Below the waterline, with Cyndi and Gregg and Karen

Sitting near the Chimney

For some of our last dives of the season, Cyndi and Gregg provided me with ample opportunity to get some "bottom time." I believe we went on at least 6 dives during their stay with us, mostly to places we had never been to. It's always exciting to see some new sights, although the fun of being together is the most special.

 

One place we did visit again this year was the Chimney. It is becoming on of the more popular dives in the BVI and this year proved to be a challenge to find a place to "park" the boat...no sooner than we had the boat tied to the mooring (the only one available of the four) and a commercial dive boat came over and asked us to vacate the commercial mooring. Dang...if we only could've been in the water already and we wouldn't have had to move. Anyway, we attempted anchoring in a sandy area with little luck due to lack of swing room. Fortunately, we were able to grab another mooring after some folks left. Down into the water we went and had the time of our life...we even spent more time at the Chimney area than ever before. Below are some more of the photos of the dive.

 

corals and sponges



nice blue coral



brain coral



pencil gorgonian



black coral



feather duster tube worm



donkey dung sea cucumber

 

 One of the other dives was at Diamond Reef. The site gets visited so often, that it appears the fish are used to being fed...sure was a lot of them following us around.



me, swimming normal



Gregg, doing a handstand
(turn computer sideways for effect)



nice formation of fire coral growing on an
ancient elkhorn coral



nice formation of sponge and algae on our rudder
(turn computer sideways for correct alignment)



another fine feather duster tube worm



clear bell tunicates on a gorgonian



blue bell tunicates sharing space with colorful sponges and coral

 

 

Cyndi and Gregg were singing..."so long, farewell, we
bid you adieu to you and you and you"

 

Karen and I spent some quality time below the boat...in Christmas Cove. I'm constantly reminded how fun it is to dive with her. She sees so much more than I do, usually because I'm swimming too fast. When I slow down to her speed, I get to see a lot of things that are unique:

 

a rarely seen, colorful sea slug
about 3/4" long...



...spotted in the sea grass under our boat...



...by sharp-eyed Karen

 

See ya next season!