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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ovenbird43" data-source="post: 3513668" data-attributes="member: 64478">Jan 4 Part 2: Reef FishWay back before I got interested in birds I was really interested in fish, to the point that I got an undergraduate degree in biology with a marine biology emphasis.  Fish have since taken a backseat to birds in both my career and hobbies, but I still find them interesting and love to go snorkeling when I get the chance.  Tom had chosen this day to ride his bike all the way around the island, so I had signed up for a snorkel tour on my own with Cozumel Cruise Excursions, which billed itself as a family-run operation specializing in small group outings.  $50 per adult for a 4-hour trip, including all transportation, gear, plus beer and guacamole.My reservation form stated I would be picked up at my Airbnb at 12:15, and since I wasn't at a named hotel I figured I should stand outside and wait.  I stood in the sun for a while, watching passing cars for anything likely to be my ride as the minutes ticked by... 5, 10, 15... checking and re-checking my form to ensure accuracy of date, time, place, and promise of being picked up... at 12:50 I went back inside and called the company.  They confirmed my location and came about 1:00 pm (12:15 "Cozumel time" I guess), then picked up some other participants, made a quick stop at the store for avocados, then dropped us off at the boat for the trip.It took maybe 45 minutes to motor down to the south end of the island, where the reefs are protected as part of a National Marine Park.  We all put on our gear and hopped into the water - and there, maybe thirty feet below were the wonders of the coral reefs.  Instantly grabbing my attention were Black Durgons, swimming by flapping their dorsal and anal fins, a type of triggerfish that appeared all black in real life (vs. side-on photo views) save the bright white at the base of the anal and anal fins.  True-to-name Blue Surgeons darted about.  Grunts of unremembered species swam near the surface, some nearly coming within reach.We stayed at the first spot maybe 20 minutes before moving to a second, even more spectacular spot.  The water was deep but the reefs towered up close to the surface, and with a quick dive one could examine fish and corals at eye level.  Looking to the side out into the crystal clear water was the dark blue of deep, open water beyond the reef.  Fish highlights of this spot were numerous juvenile Yellow-tailed Damselfish.  I've yet to see a photo that does this species justice - in the water, the bright blue spots glow like stars set against the deep indigo background body color.  Rock Beauties, bright yellow with a large black square, were common.  Angelfish of three species, many large individuals, moved about in the deeper areas - Grey, French, and Queen Anglefish.  A Moray Eel got everybody's attention as it emerged from its crevice and undulated by.  Oddly-shaped Smooth Trunkfish, a boxy-shaped fish similar to puffers, hovered lazily over the reefs.Our last stop was closer to shore, away from the reefs, in an area with a sandy bottom and large expanses of submerged grasses.  The sandy areas were littered with fat starfish as large as dinner plates, and several species of stingrays glided by underneath us.  The surprise of this area was surely the two Lionfish hovering next to a small pile of rocks - red-and-white-striped, with long venomous spines pointing every which way.  I hadn't been expecting this species - turns out it's native to the Indo-Pacific and has been introduced to the Caribbean via the aquarium trade.It was a thoroughly enjoyable outing that left me wishing I had made time for one more snorkeling trip during our stay.  When I returned to our room, Tom was ready for dinner, and we ended up at a bar one block away, where all the locals stared at us (in a surprised but friendly way) when we entered.  We had a light dinner of tacos and chips with beer for MX$60.Back to the birds next!</blockquote>

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