Snorkeling in Cozumel…with the wrong lens!

Ah, I love being in Cozumel. I feel very at home here (except when all the cruise ships are in, then I stay underwater or away from town!).  Next to diving, my favorite activity is snorkeling, so I headed out yesterday to check it out, and there wasn’t much happening.  When I say that I mean there weren’t a lot of fish around.  The current was quite strong, and the freshwater from the cenotes (underground rivers) were pouring into the ocean, creating cold water areas, and hot water areas.  Not much to look at, really.

Today, I had a lovely massage and met with the managers of our property, then I decided to go out and play with my wide angle lens.  I thought, not much going on out there, so I’ll just practice with the lens. Of course, whenever you aren’t fully prepared, you see awesome marine life.

There’s a small, open coral head that has been here forever, and I always look in it because I’ve found porcupinefish in there, and for a year and half, a small Hawksbill turtle made it his home until he grew too large. Well, it has a new resident:  a 2 1/2 ft nurse shark baby!  I couldn’t believe it! Exciting!  I took photos, but of course, I had no strobe, no light, the wrong lens, so I just took a couple of photos (not that great) and let the baby sleep.  So precious!

From there I saw a couple of yellow stingrays, always pretty, a lot of fish, a lot of tiny silversides, and an octopus!  Again, I certainly didn’t have what I needed to photograph it, but I gave it the old college try.  I also saw an anemone crab in an anemone, and a spotted moray eel.  Mostly I just practiced with the lens, but it was a surprisingly great snorkel today!  You just never know.

My mission this year is to find a seahorse while snorkeling out in front of our house. I didn’t spot any today, but next time I snorkel I’ll have the right lens and strobe!

Diving tomorrow!  Can’t wait!