Holiday & diving pix

[Snappy]

Recently spent another week in beautiful Puerto Vallarta.

Fire Coral - those little feathers can sting you like crazy (careful with your legs when you swim by):wink:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/firecoral_zpsee6f87ef.jpg

A bit of Sun Coral inside a cave
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/suncorals1_zpsa4691591.jpg

Peek-a-boo blenny
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/peekaboo_zps16799708.jpg

Inside a cave there was a nusery with fish at every stage of development - here's some babies
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/fishnursery_zps76d3e32f.jpg

another small hide out with baby fish http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/fish1_zps03b45a96.jpg

Christmas Tree Worms
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/christmastreeworm_zps7c4f2dbd.jpg

NPS gorgs with a small colony of Poccilopora in the background
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/corals1-1_zpsb83f5be4.jpg
Stand of Pocillopora
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/pocillopora2-1_zpsa8591d79.jpg

[Snappy]

NPS Gorgs

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/gorgs2_zps3b612139.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/gorgs1-1_zps3047162f.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/gorgs3_zps5b870b61.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/gorgs7_zps5f9bd7e9.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/gorg5_zps713e5bfb.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/gorg4_zps30dddc6d.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/gorgs6_zpsd3cb4de9.jpg

[Snappy]

Nudi - (lousy picture but in my defence the heavy surge made it very challenging to stay still enough to focus the camera)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/nudibranch_zps5fb5d160.jpg

These "filter feeders" are all over the place- They are similar looking to a sea apple but obviously not as colorful and have these fuzzy arms they draw in plankton with. Very cool animal.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/filterfeederslug_zpsdbc27c9c.jpg

Common Sponge
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/sponge_zpsb544c1d4.jpg

Blue Sun Coral - (this was the first time I ever noticed this variety)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/bluesuncoral_zps540236c8.jpg

Do these spines make me look fat?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/porcupinepuffer_zps0ea12e24.jpg

Master of disguise - stone fish
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/stonefish1_zps396ac858.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/stonefish2-1_zpsff98aa2b.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/blennies_zpsf0895793.jpg

Pocillopora
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/pocillopora1_zps4ecad986.jpg

A new friend
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/turtle1head_zps2d003f87.jpg

[Snappy]

What's a surface interval without a family of whales to come up and say hello :biggrin:

Mom & her little one
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/Ibrakeforwhales_zps8dcd8079.jpg

Dad
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/Ibrakeforwhales2_zps130ed13a.jpg

[Snappy]

Also went on a river tour to visit some crocidiles

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/cocodriliaturtle_zpsab848609.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/croc2_zps81ec98fd.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/croc1_zpsc1bf9361.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/croc12_zps9c9a9401.jpg
This bird had just caught lunch
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/birdeatingafish_zps58f7d2fb.jpg

[Snappy]

One of the Yellow Fin Tuna I caught out in the bay.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/yellowfin1_zps24308eb1.jpg

Sunset from our balcony
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/dive%20pix/sunset2_zps80074e1d.jpg

[lastlight]

you caught some amazing stuff on camera thanks for sharing! that puffer and the turtle are nuts =)

i think those two larger fish in the 'nursery' area have it made in the shade. snacks swimming around all day :biggrin:

[mseepman]

Wow, Amazing pictures Greg! Beautiful place to escape to during Calgary's cold winter.

[pinkreef]

:biggrin: I LOVE YOUR PICS THANKS FOR SHARING THEM MY FAV IS THE LITTLE BLENNY WITH THE HEADRESS SO CUTE! WANT ONE :rocol:

[hillegom]

Again, thanks for sharing. Some awesome and unique photos there.
What kind of camera and flash?

[Oilers]

Wow, those are beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing them. How long did it take you to catch the yellow fin tuna? Did you barbecue it? :biggrin:

[Reef_Geek]

great pics Greg! I like the Elacatinus puncticulatus.

[Chowder]

Great pics Greg, Thanks for sharring.

Chris

[Madmak]

Very nice!

I'm there often. Where do you stay and where do you dive? I haven't found locations like that in the bay.

[Coralgurl]

Amazing pics! Those croc pictures literally gave me the shivers!! Just how close were you???

