Diving the Caribbean! Archives

After returning from a Trip to the Socorro Islands, I Learned Scary News about our Conservation Superhero Dr. Andrea Marshall, Queen of Mantas

April 27, 2024 By Tam Warner Minton Leave a Comment

Queen of mantas, andrea marshall, marine megafauna, superhero — **Superhero Dr. Andrea Marshall,**

**Queen of Mantas**

I recently returned from a trip with conservation superhero Dr. Andrea Marshall, known as the Queen of Mantas. We dived the Revillagigedo Islands, aka the Socorro Islands, a group of four volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean. They are part of Mexico and are located approximately 250 miles (400 kilometers) off Mexico’s western coast. The islands are known for their diverse and abundant marine life, making them a popular destination for diving enthusiasts like me. Some species in the waters around the Revillagigedo islands include 11 species of sharks, giant manta rays, dolphins, and whales. The islands are also home to a variety of seabirds and unique flora. It is the only place on earth where I’ve seen so much human and fish/mammal interaction. The mantas love to swim above you enjoying your scuba bubbles, and on my last trip, I danced with a dolphin which was a magical experience.

[Read more…]

The Thrill of Nighttime Photography with Blackwater Cozumel Diving: A Unique Way to Observe Marine Life

July 3, 2023 By Tam Warner Minton Leave a Comment

The Thrill of Nighttime Photography with Blackwater Cozumel diving!

blackwater Cozumel diving, blackwater Cozumel, Cozumel diving, underwater world — _{All photos by Blackwater Cozumel, Robert Stanfield.}

Cozumel is a beautiful dive destination known for its crystal-clear visibility and breathtaking marine life. If you’re an avid diver, you may have already explored the reefs and underwater landscapes during the day. But have you ever considered diving and discovering the enchanting underwater world with Blackwater Cozumel? I did it recently, just once, but I will be doing it again! It was amazing. I know a few of the animals I saw, but not all! I’m looking forward to researching.

Blackwater is a unique way to observe marine life that is not visible during the day or on the reefs. Blackwater Cozumel focuses on going 3 or more kilometers out into deep water, allowing you to experience the bioluminescent creatures that rise from the deep. You don’t have to dive deep to see them; you can photograph them at 15 feet! During these dives, you can see a variety of larvae life that come out only at night by using light to entice them to the surface. Most of the time, these are tiny creatures like larval fish, jellies, and hydromedusa. Aren’t they incredible???

Blackwater Cozumel Diving

One of the most thrilling aspects of Blackwater is photography. Blackwater Cozumel and Robert Stanfield offer a specialized photography experience that allows you to capture mesmerizing photos of the bioluminescent creatures you encounter during your dive. The underwater world at night off the reefs is an entirely different experience, and the images you capture will be stunning.

Who can do it?

Advanced divers or divers with previous night diving experience. Good buoyancy is a must. No heart conditions.

What’s needed?

Full dive kit – Rental Available
Dive light – Rental Available
Full-length wetsuit / stinger suit

We also recommended the following:

Hooded top
Camera with lights/strobes
Narrow beam torch for spotting
Video / Focus light
2 or more strobes

When do we do it?

Weather is the limiting factor with open ocean dives. We use a large boat that can comfortably operate in waves up to 2m in height. For an enjoyable dive, we aim for 1.8m or less with the most up-to-date weather forecast. So if you plan on a blackwater dive during your stay in Cozumel, please be extremely flexible with dates for the dive.

So, you’re looking for an adventure that will take you beyond the usual daytime diving experience? In that case, blackwater diving is a great option. The surreal beauty of the bioluminescent creatures and the thrill of blackwater photography makes for an unforgettable experience. So, dive into the enchanting underwater world of Cozumel!

5 Things To Do In The Cayman Islands

December 15, 2019 By Tam Warner 1 Comment

5 Things To Do In The Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list destination that many people have on their list of places to visit one day. As an avid scuba diver I have visited the Caymans several times, the diving there is gorgeous. You certainly don’t have to be a diver though, there are many things to do in the Caymans, and for all ages!

[Read more…]

Wounded Eagle Ray Seeks Help from Divers

December 21, 2015 By Tam Warner 2 Comments

You can clearly see the fishing line trailing behind the Eagle Ray.

On a dive in St Lucia last week, our group had a visitor. We were all thrilled to see an Eagle Ray, but when we saw that it had a hook in its face and was trailing fishing line, the group went into action. Fortunately, one of the divers had a pair of scissors, and our dive master, Errol, managed to cut a huge amount of line off of the ray. The Eagle Ray made a second pass, trailing only 10 feet or so of line compared to the 100 feet of line it had just moments before. I only wish we had been able to help with getting the hook out, but the animal did not come close enough to allow that, unfortunately. However, the Eagle Ray will manage much better with only the short amount of fishing line left….and I hope somehow, that the hook comes out.

