Diving

Five days of great diving once again with Chris and Katie Alpers at Indigo Divers
In addition to the photo course at Sunset House, there were 5 days of great diving again with Chris and Katie Alpers at  Indigo Divers . Feb 2, 2012 8:02 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
1 In addition to the photo course at Sunset House, there were 5 days of great diving again with Chris and Katie Alpers at Indigo Divers.
Chris suits up before the morning dive. Feb 2, 2012 9:34 AM : Chris Alpers, Diving, Grand Cayman
2 Chris suits up before the morning dive.
My first day of diving started at North West Point where I snapped this Spotted Moray Jan 27, 2012 8:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
3 My first day of diving started at North West Point where I snapped this Spotted Moray
A Sand Diver, member of the Lizardfish family, perched on the reef at Lexau's Legacy Jan 27, 2012 9:46 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
4 A Sand Diver, member of the Lizardfish family, perched on the reef at Lexau's Legacy
Sea turtle making a run for it Jan 27, 2012 9:50 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
5 Sea turtle making a run for it
Flamingo Tongue Snail Jan 27, 2012 9:53 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
6 Flamingo Tongue Snail
My second day of diving, on Monday, I was the only one on the boat with Chris. We started out at Dolphin's Point Dropoff. Rope and barrel sponges on the reef. Jan 30, 2012 8:02 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
7 My second day of diving, on Monday, I was the only one on the boat with Chris. We started out at Dolphin's Point Dropoff. Rope and barrel sponges on the reef.
Jan 30, 2012 8:10 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
8
Baby sea turtle Jan 30, 2012 8:07 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
9 Baby sea turtle
Spotted Moray peering out from its hole in the reef Jan 30, 2012 8:09 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
10 Spotted Moray peering out from its hole in the reef
Gorgonians reach towards the sun at Dolphin Point Dropoff Jan 30, 2012 8:13 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
11 Gorgonians reach towards the sun at Dolphin Point Dropoff
We encountered no less than 4 giant Green Morays free swimming across the reef and acting extremely inquisitive. This one kept going after Chris's flippers. Jan 30, 2012 8:08 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
12 We encountered no less than 4 giant Green Morays free swimming across the reef and acting extremely inquisitive. This one kept going after Chris's flippers.
I started photographing this Green Moray when I noticed that he kept getting bigger in my viewfinder. Jan 30, 2012 8:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
13 I started photographing this Green Moray when I noticed that he kept getting bigger in my viewfinder.
Next thing I knew, he was kissing the glass faceplate of the camera. I guess it wasn't as tasty as he initially thought. Jan 30, 2012 8:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
14 Next thing I knew, he was kissing the glass faceplate of the camera. I guess it wasn't as tasty as he initially thought.
The second dive with Chris was at Bonnie's Arch Jan 30, 2012 9:29 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
15 The second dive with Chris was at Bonnie's Arch
More turtles! Jan 30, 2012 9:30 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
16 More turtles!
Interesting formation of encrusting sponges at Bonnie's Arch Jan 30, 2012 9:31 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
17 Interesting formation of encrusting sponges at Bonnie's Arch
Giant Brown Bowl Sponge Jan 30, 2012 9:32 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
18 Giant Brown Bowl Sponge
Staring contest with a Squirrelfish Jan 30, 2012 9:57 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
19 Staring contest with a Squirrelfish
Two Flamingo Tongue Snails on a sea fan Jan 30, 2012 10:08 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
20 Two Flamingo Tongue Snails on a sea fan
Day 3 of diving started out at Trinity Caves where I snapped these rope sponges Jan 31, 2012 8:09 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
21 Day 3 of diving started out at Trinity Caves where I snapped these rope sponges
This Giant Anemone was at least a foot across Jan 31, 2012 8:20 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
22 This Giant Anemone was at least a foot across
This large Channel Clinging Crab was hiding out in a crevice in the reef Jan 31, 2012 8:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
23 This large Channel Clinging Crab was hiding out in a crevice in the reef
Red Lionfish, although pretty, are an invasive species from the Indo-Pacific that started proliferating in the Caribbean over the last several years due to the lack of natural predators. They are voracious eaters and are putting the indigenous marine species at risk. Feb 2, 2012 8:13 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
24 Red Lionfish, although pretty, are an invasive species from the Indo-Pacific that started proliferating in the Caribbean over the last several years due to the lack of natural predators. They are voracious eaters and are putting the indigenous marine species at risk.
Chris, like almost all divemasters in Grand Cayman, carries a spear that he uses to dispatch any lionfish we happen upon. Typically, we'll encounter 3-4 lionfish during a 45 minute dive. Jan 31, 2012 9:35 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
25 Chris, like almost all divemasters in Grand Cayman, carries a spear that he uses to dispatch any lionfish we happen upon. Typically, we'll encounter 3-4 lionfish during a 45 minute dive.
The spines of the lionfish have neurotoxins that will cause extreme pain and necrosis. Chris clips the spines of the fish before he feeds it to the next grouper, jacks, or snapper we happen upon. Jan 31, 2012 9:35 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
26 The spines of the lionfish have neurotoxins that will cause extreme pain and necrosis. Chris clips the spines of the fish before he feeds it to the next grouper, jacks, or snapper we happen upon.
