Under the Sea

If you think the last set of pictures were amazing, just wait because the real beauty is under the water!  No joke, these islands are well-known to have some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world.

Sea turtles are just about the coolest thing ever.

 

 

Picasso triggerfish

 

 

 

 

 

Clown triggerfish

 

 

 

 

Threadfin butterfly

 

 

 

 

 

Moorish idols

 

 

This one (a six-bar wrasse) literally followed me around.  It’s like it was begging “take my picture”!

 

 

Yellowtail clownfish

 

 

 

 

Crazy school of unknown type of fish

 

 

 

 

Raccoon butterfly

 

 

 

The three in the middle are yellowfin goatfish.  The black with the white tail we haven’t been able to identify yet but they were extremely social; they basically seemed to accept us as part of their school and swam all around us almost constantly.

The white-tail swarm.

 

 

Tomato clownfish

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow fin surgeonfish

 

 

 

 

White-spotted puffer

 

 

 

 

This picture doesn’t look very impressive but these fish were probably 3-4 feet long and swam in a school of at least a hundred.  Don’t know what they were but they were incredible!

 

 

Parrotfish

 

 

 

 

 

White grunt

 

 

 

 

Just look at how amazingly clear the water is!  Words cannot describe how beautiful it was down there.  And the fish!!!  I’ve shown you maybe a quarter of the species that we saw.  Fish everywhere!  It was incredible. 

Wish you could have been there to see it for yourself.  I was thinking about all of you while I was down there and excited to share it with you even if only via this blog.  Hope you enjoyed the second-hand adventure and that you all had a great Thanksgiving as well!