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Jamaica trip / fish pics

16K views 21 replies 11 participants last post by  trukgirl 
#1 ·
My wife and I recently went to Jamaica. We stayed at the Secrets Wild Orchid resort in Montego Bay. It was an amazing trip that I would highly encourage everyone to take. I had the opportunity to experience some fish and ocean wildlife up close and personal, so I thought I'd share a few thousand pictures.

First, the resort. In this first picture, you can see the reefs sticking up from the ocean at low tide. These reefs were very small, as you can see, and were very close to shore.





There were these outcrops of rocks, turned into walking paths with Gazebos that perched just over each end of the reefs.



At low tide, the rocks surrounding these Gazebos were exposed, and you could actually walk on the rock at the bottom of the Gazebo, directly at the end of the reef. Having no idea what I would see, I was thrilled with what my wife and I found.

There were Sea Urchins everywhere...





A huge Bristleworm that was in a great hurry to get away from us:



Sea anemones:



A fish which I should know the name of, but it escapes me. Someone please identify this one for me:





I better break this up into multiple posts...
 
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#2 ·
There were Volitan Lionfish every 5 feet or so. The Damsels would swim around them with no concern that they were there.







The starfish would come out of the water onto the rocks:



There were dozens of starfish that could be seen from the sidewalk viewing area:





We were walking down the top of this outcrop:



My wife was scared to death as a Sally Lightfoot Crab ran across the rocks in front of her:

]

I found that if you beat the sunrise, you could watch these large schools of Sergent Major Damselfish swimming, each school with a single Caribbean Blue Tang in the mix:







I spent hours walking along those outcrops and at the bottom of the Gazebo's at low tide. It was so amazing to see the wildlife up close like this, from my viewpoint out of the water. Especially the Lionfish, which were not the least bit fearful of my being there.

I also went snorkeling, of course, but I did not have an underwater camera. It was enjoyable, but there was nothing that compared to me being in my environment on land and being able to closely observe these fish and other wildlife.
 
#3 ·
NICE! hope you took a trip to Dunns River Falls? man those lion fish are everywhere. they are going to be a real issue soon if they are already not one. I've been to bahamas, and other countries and have seen them and they have no natural predators here in the atlantic. they will consume all the smaller reef fish and the juvinile native fish. Real bad situation! this is why you never release a captured type animal into the wild!
 
#6 ·
Honestly, the food in the resort restaurants wasn't the greatest. It was a bit disappointing. However, they had 2 seaside grills and the food there was outstanding, as was the food from room service. We learned quickly where to eat! Plus, the all inclusive bars, which were spread all over the resort.

On top of that, there was a man who would cut the top off a fresh coconut and then add some Rum. Ahh, nothing like fresh coconut and rum juice. Most of the week I could be seen sipping from a fresh coconut! Then another guy walked around with a mobile gill, serving jerk chicken, which was amazing.

Basically, they feed you and give you drinks until the answer to every question is "no problem 'mon"!
 
#12 ·
this is not the lionfish natural habitat. they are an invading species. they will eventuallytake over the reefs here in the caribbean and the atlantic because they have no natural predators. they will kill all small fish and take over the reefs. it's gonna be a huge problem soon.
 
#15 ·
A M A Z I N G pics! It's a big fresh air aquarium. Thanks for posting these. I've looked at them 3 times already.

Think it has something to do with the freezing temps here in the Northeast?
 
#16 ·



A Gazebo like this makes my heart melt. :) I just love to stay in this kind of Gazebo as the cool wind blows and then the awesome bonding with our friends goes on really defines a good life, right? :D Most gazebos are designed with open spaces on all sides and short railings. This open space allows you to take in the view of the surroundings while relaxing inside the gazebo.

But above all this. What I like most is the pictures of sea urchins and star fish which I seldom see. How I wish to visit Jamaica too someday. Then I will also show you some photos just like what Pasfur did. ;-)
 
#21 ·
Your vacation looks/sounds awesome, Mark! I love the idea of sitting and watching fish in a natural reef while sipping from a rum coconut. :) Your comment about whether or not there's enough water movement in that reef "tank" has got me considering turning the 1 of my 2 hydor koralias I'd turned off back on. :p

It's nice to see some real sand writing for a change. Unfortunately, my first inclination these days is to assume that such pics are computer generated, but I know that's not the case with yours.

Room Picture frame Art Tree Landscape


Regarding the lion fish discussion, I found a video that those interested in the issue would probably appreciate. In the interest of not turning Pasfur's thread into the lion fish thread, though, I posted it in a new thread: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/...threat-lion-fish-pose-reefs-58028/#post541044.
 
#22 ·
Oh gosh Pasfur, how did I miss these??? SO BEAUTIFUL!!!
Hubs and I went to the Bahamas a couple years ago...I bought a film underwater camera and we went snorkeling and did a stingray encounter. I will have to dig the discs up that have those pics and post them for you too :)
I can't WAIT to go back there and take my kiddos this time.... I just can't wait! (We took a Roya Carribean cruise the last time. Not sure if we will take another cruise or go to a resort. The cruise was awesome though.)
 
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