Cozumel 2012 - Day 5

Today's diving was "fly diving." The currents were very strong so there are few good photos, as we were traveling too fast to focus. We saw some great sea life on Columbia Reef and Dalila Reef. For the first time since we started diving, a diver on our boat was placed on oxygen and sent in on another boat. This young man had been out binge drinking last night, decended to about 50 feet and then swam straight to the surface. It's a long story, but it could have killed him and it's a good lesson of "diving while stupid." Don't ever do it! The incident made us appreciate our Dive Master, Julio, and the dive shop, Dive Paradise, that much more.

Grey Ray

Sand Eel -- There was a colony of these (maybe 20) in the sand, standing 6-8 inches out of the sand. As you approach, zip, down they go!

This is not Nemo, but it's close!

Juvenile Peacock Flounder. This little dude is about 2" long and very hard to find.

Sea Scape with Black Grouper

Octopus, at home in his hole with little fish standing guard.

Lizard Fish

Cozumel 2012 - Day 4

Overcast skys and 82 degrees, both on the surface and at 95 feet below. Fantastic dives beginning on Santa Rosa Wall, then across the sand to Santa Rosa Shallows. The current changed on us mid-dive. Second dive was on Punta Tuniche Reef (Rocky Point). We're trying to post photos today of critters not yet posted. Some are not great in clairty, but you'll get the idea of variety. Please leave a comment and enjoy the photos. (We tried to post a short video, but this blog web page is way too slow. We'll post more of FB next week.)

This little Jelly Fish greeted Reva on her decent to Santa Rosa Wall.

One of many Lobster on today's dives. MmmmMmmm!

Cleaning Shrimp inside a large sponge.

The only Sea Horse we've seen this week.

We know you've seen a Splended Toad Fish already, but check this dudes teeth out!

A beautiful Queen Angel dining out.

This big Crab lost one major pincher in a fight, but he said he was the winner. Hate to see the loser!

Mitch caught this Red Hind napping.

A couple of Hog Fish out for a morning stroll.

Yes, there's a Trumpet Fish in there. Can you find him?

Sweet Baby Drum Fish.

Cozumel 2012 - Day 3

Today was a beautiful day of diving. It was supposed to be storming, but apparently the storm chose to bypass Cozumel, and we appreciated that very much. Our first dive was on a reef named Palancar Caves, for those of you familiar with the reef system. There are many cave-like swim throughs in this area and the dive was to a maximum depth of about 90 feet. Our 2nd dive was on a reef that is far down the island to the south and is our favorite location. We will probably go back two or three more times this week. It's name is Columbia Shallows and the maximum depth is about 30 feet. For those who aren't divers, you may think that since it's not deep, it's not good. You would be wrong. The sunlight penetrates nicely throughout the entire reef system and the colors are beautiful. It is probably the very best place to take pictures. Today the area we were in yeilded an abundance of sea turtles and nurse sharks along with a vast array of tropical fish along with a few sting rays, lobster, and other cool critters. These are just a few of 180 or so photos we took today. We hope you enjoy them and we're looking for your comments. God bless.

Grunt Fish

File Fish



Nassu Grouper (approx. 48 - 54 inches long)



French Angels

Nurse Shark with Grunt Keeping Guard

Sea Turtle

Juvenile Queen Angel (approx. 1 1/2" lg. Great shot, Reva)

Green Sponge (ask Scott Mills what it's used for)

Four Eyed Butterfly Fish

Male Parrot Fish

Orange Warsse

We found no mermaids, but this "old man of the sea" followed us around all day. Actually, our Dive Master, Julio, always kids Mitch about being an old man, so when Mitch found this stick of wood on he sea floor, he had to have some fun!

Cozumel 2012 - Day 2

A big thunderstorm during the night didn't mess up a beautiful morning. On the boat ride to Palancar Bricks (30 min) the water was dead calm and the sun was shining. 57 minutes down with a maximum depth of about 85 feet for a great dive which yeilded some fair photos. After spending a little over an hour out of the water, getting some cold water, and eating some fruit, it was back down to a max. depth of about 65 feet at Cedral Wall. The drift dive was pretty swift and we ended the dive on the Cedral Shallows reef. This dive brought many tropical/reef fish, including some of those pictured below. The trip back to the dock was interupted by heavy rain, but it was over before we actually arrived at the dock. Lunch of homemade shrimp chalupas with guacamole and then worship via pod cast of FHBC. Barbara Kelley did a great job and Brother Scott's message on Enduring Hardship for the Sake of the Gospel was outstanding. He hit the nail right on the head. Ain't technology great?! Enjoy the photos and leave a comment, please.

Large school of grunts. If you want to fish, drop your hook here!

 

French Angel



Queen Angel

Where's Capt. Sig? Nice Crab!



Spider Crab



Nurse Shark

Yellow Sting Ray

Splended Toad Fish (only in Cozumel area)

File Fish

Squirrel Fish



Green Moray Eel



Okay, this is a Sea Anenome, but the photo is really of a tiny Nudi-Branch. It is nesting in the Anenome, it is red, white and black will little antenni. Can you find it? Look close and tell me where it is.





COZUMEL 2012 - Day 1

Well, here we are in Cozumel again and it's our favorite place to dive. Julio, our divemaster, greeted us early this morning and we were off to the Palancar Reef for two beautiful dives. Here are just a few of the over 100 photos we took today and though now are "publishing" quality, we hope you'll enjoy them and get a little feel for our adventures. Please leave a comment or two. God bless!

We start with a couple of beautiful underwater landscapes.

Turtles are one of the most graceful of all sea creatures.

Trunk Fish

Juvenile ? Playing Inside a Yellow Sponge

5 Point Star Fish

Just some of the reef fish we see on every dive.

This Rock Fish is hard to find and dangerous if touche.

Barracudas roam the reefs looking for prey.

Okay, see the thing going over the wall? It's not a snake, but the tail of an iguana. Below is the face of this granddaddy of a lizard. He is over 4 feet long and the largest we've ever seen. We encountered him on a trail during our surface break, between dives. Isn't he cute?

      

                                   

Four Urgent Problems The Church Needs To Deal With

I ran across what I believe to be a great article today on chruchleaders.com and I want to urge you to read it.  (LINK BELOW)  However, as you read the article, please remember it is not intended to be an in-depth analysis of any of the topics. It is a rather short synopisis of the preceived points of emphasis intended to get us thinking about the impact our church is having on the community and the way we go about carrying out the Great Commission. It is a very short article and should take less than five minutes to read. I encourage your prayerful feedback here at this blog spot, as we share in Christian love our thoughts and idea with one aother.  God bless each of you!

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-blogs/160476-perry_noble_four_problems_the_church_has_got_to_deal_with.html?p=1