Best of Mike #200

One of my favorite small subjects is the Red Lip Blenny.

They are very wee....  and wicked fast.

But the behavior that goes with these guys is mighty not small.

They like to perch themselves on a coral head.... over looking what I am sure they think of as their domain.

It can take some patience to get a good picture.... as they are prone to flitting. 

Especially, when there is something as large as a diver in the neighborhood.

But they will settle into this "kingly pose" over and over again. 

So, if you are persistent.... you will get the shot.

Best of Mike #199

There are creatures in the sea that have reputations for great menace.

Some of those reputations are well deserved.... I'm sure.

But some are not.

Such is the case with the Great Barracuda.

There is a general look of menace about them.... including those fierce looking snaggle teeth.

And, you may have even heard the tales of the blindingly speed.... as well as their penchant for striking at anything shiny. Including your necklace, bracelet or ring.

But although we see them all the time.... we have never even come close to being a victim of this predator. 

They are without a doubt "lurkers".... often hanging just above you or off to the side.

But I am pretty sure this is a case of curiosity.... not a case of primal bling envy.

Divers are most often the loudest and biggest thing in the sea.... and they pretty much always come in pairs or more.

So it's probably just normal, for the guys who are usually the top of the food chain, to want to check out what we are up to.

Best of Mike #198

When you are going to hand feed sharks for a living.

Or hold them in your arms.... as she is doing here.

You get a chain mail suit.

And.... you get big eyes.

Because.... you need to be sure that you see everything that's going on around you.

Best of Mike #197

We went to the Bahamas, to Unexso.... to do their two signature dives.

The Shark Feeding and the Dolphin Experience.

But it was April and the Bahamas are pretty far north.... as things Caribbean go.

So the weather didn't completely co-operate.

On the day that we were supposed to do the Dolphin dive, it was windy.... too windy for the boats to leave the harbor.

So we spent the day wandering around town instead.

There are a number of shops and restaurants along the pier.... including a kiosk that sells conch.

This is a pixture of the a small part of the pile of Conch Shells piled beside that shack.