Island Living - Bimini, Bahamas Part II

Bimini Part I, Bimini Part II, Bimini Part III.

Today was the big day.

Nurse Shark Ginglymostoma cirratum and Great Hammerhead Shark Sphyrna mokarran

I had been trying to photographing this nurse shark in the sand flats when I noticed the looming shape in the background. The game was on! Technically, not a great shot by any means, but I just love it.

I wish I could have spent all day with the hammers. My limited bottom time just didn't cut it. Looking back I realize this is ridiculous, and I should be extremely thankful to even get a second long glimpse of this regal and magnificent fish. As it was, I got to hang out and get multiple looks. It was hard to convince myself to take a few passes to just focus on the shark and the moment, and to leave the camera pointed down, but it was worth the imprint in my memory of the grace of the shark cruising underwater.

The next dive was much less eventful, but I had my WA lens loaded, and I enjoyed trying to photograph the large schools of fish on the shallow reef. Since returning, I have really gotten a kick out of trying to ID all the fish that were photographed in the picture. It has proved difficult, but rewarding and my fish identification skills should be much improved on future dives.

French Angelfish Pomacanthus paru, Porkfish Anisotremus virginicus (top right with vertical black bars), White Grunts Haemulon plumierii, French Grunts Haemulon flavolineatum, Black Durgon Melichthys niger (top left), Bluestriped Grunts Haemulon sciurus, Yellowtail Snapper Ocyurus chrysurus (top left), Tomtate Haemulon aurolineatum

Spotted Goatfish Pseudupeneus maculatus, Bluestriped Grunts Haemulon sciurus, French Grunts Haemulon flavolineatum, White Grunts Haemulon plumierii

Gray Angelfish Pomacanthus arcuatus

Bluestriped Grunts Haemulon sciurus, Tomtate Haemulon aurolineatum, French Grunts Haemulon flavolineatum, Squirrelfish Holocentrus adscensionis, White Grunts Haemulon plumierii, Spotted Goatfish Pseudupeneus maculatus

Bluestriped Grunts Haemulon sciurus, Tomtate Haemulon aurolineatum, French Grunts Haemulon flavolineatum, Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleus, Squirrelfish Holocentrus adscensionis

Atlantic Trumpetfish Aulostomas maculatus, Bluestriped Grunts Haemulon sciurus, French Grunts Haemulon flavolineatum, Tomtates Haemulon aurolineatum, Spotfin Butterflyfish Chaetodon ocellatus, Sergeant Major Abudefduf saxatilis, Ocean Surgeonfish Acanthurus tractus, Squirrelfish Holocentrus adscensionis, Blackbar Soldierfish Myripristis jacobus, Doctorfish Acanthurus chirurgus 

The pythons in south Florida may be getting much of the bad press, but another hugely problematic invasive species introduced by the pet trade is the Red Lionfish Pterois volitans. The fish have become widely established on reefs in the caribbean and the gulf. They grow very large, very fast, and eat many of the native reef fishes. They reproduce extremely quickly and have enormous clutches. A recipe for disaster. So far, it seems they have no native predators. Luckily, very strong efforts have been initiated to attempt to help keep their numbers in check. We know they can't be eradicated, but are working hard to provide some form of natural predator - humans! Reef.org (check out their site for wonderful information and ways to help) is helping lead the way, organizing lionfish hunts and contests and even publishing a lionfish cookbook to provide safe cleaning methods and delicious lionfish recipes - Eat 'Em to Beat 'Em!

Unfortunately, I saw lionfish on every reef dive. My divemaster usually brings a small spear along to do his part, but we didn't have one today. He was pretty sure he had taken care of them all at this dive location. Guess not...

Red Lionfish Pterois volitans, Bluestriped Grunts Haemulon sciurus, Bluehead Wrasse yellow initial phase Thalassoma bifasciatum (yellow fish to left center), Longspine Squirrelfish Holocentrus rufus (two bottom right, better IDed from photos earlier in sequence), and maybe a schoolmaster Lutjanus apodus

Red Lionfish Pterois volitans, Bluestriped Grunts Haemulon sciurus (top center with black tails), French Grunts Haemulon flavolineatum (bottom center), White Grunts Haemulon plumierii (intermixed, mostly bottom left), Blackbar Soldierfish Myripristis jacobus (left center background), Goatfish Sp. (Red Goatfish Mullus auratus???? - left center red fish in sea of grunts)

I spotted a nurseshark on this dive, which I left to his slumber.

And finally I will leave you with a couple eels spotted on the reef. This was actually quite an enjoyable dive.

