-2009, 03:12 PM

Did you pet the Lionfish? They look soft and cuddly!!

sphelps

02-06-2009, 03:44 PM

Did you pet the Lionfish? They look soft and cuddly!!
Almost, I was within a couple inches many times.

Phanman

02-06-2009, 04:25 PM

wow love the scolys!!!

rstar

02-06-2009, 05:47 PM

How was Colby's wedding Steve?

sphelps

02-06-2009, 06:10 PM

How was Colby's wedding Steve?
Very nice! Colby seemed to enjoy the fact he did 2 dives before the ceremony (same day).

Ephraim

02-06-2009, 06:19 PM

Where abouts did you go diving? I was down there a couple weeks ago, saw some cool stuff but no where near the diversity you saw! Heading down to Varadero later this year

Ephraim

02-06-2009, 06:21 PM

Also i love the picture of the dead tree with the tillandsia. They look like they are so heavy the tree in bending from them.

sphelps

02-06-2009, 07:57 PM

Where abouts did you go diving? I was down there a couple weeks ago, saw some cool stuff but no where near the diversity you saw! Heading down to Varadero later this year
We stayed at Playa Pesquero which is 18km from Guardalavca outside of Holguin. The dive shop was a short walk from the beach and all the spots we went diving and snorkeling were in very close proximity, no more than 5 min on the boat. The good stuff like the scolys were deeper at around 60-70 feet. The lionfish were mostly in the shallows right off the beach, not too far from swimmers, most of the locals didn't even know they were there.

untamed

02-07-2009, 05:48 AM

Please correct me if I'm wrong...but the lionfish aren't supposed to be there right? Aren't they an introduced species to the Caribbean?

untamed

02-07-2009, 05:49 AM

Awesome pics btw...what camera equipment are you using?

Pan

02-07-2009, 05:55 AM

sphelps

02-07-2009, 12:42 PM

Please correct me if I'm wrong...but the lionfish aren't supposed to be there right? Aren't they an introduced species to the Caribbean?
You are correct the lionfish are native to Indo=Pacific and were some how introduced into the Caribbean. I remember reading about it and heard of other divers seeing 1 or 2 but I figured I would be very lucky to see one. However there are tonnes of these guys, either they are missing a natural predator or something about the new environment increases breading. You could look under almost any rock and find some, often up to six under a single boulder. Cuba is already over fished and there are very little fish compared to other areas I've been, I don't think these lions are going to be a good thing.

Awesome pics btw...what camera equipment are you using?
Thanks. I used a Canon G9 and Canon underwater case. No strobes/flash, I set the camera's aperture to the max setting of 2.8 so it brought in as much light as possible and I always got the fastest shot. Very happy with the camera, but you sure use a lot more air trying to figure it out underwater :wink:

sphelps

02-07-2009, 12:53 PM

I think you should have "pet" the moray instead of the puffy :)
No thanks I was nervous enough trying to get a picture, it was big.
Not to mention (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr1N8Zxnsyw)

Delphinus

02-07-2009, 06:32 PM

There was an thread here a couple weeks ago where someone linked to an article about how Lionfish are showing up in the Caribbean and Florida waters. Think it mentioned either ship ballasts or aquarists as possible causes.

As an aside, I understand that the Everglades have a reasonable healthy population of Burmese Pythons, whereas in their native habitat they are facing extinction. Weird huh, in a way, it's bad, but in a way, it's softening the blow of something else bad somewhere else. :neutral:

untamed

02-07-2009, 10:00 PM

sphelps

02-07-2009, 10:14 PM

No strobe?!! That's very interesting. I haven't yet replaced my old film-based underwater photo equipment...of course I've got the giant stobe mounted on the giant arm...but I generally didn't get as good as results as you are getting...without a strobe!

Hmm...
That's right no strobe. I considered getting a case and strobe setup for my DSLR but after seeing how large the entire unit would be I decided it would too much of a pain to lug around. Instead I went with a small high quality compact and case. One of the things I looked for was a 2.8 aperture so I would hopefully get away with not using a strobe. Very happy with the results I don't think I'll ever bother with a strobe. The G9 also have raw mode so you even have to worry about WB if you don't want to.

DanG

02-08-2009, 06:04 PM

I got back on the 2nd. We were close to where you were, we stayed at the Blau Costa Verde, which was about 20 minutes from guardalavaca. Right off the beach we were able to snorkel and saw a lot of the same fish you did, lions, tangs and surprisingly a lot of damsels.

sphelps

02-08-2009, 08:08 PM