2. Underwater

Fish

Fish in their homes: Not quite like we're used to seeing them.
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St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - This fish (a bluestriped lizardfish) literally swam right into me and then settled on the sand bottom directly in front of my lens -- even though as a scuba diver, my noise and bubbles are usually intimidating to fish. When I moved away to another patch of reef, he also moved to stay in my photograph. He wouldn't leave the lens alone until I took his picture. © Rick Collier
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St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - This fish (a bluestriped lizardfish) literally swam right into me and then settled on the sand bottom directly in front of my lens -- even though as a scuba diver, my noise and bubbles are usually intimidating to fish. When I moved away to another patch of reef, he also moved to stay in my photograph. He wouldn't leave the lens alone until I took his picture. © Rick Collier

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  • St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - Any scuba dive in the Caribbean offers a good chance to see this fish (Grunts) using their "whiskers" to stir the sandy bottom as they hunt for food. © Rick Collier
  • St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - With practice, a scuba diver in the Caribbean can learn to spot these fish on any sandy bottom. This peacock flounder is trying very hard to not be noticed even though he has neglected to cover himself with any sand. © Rick Collier
  • St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - During this scuba dive, my flash eventually did "spook" this fish on the sandy bottom. Oddly, the peacock flounder did finally bolt -- only to swim closer and settle right in front of me! © Rick Collier
  • St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - The small fish (goldface toby) closest to the shell and reef below would not move from that spot, despite the close proximity of a scuba diver and another fish. I'm not sure if this is a mating pair of fish, or if the one above would like to eat eggs being defended by the one closer to the reef. © Rick Collier
  • St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - No matter how many times a scuba diver may see small schools of fish darting in and out of the reef, these small gobies always bring interest to tube sponges or anemonies. © Rick Collier
  • St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - This fish (a bluestriped lizardfish) literally swam right into me and then settled on the sand bottom directly in front of my lens -- even though as a scuba diver, my noise and bubbles are usually intimidating to fish. When I moved away to another patch of reef, he also moved to stay in my photograph. He wouldn't leave the lens alone until I took his picture. © Rick Collier
  • St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - A scuba diver must move gently to get a good look at this fish, on sandy bottoms in the Caribbean. Yellowhead jawfish don't ever stray far from their holes in the sandy bottom. But they do swim around a little bit. © Rick Collier
  • St. Eustatius (Statia) Underwater - This fish, the banded hamlet, is common on Caribbean reefs and is probably familiar to any scuba diver, but is very shy. This joins me in fighting the storm surge at 70 feet deep on our last day. © Rick Collier
  • Saba Underwater -- This seems like the "perfect" photo from a Caribbean scuba dive. A beautiful tropical fish (foureye butterflyfish) investigates a colorful coral outcropping on the reef, sheltered from current by a black coral fan. © Rick Collier
  • Saba Underwater - Large fish are common during a scuba dive on this Caribbean island. A 3- to 4-foot tiger grouper checks us out as we near bottom at the edge of the reef on the "diamond rock" dive site. © Rick Collier
  • Saba Underwater - A scuba dive in the Caribbean always offers a chance to see large tropical fish. Here a French angelfish cruises past. © Rick Collier
  • Saba Underwater - Near the end of my scuba dive above the reef at "Tent reef," I was surprised to see this fish (a squirrelfish) well away from the reef -- apparently examining me rather than hiding as these fish normally do. © Rick Collier
  • Saba Underwater - It was apparently mating season for this fish species in the Caribbean around new year. A scuba dive gave the chance to see many of these honeycomb cowfish in their mating colors (blue instead of their more normal yellows and browns), cruising above the reef looking for mates. © Rick Collier
  • Saba Underwater - Emerging from behind "diamond rock" during a scuba dive, we came across this huge school of fish (jacks) spread out from the surface down to about 60 feet in open ocean. <br /> <br /> © Rick Collier
  • Saba Underwater - A sea bass (Coney) rest on top of the reef, waiting for a meal or just watching the reef go by. These common Caribbean fishes will usually try to ignore the occasional scuba diver. © Rick Collier
  • Saba Underwater - Two very common Caribbean tropical reef fishes (a black bar soldier fish and a caesar grunt) shelter together, each apparently watching a different direction -- and both no doubt looking for ways to escape the passing scuba diver. © Rick Collier
  • Diving Bonaire, Netherland Antilles -- These fish (?razorfish?) are common on sandy bottoms, but not usually caught in the open. Frequently the diver is only aware of them as wisps of quick movement followed by a puff of sand as the fish dives to hide in the sand. ("The Invisibles" dive site) © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Bonaire; "Netherlands Antilles"; Caribbean; tropic; tropical; vacation; destination; underwater; scuba; diving; dive; "scuba diving"; bottom; beach; sand; fish; filefish; burrow; ocean; bottom; "ocean bottom"; "sandy bottom"; invisibles; "the invisibles";
  • Diving Bonaire, Netherland Antilles -- A damselfish stands guard over its patch of coral. ("Angel City" dive site) © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Bonaire; "Netherlands Antilles"; Caribbean; tropic; tropical; vacation; destination; underwater; scuba; diving; dive; "scuba diving"; reef; coral; "coral head"; "angel city"; fish; damselfish; "damsel fish"; chromis; "blue chromis";
  • Diving Bonaire, Netherland Antilles -- A damselfish prepares to attack and drive off the diver approaching its patch of coral. ("Witch's Hut" dive site, also known as "Weber's Joy") © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Bonaire; "Netherlands Antilles"; Caribbean; tropic; tropical; vacation; destination; underwater; scuba; diving; dive; "scuba diving"; reef; coral; "coral head"; "Witch's Hut"; "Weber's Joy"; fish; damselfish; "damsel fish";
  • Diving Bonaire, Netherland Antilles -- The lizardfish is common all over the Caribbean, sitting quietly on the bottom and waiting for food to swim by. ("Witch's Hut" dive site -- also known as "Weber's Joy") © Rick Collier<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Bonaire; "Netherlands Antilles"; Caribbean; tropic; tropical; vacation; destination; underwater; scuba; diving; dive; "scuba diving"; reef; coral; "coral head"; "Witch's Hut"; "Weber's Joy"; fish; lizardfish; "lizard fish"; sand; bottom;
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