Goldentail Moray Gymnothorax miliaris

Green Moray Eel Gymnothorax funebris, Bluestriped Grunts Haemulon sciurus (all over with black tails), French Grunts Haemulon flavolineatum (bottom left), White Grunts Haemulon plumierii (intermixed, mostly center left and center right), and maybe a Blackbar Soldierfish Myripristis jacobus (partially hidden bottom center)???

More Bimini (and sharks, and snakes!) to come very soon.

Bimini Part I, Bimini Part II, Bimini Part III.

Island Living - Bimini, Bahamas Part I

Bimini Part I, Bimini Part II, Bimini Part III.

You might remember from about this same time last year that I entered the world of underwater photography? I haven't had much of a chance to dive and practice my new hobby since our trip last February. With winter fully upon us, Molly and I decided it would be a nice time to escape the ice and snow. Sounds like a great time for another dive trip!

We decided to stay a little more low key than Bora Bora. We wanted someplace close and easy to travel to quickly. I wanted good diving, (and maybe a snake or two) and Molly wanted warm weather, and a beach. Armed with our wish list, we looked at the Caymans, Utila and the Bahamas. Utila and the whale sharks were our first choice, but we decided it was a little more travel than we were looking for. We decided to try the Bahamas. I was fueled by some amazing images of Great Hammerhead sharks coming out of there, and Dick Bartlett and Jake Scott had some interesting stories of foreign herps.

Bimini was easily reached. We flew from Detroit to Fort Lauderdale, and then picked up a 25 min plane ride for the 50 mile trip due east. There is even a highspeed ferry (cruise ship?) that makes the trip from Florida to Bimini in about 1.5 hours. We had an early flight, and were to land on the island a little after noon. There were some rain delays, but we still got in early enough that our day was not wasted.

I may not be up on the most recent nomenclature for the fish or the herps. I used Reef Fish Identification to Florida, Caribbean and the Bahamas for the aquatic stuff. For the herps I used www.caribherp.org and Island Lists of the West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles from 2012.

Greeting us upon our arrival were the resident bull sharks that hang out around the docks of the Marina. 

Seems like we were at the right place! The next day got off to an early start as there were a couple dives planned for the morning. It was going to be one of my only dive days where sharks were not the focus, as well as I my first time shooting with the camera in a while. I decided to try my hand at macro and focus on the small(er) critters.

I'm still pretty new to trying to ID many of these fish. Corrections welcome!

Squirrelfish Holocentrus adscensionis

Yellowhead Jawfish Opistognathus aurifrons

Blue Chromis Chromis cyanea

Whitespotted Filefish Cantherhines macrocerus

Spotted Moray Eel Gymnothorax moringa

The resort we stayed at had plenty of trees and some of Bimin's herps were easily found on the grounds.

Bahaman Brown Anole Anolis sagrei ordinatus

Bimini Ameiva Ameiva auberi richmondi

Bimini Curly-tailed Lizard Leiocephalus carinatus coryi

Bimini Green Anole Anolis smaragdinus lernerii

Bimini Bark Anole Anolis distichus bimiensis

I also explored the streets around North Bimini a bit, flipping rocks and debris when possible and trying to not be too intrusive of people and their homes. Places that looked inhabitable definitely had inhabitants... More of the species above were seen, as well as a Sphaerodactylus sp. that escaped without definitive ID. I was able to find my fist snake though, the biggest blind snake I have ever seen, flipped under a small board.

Typhlops bimiensis

After, Molly and I enjoyed a decent Valentine's Day sunset facing Florida.

We planned to explore North Bimini a bit the next morning, and then rent bikes to explore South Bimini in the afternoon. North Bimini is where most of the population lives and works. We wandered the local streets and made sure to check out a "museum", The Dolphin House. A native Bahamian has been working on this house for many years now, building it out of reclaimed materials. He has a ton of patience and creativity.

Says he found these washed up on the beach...

I believe this is a loggerhead turtle shell.

I believe this a green sea turtle shell,

He talked about protecting the bimini boa, and even mentioned he had a "baby". It was actually the smaller, dwarf boa species.

We don't miss cold Detroit at all...

That afternoon we rented craptastic bikes and took the ferry over to South Bimini. Plenty of anoles were visible on the trees, and we even got a glimpse of another snake.

Bimini Green Anole Anolis smaragdinus lerneri 

Bahaman Brown Anole Anolis sagrei ordinatus

I had now seen 3 of the 4 anole species. Much of my time was now being spent starting at small branches for the elusive twig anole, and searching low for the boas. It wasn't a boa, but seeing this basking got my blood pumping!

Bimini Racer Alsophis vudii picticeps

Attempts at capture in the midafternoon sun were widely unsuccessful. Further exploration on bikes turned up one more DOR racer.

More to come soon, I promise!

Bimini Part I, Bimini Part II, Bimini Part III.