Saturday, August 21, 2010

Coral Cove - Jupiter, FL

This Saturday, after a crazy busy week at work, we actually left our house at 6:30am  and drove the 1 hour and 30 minutes it takes (it took us longer because we stopped along the way) to get to Coral Cove Park on the Jupiter shore.

I am sure there are places along the shore there where one can enter the water on sand and gradually wade in, but I didn't find any.  This section of the Florida east coast is quite rocky.  Yes, you read that right.  There is a lot of exposed limestone here and it makes for great hiding places for beautiful fish.

One of the issues with the new underwater camera I have is that you just hold it in your hand, use the LCD screen on the back to see - and shoot.  The problem with that is, when you have on a mask and you are underwater, you can't really see the LCD screen, except to note that it is lit and things are moving across it as you swim through the water.  For this reason, I never really know if I captured the subjects I'm attempting to photograph until I get home, extract the digital photo card and look at the pictures on the computer.  Usually, I think I was more successful than it turns out in reality.

Since snorkeling is new to me at the ripe age of 54, I am entranced at the underwater magic that has unfolded before my eyes.  I used to have a fresh water aquarium for years and loved to watch the fish in the tank for hours on end, especially before going to sleep at night.  I can think of nothing more soothing.  Now, when I peek under the water, it's a whole different world, peaceful (I haven't seen any predators yet - and hopefully won't!!) and sun glinted (we don't dive or snorkel during thunderstorms....).  It is truly so beautiful that I can't get enough of it, so we shall probably be back at some beach next weekend if I can get my husband to comply.  He said today that he had never seen such beautiful fish right near shore before - and was in love with this whole new photography genre.

Without further ado, here are the shots - not the greatest - my husband (I actually let him have the camera for a few minutes!!) and I took.  My husband got fancy right away and spiraled away under the water right up to the lip of the rocks - so the good pictures are usually his.  Then hubby would surface, blow out his snorkel and continue.


















Look!!  A fish I'd only previously seen in salt water aquariums!! 















Above looks like - maybe - a blow fish?  One that swells up when threatened?  I don't know - the amount I know about fish you could fit in a thimble.



















I think my hubby took this one - remember to click on them to see a larger version of the photo.
















He looks almost purple!  How beautiful!!



















Now for bright yellow!!  I was SO thrilled to see these fish in their natural environment. 















































I'm an equal opportunity photographer.  You're not a bright color?  That's ok, I'll still take your picture.
















This one above is kind of pink and green. 





























































"She can't see me.  She can't see me.  She can't see me......"  Wrong - I got your picture, little fishy.




























Ooooh - in keeping with the time of year, above is a school of fish.  Get it?  School is starting up again?  OK, so that was lame.




























This little sea turtle was on the beach determinedly walking away from the water.  A family with some small elementary school age children couldn't help themselves and assisted him to the water (as I would have done had they not been there).  We all urged him on, cheered him and gave him words of love and hope as his tiny little turtle body went into the ocean.














Come on, little fella - you can make it!!  At one point, after he was in the water, I swam off.  I figured if he wasn't going to make it, the small children would be devastated.  I would be devastated - and none of us would be able to circumvent nature.  So off I swam for more fishy adventure, trusting that tiny Mr. Sea Turtle was off on a long ocean life.














Is the above a Sea Urchin?  I don't know, but I didn't try to touch it, not wanting to get stung with some life threatening poison and end up like Steve Irwin. 









Skinny, stripey fishies.
















I absolutely cannot tell what the thing is in the photo above.  It looks like butterfly wings underwater.  No idea.
















Mr. Fishy says "HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!"

6 comments:

SwampAngel65 said...

You must've had so much fun snapping pics underwater! They all look great...pretty fish and that sea turtle! Awesome!

Susan Humeston said...

I am SO addicted to the warm ocean water. I did notice, however, that the water off Jupiter was colder than the water at Dania Beach, which is about 85 degree. You could actually swim through warm flows and cooler flows off Jupiter today - weird. I LOVE the fish - some of them seem curious about the huge thing with the camera.

Unknown said...

Ok Ok OK They ARE nice - You are taking pictures of something new - and I have always been fascinated by under water life. . . .

Susan Humeston said...

Thank you for leaving a post. The fishies thank you too.

Island Rider said...

That looks like a great place to snorkel and you didn't have to take a fancy cruise! Neat pictures!

Susan Humeston said...

Come to think of it, I need to get on over to the west coast and swim around with mask and snorkel. I know there are beautiful rays beneath the water - and perhaps some critters.