There aren’t the best photos, but from the distance they are the best I could do!

Errol, our Dive Master and hero of the day!

Fab Photos Friday: Under the Seas of St Lucia!

December 17, 2015 By Tam Warner 3 Comments

Beautiful fish are under the surface of St Lucia’s waters.

15 cg lionfish plumage — The invasive Red Lionfish. Look at this splendid plumage and lures!

2015-12-10 09.05.03 pw trumpet fish close up — Gorgeous Trumpetfish close up!

2015-12-10 09.22.59 pw crinoids — Colorful!

2015-12-10 09.46.30 pw school of scrawl files best — Schooling Scrawled Filefish

2015-12-10 11.28.55 pw brown garden eels — An Eel Garden! Look at all these brown garden eels!

2015-12-09 18.19.10 ac feather duster gorgeous — Lovely, huge Feather Duster.

2015-12-10 11.51.21 pw id this shrimpie — Peppermint Shrimp? Not sure.

2015-12-09 18.03.18 ac coronet fish — Beautiful Coronet Fish

2015-12-09 17.45.49 ac xmas tree worms — Christmas Tree Worm

2015-12-09 18.17.59 ac magnificent sea urchin with white — A Magnificent Sea Urchin

2015-12-09 18.06.31 ac baby squid — NOT a great photo, but this is a tiny, newly hatched Caribbean Reef Squid!!!

15 cg giant crab inside huge barrel sponge — Cool Channel Clinging Crab

A Vacation that Matters

December 15, 2015 By Tam Warner 22 Comments

On December 5th I joined REEF on a fish survey trip to St. Lucia in the Caribbean Sea. If you have never heard of REEF, they have a simple mission:

Reef Environmental Education Foundation is a grass-roots organization that seeks to conserve marine ecosystems by educating, enlisting and enabling divers and other marine enthusiasts to become active ocean stewards and citizen scientists.

They have 3 major projects, and they are 1) Grouper Moon Project, 2) Fish Survey Project, and 3) the Lionfish Eradication Project (Lionfish are an invasive species in the Atlantic). The trip to St. Lucia was a survey trip. It is important to survey the reefs and check the health of the fish and corals. A healthy coral reef is full of life! These surveys go into a huge database, and scientists can make recommendations and do research on specific areas with the data gathered. There were 18 volunteers who went to St. Lucia to dive, and while diving, document the present species and their abundance. We discovered 218 species in St. Lucia! Pretty remarkable, really. It was my first REEF expedition, and I enjoyed it immensely. It was wonderful to be surrounded by people as committed to the oceans and to conservation as I am. You think I know about fish? Not on the level of most of these surveyors! They are amazing.

15 dinner — Dinner at the Beach Restaurant

We stayed at Anse Chastanet Resort, and did our diving with Scuba St. Lucia. I have rarely stayed at an all-inclusive, and I must tell you Anse Chastanet exceeded my expectations. The service is incredible, and the food fabulous. The chef had a different menu every evening, giving us many choices throughout the week. It was fun to discover new dishes, and they had an Indian Food night. There is a significant Indian influence on the island, and this is reflected in the food. When slavery ended in 1838, plantation owners brought in indentured servants from India to take their place as a cheap labor force. After the contracts were up, most of those from India stayed and made their home on the island, and their customs and foods found its way into the culture of St. Lucia.

2015-12-10 19.24.58 — After a day of looking for fish! It makes one hungry!

Scuba St Lucia, the dive business on the resort’s property, is simply one of the best I have ever seen. The boat, Miss Bertha, was big and roomy with plenty of space for 18 divers. The dive masters were knowledgeable and solicitous, adapting their dive style to ours. REEF divers dive SLOWLY in order to find fish. I thoroughly enjoyed my dives with them, and cannot give a stronger recommendation. Dive with Scuba St Lucia, and you will be as impressed and happy as I was. I guarantee it! My group had Errol as a dive master, and he was superb. One of the crew, Bradley, was on the spot when I needed help. Because of my back issues (I have eight pedicle screws and four rods holding my spine in place) I cannot lift tanks. Bradley made sure I did not have to. Everyone working the boat was incredibly hospitable.

Have you ever taken a vacation that combines volunteerism or Citizen Science on your trip? I have done several of them, and I have enjoyed each and every trip. Several travel companies offer volunteer tourism and/or Citizen Science. I’d love to hear about other experiences!

Diving the Caribbean!

Blackwater Cozumel Diving

Who can do it?

What’s needed?

When do we do it?

Subscribe to Blog via Email