Belize 2024 - Turneffe Island - Scuba Diving 3

The third and last instalment of photos from scuba diving at Turneffe Island feature "other things of interest." 

First, lettuce sea slugs. Doesn't really sound all that interesting, right? Andrew and I challenged ourselves to try to spot them before the dive master but it was a futile effort. Can you pick it out in this first photo?  Hint: it's right in the middle. 

Close up of the lettuce sea slug in the above photo. 

Other lettuce sea slugs

Banded Coral Shrimp

Banded Coral Shrimp

Some of the largest crabs we've ever seen!

Spotted Eagle Ray

Spotted Eagle Ray

A sleepy Hawksbill Turtle

Lobster

During the first week, we saw Caribbean Reef Sharks on almost every dive.

Spotted Moray Eel

Spotted Moray Eel

Sting Ray

Green Turtle

And last but not least . . . Squid! This is Andrew's photo as I was further away and took a bit of video but no photos. This is the first time we have seen squid while diving so it was a special surprise. 

Andrew's blog post of "big stuff": https://sustainableadventure.blogspot.com/2024/12/belize-diving-big-stuff.html

Belize 2024 - Turneffe Island - Scuba Diving 2

This second blog post from diving at Turneffe Island is the "fish" edition. 

Disclaimer: Fish are not the most cooperative photo subjects! They seem to love to show their back sides or stay well hidden. Some of these are not the greatest photos but at least give somewhat of a representation of what we saw. 

The white spotted toad fish is endemic to the Turneffe Atoll. Our dive master was a master at finding them well hidden in holes and would tap on the rock just outside the hole to get them to come out and investigate so that we could get photos of them. This one was the best I managed!

Damselfish - I love the sparkly blue spots.

Fairy Basslet

A bit out of focus but this is a slender file fish. They're only about an inch long and difficult to spot.

Lion fish - a very invasive species that our dive master often speared and left for the sharks to eat.

Little yellow fish. LOL! For lack of knowing what it actually is. :-)

Permit Fish

Permit Fish

Queen Angelfish

Schoolmaster Snapper

Can you spot the Scorpion Fish? They blend in well!

Scrawled Cow Fish - again not a great photo but ...

Smooth Trunk Fish

Squirrel Fish

Stoplight Parrot Fish

Trumpet Fish

Trunk Fish

Not sure what this is but they appear shy and hide near the bottom. 

Atlantic Spade Fish

Belize 2024 - Turneffe Island - Scuba Diving 1

I was going to upgrade my GoPro for this trip but Andrew suggested that he get me an early Christmas present of an underwater housing for my iPhone and a new dive light. Awesome! When it arrived, (SeaLife SportDiver Ultra Pro 2500 set) I carefully read the instructions and played around with it quite a bit at home but, honestly, I wasn't totally sure how it was going to work for me. (I'm always hesitant with new tech things.) Well, I love it!!! I'm still no pro underwater photographer (nor will I ever be or want to be) but it was super easy to use and I feel like I got way better photos and video than I would have with a GoPro. I loved being able to quickly switch between photo and video modes and zoom in and out. 

Thanks to Andrew for these next three photos.

I got way too many "favourites" to narrow it down to just one blog post worth, so here's the first instalment.  :-)    These are the "non-fish" ones. 

17th Century Anchor

Sailor's Eyeballs

Bearded Fire Worm

Brain Coral

Conch Shell

Coral

Social Feather Duster

Sponge

Sea Fan

Donkey Dung Sea Cucumber

Golden Crinoid (or Orange Sea Lily)

Flamingo Tongue Snail

Golden Crinoid (or Orange Sea Lily)

Sea Fans

Sea Fan

Furry Sea Cucumber

Furry Sea Cucumber