Mermaid Reef

(12/17/17) If I invited you to go snorkeling on Sunday afternoon in December, would you go with me?  Not likely.  I didn’t want to go because I was afraid the water would be too cold.  Boy, what a treat we received.  Mermaid Reef is a short bicycle ride away or a 30 minute dinghy ride.  We chose to bike.  A steep hill warmed us up for the water we were about to enter.  I believe the water is approximately 73 degrees cool warm.  

Bob & Carol of  RMHYC joined us for the fun.  We all wore rash guard shirts which actually do help to keep one warm while in the water.  After a clumsy entrance (by me) we swam to the reef and saw some beautiful fish and lobster.  

The parrot fish are very eye-catching.  They are primarily blue but have a rainbow of colorful scales in shades of pin, yellow, green and purple.  Most parrot fish are herbivores.  Their dietary habits help to protect coral reefs from overgrowth of algae. 

The sergeant majors are members of the damsel fish family.  They are friendly fish and do not appear to be afraid of people.  A sergeant major can be identified by counting the black body bars–there are five.  Another identifying characteristic is that its upper lip does not overhang its lower lip.  We have a fish identification book on board which is very helpful in helping me to name the fish we are seeing.  

Proof here that Sergeant Majors like people–especially when they hand out corn and dog food.

Carol pointed out the Queen Triggerfish.  She told me to look for the fish that looks like it has painted on eye makeup.  It is easy to identify these with their “eyelashes” and  by the blue stripes on their faces.  Notice the tips of their dorsal and tail fins–they look like streamers.  

The Blue Striped Grunt appear to glow underwater.  The blue stripe is like neon.  The stripes help to identify this grunt as does its dark tail and rear dorsal fin.  These fish are from 8 to 14 inches long and like depths between 12 and 50 feet. 

Lobsters like to live in the crevices of rock and coral.  It looks like we found this one as he was just coming out. These omnivores eat fish, mollusks, worms and some plants.  Lobster season runs from August 1 to March 31 in the Bahamas.  Spearguns are illegal here.  A Hawaiian sling is the only spearfishing device approved for harvesting lobster.  There is a limit of 10 tails at any one time.  It is important to know the rules on returning to the U.S with lobster.  While here boaters may have whole r tailed lobster.  They must be whole when returning back to the states and they may only be brought back during the open season.  Otherwise, we are subject to fines and penalties.  

I love a good tender grouper sandwich.  I got up close with this guy but didn’t know at the time he was a grouper.  Notice the stripes and big lips.  He uses his large mouth to swallow its prey whole.  “Boil fish” is a traditional meal in the Bahamas made from Nassau Grouper.  It is thought that some grouper eat lion fish which are a dangerous to the ecosystem. 

I am very glad that I braved the water.   It was not nearly as chilly as I had anticipated.  Kicking and swimming kept me comfortably and seeing all the beautiful fish took my mind off the initial plunge.  

What is your favorite fish? Have you been snorkeling? Where?

Joy