A few guys from the ARC (Simon, Tim and myself) a well as a few other guests from around the world just got back from a great weekend of diving in the Bahamas.

Here are some pictures.

very cool what is that in the picture under the turtle?

Nudibranch eating a Gorgonian

Actually, it is a Flamingo Tongue Snail. (a nudibranch with a shell)

Cool pic - how was the diving?

Good job!! and all arrived back safe and sound~~

I leave for Bonaire on Saturday

great pics. what island were you on and what sites did you dive?

We dove out of Xanadu Underwater Adventures in Freeport. I will have to get a list together of all the sites we did, but here is a quick rundown from the top of my head...

- Morey Reef
- Theo's Wreck
- Shark Alley
- Hydro Lab
- Plates Reef
- Silver Springs Shallows
- Xanadu Reef
- Tunnels

That is probably the list

Actually, it is a Flamingo Tongue Snail. (a nudibranch with a shell)

Cool pic - how was the diving?

I almost came back missing 3 fingers, but that is for a movie night! Sharks like fingers.

13 reef sharks on the shark feeding dive

We had a great time diving, the people at the shop were awesome, very accomodating and we couldn't have asked for better weather (except for the waves)

(except for the waves)

That's the Bahamas for ya...

Beautiful!

Sounds like you guys had a good time. Great pictures!

hey ill be there and diving with them next week. what sites were good?

Second picture seems strange for the Bahamas?

yeah, that's why Kevin posted it. Lionfish are all over the Bahamas now. Not cool since they are not indigenus.

We found those Lionfish on the night dive when we got there. They were everywhere on that dive (I must have seen 20+). It took a few more dives to see others. They are not indigenus, as simon said, and are causing a lot of problems with the eco system.

We need to be careful of how we get rid of unwanted creatures (I am sure they wont survive in the Chattahoochee). It is speculated that some people in Florida have released Lionfish into the ocean and they have spread. They have been found as far north as Delaware

Okay, I was wondering I spent hundreds of hours diving off Andros island at the Navy's/RCA's underwater testing and evaluation site in the 70's and knew those weren't locals, but I guess they are now. Hope the locals have adjusted.

Those pictures are nothing special! I dove in Lake Lanier last weekend to find an anchor I lost on Memorial Day weekend. Here's what I saw at 42ft. :tongue2:

ROTFLM*O!!!!

omg.... that's too funny

It appears that Lionfish are indigenous to the Atlantic Basin now. The ecosystem will adjust in time I am sure.

I really need to get my certs before I got the the Bahamas. My parents and a good bit of my family live in Freeport so I'll be there often.

I really need to get my certs before I got the the Bahamas. My parents and a good bit of my family live in Freeport so I'll be there often.

You can get certified through Xanadu. Ray is a great person and will take care of you if you tell him we sent you :yay:

If you want to do the classwork and pool sessions first, then just do your diving there, that is what I would recommend

I'l have to ask my folks if they know him. It would be pretty cool to do my dives there.

Let him know that you konw simon and I... he'll get a kick out of it