Thanks for sharing!!:lol:

[Jason McK]

WOW great shots. Looks like a wonderful trip

[madkeenreefer]

WOW looks like you had a great time.

P.S Your fish is a travelly not a yellowfin tuna. You must have your pics mixed up.
But it sure is a biggy .nice work!!!

[ashr]

Very cool! Good stuff

[Snappy]

you caught some amazing stuff on camera thanks for sharing! that puffer and the turtle are nuts =)

i think those two larger fish in the 'nursery' area have it made in the shade. snacks swimming around all day :biggrin:
Yeah easy to get a close up since I was holding each of them in my left hand while I shot the pix with my right. :lol:

[Snappy]

Wow, Amazing pictures Greg! Beautiful place to escape to during Calgary's cold winter.
Thanks it's nice to get away.
hillegom - Again, thanks for sharing. Some awesome and unique photos there.
What kind of camera and flash?
Thanks for looking. The camera is a Sony.
pinkreef -
:biggrin: I LOVE YOUR PICS THANKS FOR SHARING THEM MY FAV IS THE LITTLE BLENNY WITH THE HEADRESS SO CUTE! WANT ONE :rocol:

Thanks, yeah there are a ton of blennies & gobies in the area and they are very cool looking.
Oilers - Wow, those are beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing them. How long did it take you to catch the yellow fin tuna? Did you barbecue it? :biggrin:
We went out for 5 hours and we caught 4 of those bad boys. We did have the one I am holding in the picture cooked up and also had some as a plate of sashimi. That said I believe the person who corrected me about them not being actual tuna is right as the meat of the fish was dark red.
Reef_Geek - great pics Greg! I like the Elacatinus puncticulatus.
Yeah there are a lot of them as well as several other varieties of neon gobies.
Chowder - Great pics Greg, Thanks for sharring.

Thanks Chris
Madmak - Very nice!

I'm there often. Where do you stay and where do you dive? I haven't found locations like that in the bay.
We are waiting for our condo at the Grand Venetion to be completed but we have a time share at Velas Vallarta in the Marina. As far as the dive sites go the best sites in Banderas bay are El Morrow & Chimo but you won't get most dive shops to take you there. That said most of the pictures this trip were take at Marietas Island. I recommend Twin Dolphins as my dive shop of choice, don't waste your time with Vallarta Adventure (cattle boat). The problem with the dive shops is their dive masters always seem to be in a rush because they are trying to get too much in on a single dive. In Vallarta you need to get up very close to really see the colors and corals, if you swim past from 10-15 feet away it just looks like rocks but when you get up close you can really enjoy what the reefs have to offer. I can dive for an hour in a small area and have a great time and see more than most other divers who are trying to cover a lot of ground. If you have any questions you can always drop me a line.
Coralgurl - Amazing pics! Those croc pictures literally gave me the shivers!! Just how close were you???

Thanks for sharing!!:lol:
The crocs were several feet away. That said I am used to seeing them up fairly close. For example they are around most of the water hazards in the golf courses. I mean what's a water hazard without a big crocodile???:lol:
Jason McK - WOW great shots. Looks like a wonderful trip We always have a great time in PV - lot's of great restaurants, lot's of fun to be had and you can't beat the weather. Too many people go there and get stuck in the all inclusive rut and don't see what the area really has to offer.
madkeenreefer - WOW looks like you had a great time.

P.S Your fish is a travelly not a yellowfin tuna. You must have your pics mixed up.
But it sure is a biggy .nice work!!! I believe you are correct. I was just going on what the boat Capt was calling it. Not the best eating fish (although it wasn't bad) but they put up a good fight.
ashr - Very cool! Good stuff
Thanks for looking.

[Stones]

Great pics Greg. Thanks for sharing! I never realized PV had such vibrant marine life.

[Lance]

Great pics Greg.
We're going to PV in April for my niece's wedding; staying at the Riu Vallarta Resort in Riviera Nayarit about 20 minutes north of the city. How far away is this from where you were diving?

[magikof7]

wow, Beautiful pics!

[sumpfinfishe]

Fantastic Images!