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My Interesting Caribbean Vacation
- Thread starter Paul B
- Start date
Following up on this I decided to do a little research and found that in,the state of Florida with a salt water fishing license the harvest of soft corals, inverts, and fish is legal with limitations how ever hard corals and stone corals are prohibited as well as live rock. Supposedly from what I read on a few reef to reef forums there are dive boats that will take you out to reefs to harvest your own corals idk how this works or have any verification but it sounds cool. I also read some threads about people harvesting there own,corals and invertebrates
Paul B
NJRC Member
The only way I would be able to go is if I won the lottery. I'm pretty sure I will only see it in your awesome descriptions and pictures. And in my dreams!I could easily go back, I mean if I could. We will see.
Paul B
NJRC Member
Last week we were invited back to Mustique for 7 days. Our closest friends came with us as they are also our SCUBA buddies and next door neighbors.
We went there on the same tiny puddle jumper plane we went on last time.
I could tell it was the same plane because I was in the last seat. (it only holds 18 people) Behind me was the bathroom which was basically a cardboard cat food box with adult diapers in it.
The windows were open but if you stuck your hand out, the propeller would cut it off. We also cruised at the same altitude so I am glad this time I remembered to bring along my fishing pole that I used to troll out the back.
We stayed at a different house this time. It was a 5 bedroom on our own private beach but it was just the four of us. We had a staff of three including a Chef.
This was our deck where we ate.
We also had the entire lagoon. I can't tell you whose houses are on the other side, but everyone knows them. This was one of our snorkling beaches
We went there on the same tiny puddle jumper plane we went on last time.
I could tell it was the same plane because I was in the last seat. (it only holds 18 people) Behind me was the bathroom which was basically a cardboard cat food box with adult diapers in it.
The windows were open but if you stuck your hand out, the propeller would cut it off. We also cruised at the same altitude so I am glad this time I remembered to bring along my fishing pole that I used to troll out the back.
We stayed at a different house this time. It was a 5 bedroom on our own private beach but it was just the four of us. We had a staff of three including a Chef.
This was our deck where we ate.
We also had the entire lagoon. I can't tell you whose houses are on the other side, but everyone knows them. This was one of our snorkling beaches
Paul B
NJRC Member
Of course I had to take some pictures of the most boring fish, tangs. They just follow the one in front of them going Doot Da Do, Doot Da Doot waiting for one to poop so they can all poop or eat, so they can all poop again. I can't believe people keep these things an they are by far the most common fish.
At least these guys have a personality and the added cool benefit that they can poison other fish or even arrows. As we entered our little plane, the Air marshal was dipping his arrows in a spotted box fish liver. The rest of it we had for lunch.
Oh I forgot, in the seat back of the plane was a little card that said to inform the pilot if you saw flames coming out of one of the engines. There was a cartoon picture of a guy looking at a fire with his eyes popping out. On the back of the card was the safety equipment that consisted of a raft and a shovel. You can't make this stuff up.
This is our two pools on our lagoon.
This beach, like the others, not one person was loaded with tons of the nicest looking live rock I have ever seen
We didn't realize that she was coming but our Supermodel Daughter surprised us and popped in for a few days. She doesn't mind me calling her a Supermodel nor does my wife. I know that is not PC and some people don't like that for some reason. But I only have to please my family,no one else.
That guy is my friend who came with us.
At least these guys have a personality and the added cool benefit that they can poison other fish or even arrows. As we entered our little plane, the Air marshal was dipping his arrows in a spotted box fish liver. The rest of it we had for lunch.
Oh I forgot, in the seat back of the plane was a little card that said to inform the pilot if you saw flames coming out of one of the engines. There was a cartoon picture of a guy looking at a fire with his eyes popping out. On the back of the card was the safety equipment that consisted of a raft and a shovel. You can't make this stuff up.
This is our two pools on our lagoon.
This beach, like the others, not one person was loaded with tons of the nicest looking live rock I have ever seen
We didn't realize that she was coming but our Supermodel Daughter surprised us and popped in for a few days. She doesn't mind me calling her a Supermodel nor does my wife. I know that is not PC and some people don't like that for some reason. But I only have to please my family,no one else.
That guy is my friend who came with us.
reefsandrotts
NJRC Member
Another awesome read,but I was wondering if you were still away or if your senility post come true...
Many moons ago, when I flew with the Coast Guard and could fit into a flight suit, I would occasionally be stationed in Guantanamo Bay.
Before it became a prison camp it was loaded with interesting things, like iguanas, bazillions of tiny lizards, iguanas, vultures, scorpions, banana rats, and iguanas.
One day there was an officer on base that needed flight hours to get his 'hazard pay'.
As NCOs we flew all the time through hurricanes and such, jumping onto decks of burning boats, or jumping into 30' seas for rescues to earn ours, but I digress.