Peacock Flounder resting on the sandy bottom at Peppermint Reef Jan 31, 2012 9:41 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
27 Peacock Flounder resting on the sandy bottom at Peppermint Reef
Jan 31, 2012 9:41 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
28
Rock Beauty Jan 31, 2012 9:48 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
29 Rock Beauty
The Pederson Cleaner Shrimp is completely transparent except for its signature purple bands. Here it's crawling across an anemone. Jan 31, 2012 9:54 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
30 The Pederson Cleaner Shrimp is completely transparent except for its signature purple bands. Here it's crawling across an anemone.
A male Sailfin Blenny peeks out from the rubble Jan 31, 2012 9:56 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
31 A male Sailfin Blenny peeks out from the rubble
A Bicolored Flatworm at Peppermint Reef Jan 31, 2012 9:58 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
32 A Bicolored Flatworm at Peppermint Reef
Jan 31, 2012 9:58 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
33
Bridled Goby Jan 31, 2012 10:08 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
34 Bridled Goby
Deck the Halls - Christmas Tree Worms are ubiquitous, but finding a multi-colored forest at Peppermint Reef was special Jan 31, 2012 10:11 AM : 7 Day Nature Challenge, CBSRZAuction2023, CBSRZMainStreet2018, Diving, Grand Cayman, Instagram
35 Deck the Halls - Christmas Tree Worms are ubiquitous, but finding a multi-colored forest at Peppermint Reef was special
The reef system at Sand Chute started my fourth day of diving Feb 2, 2012 8:08 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
36 The reef system at Sand Chute started my fourth day of diving
Schooling jacks Feb 2, 2012 8:10 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
37 Schooling jacks
Feb 2, 2012 8:37 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
38
Red Banded Hermit Crab scurried along Feb 2, 2012 8:25 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
39 Red Banded Hermit Crab scurried along
Feb 2, 2012 8:25 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
40
A tiny Leech Headshield Slug at Sand Chute Feb 2, 2012 8:31 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
41 A tiny Leech Headshield Slug at Sand Chute
Feb 2, 2012 8:32 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
42
Porcupinefish Feb 2, 2012 8:35 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
43 Porcupinefish
Second dive of the day was on the wreck of the Doc Poulson. Here's the approach to the wheelhouse. Feb 2, 2012 9:48 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
44 Second dive of the day was on the wreck of the Doc Poulson. Here's the approach to the wheelhouse.
Closeup of the sponges and coral encrusted on the wheelhouse of the Doc Poulson Feb 2, 2012 9:48 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
45 Closeup of the sponges and coral encrusted on the wheelhouse of the Doc Poulson
A cluster of Featherduster Worms on the wreck Feb 2, 2012 9:51 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
46 A cluster of Featherduster Worms on the wreck
Feb 2, 2012 9:53 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
47
A Cleaning Goby perched on a brain coral Feb 2, 2012 10:04 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
48 A Cleaning Goby perched on a brain coral
Thanks to Chris for finding this tiny juvenile Sponge Brittle Star Feb 2, 2012 10:08 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
49 Thanks to Chris for finding this tiny juvenile Sponge Brittle Star
A huge amberjack was cruising the reef by the Doc Poulson Feb 2, 2012 10:18 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
50 A huge amberjack was cruising the reef by the Doc Poulson
Then he turned around to reveal quite a set of battle scars! Feb 2, 2012 10:25 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
51 Then he turned around to reveal quite a set of battle scars!
One of two spotted eagle rays we saw above the Doc Poulson Feb 2, 2012 10:20 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
52 One of two spotted eagle rays we saw above the Doc Poulson
Trumpetfish doing its usual "if I stay vertical near these tall gorgonians, maybe noone will notice me" routine Feb 2, 2012 10:20 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
53 Trumpetfish doing its usual "if I stay vertical near these tall gorgonians, maybe noone will notice me" routine
The sandy bottom surrounding the Doc Poulson is covered with a carpet of garden eels Feb 2, 2012 10:23 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
54 The sandy bottom surrounding the Doc Poulson is covered with a carpet of garden eels
Winch on the deck of the Doc Poulson Feb 2, 2012 9:48 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
55 Winch on the deck of the Doc Poulson
Tube sponges growing on another of the winch mechanisms Feb 2, 2012 10:29 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
56 Tube sponges growing on another of the winch mechanisms
My last day of diving started at Hepp's Wall where I caught this Foureye Butterflyfish Feb 3, 2012 8:21 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
57 My last day of diving started at Hepp's Wall where I caught this Foureye Butterflyfish
My final dive of the trip was back at Bonnie's Arch, but this time the shallower upper reef area Feb 3, 2012 9:37 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
58 My final dive of the trip was back at Bonnie's Arch, but this time the shallower upper reef area
Bonnie's Arch from above Feb 3, 2012 10:23 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
59 Bonnie's Arch from above
Smooth Trunkfish hiding out among a gorgonian Feb 3, 2012 10:02 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
60 Smooth Trunkfish hiding out among a gorgonian
Spotted Moray peeking out from Bonnie's Arch Feb 3, 2012 9:52 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
61 Spotted Moray peeking out from Bonnie's Arch