On Wed, 16 May 2001 09:45:17 +0100, Andy Johnson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>>Fortunately my sinuses are fine on the second dive to Las Palmas and the
>>Caballito divemaster lives up to his employer's namesake, finding us not
>>one, but two 6" seahorses!  Bob is particularly excited since this is
>>his first Coz seahorse that he's found in some 1000 dives on this
>>island.  They are rare in Cozumel.  Back on the surface in the distance,
>>we see a single Black Shark boat, the only one we see all weekend.

>I didn't realise this, I feel priveledged to have seen quite a few in
>Cozumel (or maybe the same ones repeatedly); and I've only been there twice
>(total of about 65-70 dives I think). I remember some on the grassy bit at
>the end of Paradise Reef (? I think it's what it's called, it's the shallow
>dive that is popular for second dives - also the place where I nearly got
>rammed by a boat & convinced me to take a DRSM on EVERY dive)  that were
>pointed out by one of the DMs from Dive Paradise (can't remember his name
>but he was the only one from DP that impressed me) and also on another site
>where the DM pointed one out & from about 10" away I still couldn't make it
>out, it's unbelievable how difficult they are to see.

When the DM made a galloping gesture and pointed his MACRO frame at the
seahorse, I was a FOOT away, looking for something SMALL, and it took
me a while before I saw that HUGE 6" horsey hanging motionless on its
tail on the gorgonian.  :-)   I was awe-struck!  It was free-swimming
later when I swam back against the current when Julio was still clicking
away trying to use up all 36 pics of his roll on them.

>
>I guess Bob hasn't seen themm before 'cos they are normally in hte
>shallower waters :-)

You hit the nail on da head thar, Meeester Parrotfish!  My 2nd
shallowest first-of-two-tank on this trip was 180 fsw.  :-))

The spectabular structure of the coral WALL is hard to miss!  <BG>

-- Bob.