So, on a clear 100F day, with no EPIRBS, storms, drug runners, rescues, or emergencies in sight, I was booted off a flight so the officer could risk all.
I went down to the beach and grabbed some dive equipment, then waited, relaxing till another diver showed up.
He was a Marine. We introduced ourselves and set out.
In the bay in Gitmo there's a break in the shallow reef wall to allow you access to deeper regions.
We passed through it and, about 50' away I saw my first of sharks cruising the reef. Then I saw all the others.
They were bigger than me, they had a few more teeth than I do, and there were more than a few.
I immediately swam back to shore.
In 'swam back' I mean I was moving so fast I don't think my arse ever touched water.
A few minutes later, my Marine buddy came ashore and asked me what the problem was.
I told him, quite rationally (I thought), that I had a bit of a concern sharing the water with what seemed to be Black Tip and Tiger sharks.
And here's the winner of all the advice I have ever been given.
You may be able to pass this on to your daughter.
He told me...
'Don't worry about it. Before they attack they wiggle their bodies and them come straight at you. Just stick your foot out straight and jam your flipper in it's mouth. They hate that.'
So, its as simple as that apparently.
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Paul B
NJRC Member
That seems like a good Idea.
In the Caribbean, where I really find the diving as boring as watching paint dry there are very few sharks. I am not sure why but maybe the sight of tangs just puts them to sleep. If you do see a shark there, it is probably senile and looking for an angelfish to administer last rites.
Years ago, I mean like Noah's time there were a lot of sharks. The first time I dove in Tahiti I was amazed. The guy on the boat said you have to time your jump off the boat in between the sharks so you don't jump on them. They also hate that. There were so many of them that I was surprised there were any fish left, but there are.
Then when you get down, the sharks, which are in schools of like 20 just hang out with you. Those are black fin reef sharks and don't bother you and hardly eat anyone, especially Liberals, which seems to give them gas.
In the southern ocean you can see very clearly down to the bottom even at 120' deep and as you get deeper you encounter the Lemon sharks which are much bigger than the black tips. I think they get bigger from all the lemons they eat.
The black tips stay away from them.
Then the manta rays come in and they are like wall to wall carpets. They come so close to you that they have to lift their fin to pass you. I would love to have a baby of them in my nano.
When I first started diving, here in New York where the visibility is measured in inches I thought the knife was for if you saw a shark, you cut your throat. Here, if you want to see your watch, you have to put it inside your mask and we always dove with one of those "blind person sticks". You spend the last part of your dive cutting your way out of fishing line which is tangled all over the rocks.
Once I was lobster diving with my dive buddy here and we found ourselves up against a solid wall. (you have to swim into the current here because when you stop, you get engulfed in the cloud of mud you just stirred up as we don't really swim here, it is more like a snail crawl on the bottom where the lobsters are)
The mud covered us and we tried to go over it. But there was a "roof". We tried to turn around, but there wasn't enough room. Eventually we backed out.
We later found out we swam into the boiler of a ship that sunk in 1902 which was carrying dates (we didn't find any).
This New York diving is Man's diving and not Sissy, Girly man diving like in the tropics. If you have a lot of experience diving in the tropics, it doesn't count at all as experience here.
Everything has to be done in the dark and night diving actually has much better visibility because you can see farther in the beam of light.
But if you are looking through your beam of light and a shark head comes into view facing you and his head is too big to completely fit in the beam, get your knife out and remove your wet suit hood so you have clear access to your throat.
In the Caribbean, where I really find the diving as boring as watching paint dry there are very few sharks. I am not sure why but maybe the sight of tangs just puts them to sleep. If you do see a shark there, it is probably senile and looking for an angelfish to administer last rites.
Years ago, I mean like Noah's time there were a lot of sharks. The first time I dove in Tahiti I was amazed. The guy on the boat said you have to time your jump off the boat in between the sharks so you don't jump on them. They also hate that. There were so many of them that I was surprised there were any fish left, but there are.
Then when you get down, the sharks, which are in schools of like 20 just hang out with you. Those are black fin reef sharks and don't bother you and hardly eat anyone, especially Liberals, which seems to give them gas.
In the southern ocean you can see very clearly down to the bottom even at 120' deep and as you get deeper you encounter the Lemon sharks which are much bigger than the black tips. I think they get bigger from all the lemons they eat.
The black tips stay away from them.Then the manta rays come in and they are like wall to wall carpets. They come so close to you that they have to lift their fin to pass you. I would love to have a baby of them in my nano.
When I first started diving, here in New York where the visibility is measured in inches I thought the knife was for if you saw a shark, you cut your throat. Here, if you want to see your watch, you have to put it inside your mask and we always dove with one of those "blind person sticks". You spend the last part of your dive cutting your way out of fishing line which is tangled all over the rocks.
