Clearing Fog, Long Island's North Shore... 

Off Season Reflections... 

Afternoon Shadows...
Islip Grange, Sayville, NY

Final approach, Flamingo International via Divi Divi Air..... 

Local Boats, Bonaire, NA... 

Photo Friday Entry: "VANITY"

" YES, That is Me... " she said.
Donna from Donna and Giorgio's Restaurant...

Keeping an eye on those gauges...
Important information to know: PSI, depth and bottom time.

Banded Coral Shrimp...
A cleaner shrimp, the Banded Coral Shrimp advertises it's services on the reef. Fish, large and small will use the cleaner shrimp to rid themselves of food debris and parasites in a form of marine flossing. Fish will remain very still with gills flared during the cleaning. The banded Coral shrimp, although only about an inch and a half in length, is easy to spot. The long whisker-like antenae and the red bans are readily visible to divers.

A Goldentail Moray emerges from from the coral... 

Caribbean Mantis Shrimp...
What is that?...After years of diving I saw, for the first time, alarm on the dive master's face. This is a shot of a Mantis Shrimp in it's sand burrow. Having never seen one before I was unaware that they are aggressive with a nasty temperament and that they are capable of inflicting serious injury. "Split Thumb" is a hazard to divers who get too close as this animal uses it's hammer like claws with incredible speed and force. In captivity some species can break aquarium glass. Caribbean Mantis Shrimp (Stomatopod are not true "shrimp") can grow to 40 cm and have the power to cut a finger or toe deep to the bone. For video clips of this character in action click here for "OceanFootage".

Getting the Shot....
I am learning that underwater photography requires patience, perseverance and occasionally pursuit. This effort was an attempt to capture a large balloonfish as it swam away.

Bonaire Surf...
The force of the Caribbean sea is evident at Boka Chikiti on Bonaire's Northwest corner. Unlike the diver friendly leeward side of the island, Bonaire's other shoreline has a much more treacherous beauty. This photo was taken inside the National Park.

The photographer captures yet another sunset... 

Gotto Meer, Bonaire's pristine wild Flamingo preserve... 

Bonaire's wild donkeys...
Donkey decendants from Bonaire's argicultural past have become free and wild animals. The Donkey Sanctuary in Bonaire has been rescuing this population from explotation and starvation.

Bonaire locals enjoying the beach and each other....! 

Flamingo Flight.... 

The Elusive Seahorse... 

My dive partner splashes in to start her dive number 200.......! 

Barracuda... 

Bonaire Slave Huts...
Prior to the invention of SCUBA, Bonaire's main industry was the production of sea salt. In the dark days of slavery men and women were forced to work as saltrakers in the salt evaporation pans of Bonaire's south shore. During the "harvest season" slaves were housed in these structures along the south beach after a long march from the town of Rincon. Today these structures are restored and maintained by the local parks department. The slave huts are a "must see" destination for all tourists to the island. 

Slave hut with a view...
The Slave huts of Bonaire have become an icon of sorts. These buildings have been carefully restored and are now a common tourist stop on island tours. This particular tourist has been "framed".

Porcupine Fish 

Under water colors of Bonaire... 

Filefish, Orange phase....Ebo's Reef, Klien Bonaire