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RED REEF RESIDENTS: A RUFOUS ROUND-UP IN THE BAHAMAS

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Squirrelfish (Elvis) ©Melinda Riger @ Grand Bahama Scuba copy

Elvis the Squirrelfish

RED REEF RESIDENTS: A RUFOUS ROUND-UP IN THE BAHAMAS

It’s sunny and very hot. Time to take another dive with Melinda to see what is going on under water around the reefs. Here are some residents, a somewhat loose description since some of the denizens featured are not especially active. But they are alive, so they qualify by my wide rules. And please may we not get into a discussion about where precisely red and orange overlap. It’s a grey area. And it’s too hot to argue about it… Let’s start with three types of GROUPER that may be spotted in the northern Bahamas. In fact, they are always spotted. One of my favourite pictures is the Graysby – it’s such a great expression, and he really rocks the spots!

GRAYSBY
Graysby © Melinda Riger @ Grand Bahama Scuba copy

TIGER GROUPER AT A CLEANING STATION with Peterson Cleaning Shrimps & a GobyGrouper, Tiger with cleaning shrimps and goby ©Melinda Riger @ G B Scuba copyRED HINDRed Hind Grouper Melinda Riger @ G B Scuba copy

BLACKBAR SOLDIERFISHBlackbar Soldierfish ©Melinda Riger @ G B Scuba copy

HOGFISHHogfish ©Melinda Riger @ GB Scuba copy 2

SQUIRRELFISHSquirrelfish 2 copy

But red fish are not the only red reef residents. Here are some  that won’t swim away from you as you swim towards them to admire them…

A FEATHER DUSTER ON A SPONGEFeather Duster in a Sponge ©Melinda Riger @ Grand Bahama Scuba copy

RED SPONGERed Sponge ©Melinda Riger @ GB Scuba copyUNDERWATER GARDEN GROWING IN A RED CONTAINERCoral ©Melinda Riger @ G B Scuba 2 copy

ANOTHER VARIED REEF GARDENReef Garden ©Melinda Riger@ G B Scuba copy

CORALS WITH (I have just noticed) A LURKING LIONFISH Coral ©Melinda Riger @ G B Scuba 1 copy

CHRISTMAS TREE WORMS (see more of these amazing creatures HERE)Christmas Tree Worms ©Melinda Riger @ G B Scuba copy

All photos: Melinda Riger @ Grand Bahama Scuba

8 thoughts on “RED REEF RESIDENTS: A RUFOUS ROUND-UP IN THE BAHAMAS”

  1. Hi RH! Nice pics. With all the sponges, I’m reminded that some sponges including fairly large ones, have mildly toxic, silicon spicules that they will lend you if handled without gloves. I learned this early in life when I rolled a large one out of my way that had been dislodged by a Hurricane. Very painful until my hands went numb,then rather scarey. Fortunately the spicules and toxin dissipated within 3 hrs with no lasting effects. Vinegar seemed to help some.

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    • Hi Rick, good to hear from you again. That’s an interesting point – those pretty and tempting things are best left untouched! Also, best not to try to make a nice collection of cone shells… I’ve heard about the vinegar trick. Urine is another… More likely to have one rather than the other handy at any given time… RH

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    • Hi Trish & Alex – good to hear from you! The cleaning thing with large fish is pretty amazing… some cleaners will go into a mouth full of ferocious teeth to undertake a bit of dental hygiene… High risk, I’d say. Are you next at DCB in Nov?

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  4. How did you get a Hogfish snapper that color in the water? I’ve only seen them a grayish color in the water, then they turn the pretty coral color out of the water. Is that a canon peeking out of the sea floor with squirrel fish ? Beautiful photos!!!!

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    • There’s a bit of a variation with these, isn’t there Char? Anyway, I expect it was blushing when it realised Melinda was taking its pic. Canon? I had to look, I thought you meant the camera! No, I don’t think so, though there are wrecks in that area. Elvis lives (anags!) there I believe… RH

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