Once I was lobster diving with my dive buddy here and we found ourselves up against a solid wall. (you have to swim into the current here because when you stop, you get engulfed in the cloud of mud you just stirred up as we don't really swim here, it is more like a snail crawl on the bottom where the lobsters are)
The mud covered us and we tried to go over it. But there was a "roof". We tried to turn around, but there wasn't enough room. Eventually we backed out.
We later found out we swam into the boiler of a ship that sunk in 1902 which was carrying dates (we didn't find any).
This New York diving is Man's diving and not Sissy, Girly man diving like in the tropics. If you have a lot of experience diving in the tropics, it doesn't count at all as experience here.
Everything has to be done in the dark and night diving actually has much better visibility because you can see farther in the beam of light.But if you are looking through your beam of light and a shark head comes into view facing you and his head is too big to completely fit in the beam, get your knife out and remove your wet suit hood so you have clear access to your throat.
That seems like a good Idea.
In the Caribbean, where I really find the diving as boring as watching paint dry there are very few sharks. I am not sure why but maybe the sight of tangs just puts them to sleep. If you do see a shark there, it is probably senile and looking for an angelfish to administer last rites.
Years ago, I mean like Noah's time there were a lot of sharks. The first time I dove in Tahiti I was amazed. The guy on the boat said you have to time your jump off the boat in between the sharks so you don't jump on them. They also hate that. There were so many of them that I was surprised there were any fish left, but there are.
Then when you get down, the sharks, which are in schools of like 20 just hang out with you. Those are black fin reef sharks and don't bother you and hardly eat anyone, especially Liberals, which seems to give them gas.
In the southern ocean you can see very clearly down to the bottom even at 120' deep and as you get deeper you encounter the Lemon sharks which are much bigger than the black tips. I think they get bigger from all the lemons they eat.
Then the manta rays come in and they are like wall to wall carpets. They come so close to you that they have to lift their fin to pass you. I would love to have a baby of them in my nano.
When I first started diving, here in New York where the visibility is measured in inches I thought the knife was for if you saw a shark, you cut your throat. Here, if you want to see your watch, you have to put it inside your mask and we always dove with one of those "blind person sticks". You spend the last part of your dive cutting your way out of fishing line which is tangled all over the rocks.
Once I was lobster diving with my dive buddy here and we found ourselves up against a solid wall. (you have to swim into the current here because when you stop, you get engulfed in the cloud of mud you just stirred up as we don't really swim here, it is more like a snail crawl on the bottom where the lobsters are)
The mud covered us and we tried to go over it. But there was a "roof". We tried to turn around, but there wasn't enough room. Eventually we backed out.
We later found out we swam into the boiler of a ship that sunk in 1902 which was carrying dates (we didn't find any).
This New York diving is Man's diving and not Sissy, Girly man diving like in the tropics. If you have a lot of experience diving in the tropics, it doesn't count at all as experience here.
But if you are looking through your beam of light and a shark head comes into view facing you and his head is too big to completely fit in the beam, get your knife out and remove your wet suit hood so you have clear access to your throat.
This was too funny Paul! I'm a diver as well. Learned here in NJ. And you are right....if you can dive here, you can dive anywhere! Cold, Dark, and can't see
Best I've had was 40 feet vis. But I do love it here. The history of all the wrecks is great. Caribbean diving is like diving in my bathtub.
Paul B
NJRC Member
So My friend and I are exploring this private, rocky beach and we come upon this greasy looking stuff. About 10 lbs of it so we both figured it was Ambergris. Ambergris comes out of sperm whales and the whales use it to cover squid beaks so they don't cut them when they poop. (ouch )
The stuff is worth literally more than gold and is used in the perfume industry. I guess if you want to attract whales but I am guessing. Something like $63,000.00 a pound and we had about 10 lbs. So that may be worth $630,000.00.
I started thinking how many copperband butterflies (and Supermodels) I could buy with that and my face was hurting from my smiling. Then we researched further. It said, if you heat up a needle and stick it in ambergris and it makes white smoke and exudes a weird smell, it may be ambergris. So we got a needle and heated it up. Yep, white smoke and it smelled like melted grease.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be melted grease. I don't know how such a big blob of it ended up high on a rock on this pristine beach, but I am not a bazillionaire.
If there is a X there, try clicking on it
The stuff is worth literally more than gold and is used in the perfume industry. I guess if you want to attract whales but I am guessing. Something like $63,000.00 a pound and we had about 10 lbs. So that may be worth $630,000.00.
I started thinking how many copperband butterflies (and Supermodels) I could buy with that and my face was hurting from my smiling. Then we researched further. It said, if you heat up a needle and stick it in ambergris and it makes white smoke and exudes a weird smell, it may be ambergris. So we got a needle and heated it up. Yep, white smoke and it smelled like melted grease.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be melted grease. I don't know how such a big blob of it ended up high on a rock on this pristine beach, but I am not a bazillionaire.
If there is a X there, try clicking on it
