Underwater animals thread
Diver here. My pics: let me show you them.
TWO rather rare abalone. Hard to spot, they look like rocks and are endangered around here.
In the bridge of Saskatchewan, off Nanimo. Everything here is an animal.
Pic related: underwater animal.
Looking up at Saskatchewan superstructure. Never seen the viz this good, usually like 30' and can't even get a sense of where I am on the boat. Again, everything here is animals.
Saskatchewan bow line. Took some macro shots while I decompressed. No idea what half this stuff even is.
>>2007938
Cool. Go on.
About the coolest thing you can see in the Pacific North West! On the foredeck of the Rivtow Lion, Nanimo.
>>2007946
Thanks!
Finally a Chordate. On the stern of the Rivtow. Using a compact camera and my flashlight, sometimes I can line things up properly but it's hit or miss.
What is growing on this scallop?
tiger barbs sword tails or some other colorful fish as dithers for a shy ebjd?
A hard-luck hermit. Thinking a sponge might not have been his first choice...
Mammals (and plenty of urchins) at Norris Rocks.
They were everywhere! Big, like horses. Fast, like birds. Playful, like dogs.
This one and a few others seem to have run into American water / fishing grassroots politics. Looks painful.
Wish my buddy had a camera too, but he liked this shot. They could not get enough of my big white fins.
These King Crabs are like little tanks. When they pull their limbs in the armor interlocks like a bumpy sphere. And if they get a claw on part of you, say goodbye to that part.
But their defenses don't protect against us. Pic related: that crab.
Last one! On the lower hull of Columbia, off Campbell River. I took lots more, but my equipment is small and limited, and I mostly just look around rather than run the camera. You're not missing much.
>>2007961
is this just pleb tier branding?
why do they even brand in that size
>>2007962
How long did this party last?
>>2007984
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife might care more about fish and fishing than the well-being of other wildlife such as sea lions. Having them die or not come back to Oregon would be an acceptable outcome. Because muh jerbs, ya know?
Pic related: sea lion on fire.
>>2007988
We went to Norris Rocks because they were there, and they swarmed us off and on the whole dive. They stick together, so it's rocks... urchins... SEA LIONS! rocks... old fishing gear... SEA LIONS! They are gentle and curious, liked to nibble my fins and hands. OTOH they are as big as bears and could have really messed us up if they wanted to...
The overall party is Jacks twice yearly wreck trek, I highly recommend it! subseaexperience.com
>>2007954
Wow do hermits really make homes oUT of sponges? That's really neat.
>>2008365
>Suberites domuncula
If you're interested
>>2007958
that doesn't scare the shit out of you at all?
>>2008783
The whole experience is dark and cold and scary, but it's also a real privlage to be there! Of all the many ways divers get hurt and killed, 'fauna attack' ranks way way down there. They could and very occasionally do, but they won't. Being entangled by fishing gear, having a random medical issue, getting swept away in current, or having gear problems and making a fast assent are all much better things to be afraid of.
>OK, ya, scared the shit out of me quite a bit...
>>2007954
Kek. Who knows, maybe he's an alternative crab, and enjoys the soft texture of sponges and doesn't want to be held back by the weight of hard shells, man.
>>2008864
Sorry, should not have been so judgmental. We all need to leave our old shells behind as we grow, and I respect his choices. Sponges and crabs can have a respectful and symbiotic relationship and I hope it works out for both of them.
Pic related: freshly molted king-crab shell. Sorry for the poor quality, already posted all the good ones.
>>2007965
kek
Was it good?
>>2008946
Buddy found three on the first dive that day, and the guys were all like 'moar!' so we all decided to look for them second dive and found two more to keep. Another group took a bunch of scallops. They are supposed to be this fancy $100 plate gourmet thing, but I thought it was just OK. Very edible, but a steak would be better.
The scallops though: super yummy!
>>2007582
>mfw favorite animal
thanks anon
i even have two ocean sunfish plushes
diveranon posting pics, if you're still here, I want hear more about what you think of the situation at bonneville (which I'm assuming is what you're talking about with the sea lion branding). I work with sea lions in CA and never get to hear locals' opinions on the whole thing.
>>2008993
Diveranon here. I'm a local of Edmonton, AB, and I dive Vancouver Island. I don't really know enough about the situation to have a strong opinion. Never heard of Bonnyville. But I suspect that whoever branded that sea lion was not primarily concerned with its welfare.