Roatan trip: Photography, videos, spots, etc

[Slocke]

I went to Roatan for just under a week and brought an underwater phone case. Here is some of the better stuff I captured, as well as some of my cool spots and recollections.

Let's start with the easiest-to-show photos of my snorkeling.
A massive ~3ft chain moray, Echidna catenata.

Beautiful princess parrotfish, Scarus taeniopterus

Juvenile princess parrotfish with a female stoplight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride

Male stoplight parrotfish

Juvenile jeweled damselfish, Microspathodon chrysurus.

Adult.

Indigo hamlet, Hypoplecterus indigo

Flamingos tongue, Cyphoma gibbosum on Eunicea laxispica.

Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus hiding in Eunicea sp.

Bridled burrfish, Chilomycterus antennatus.

Juvenile French angelfish, Pomecanthus paru.

Christmas tree worms, Spirobranchus giganteus amongst star coral, Orbicella annularis.

Juvenile blue tang, Acanthurus coeruleus.

Acanthurus bahianus

Juvenile black grouper, Mycteroperca bonaci

Hope @ISpeakForTheSeas and/or @i cant think appreciate the scientific names. That was a lot of work. Work. Now I need a break

 

[fishguy242]

Awesome pics... here and waiting for next round...

 

[i cant think]

I went to Roatan for just under a week and brought an underwater phone case. Here is some of the better stuff I captured, as well as some of my cool spots and recollections.

Let's start with the easiest-to-show photos of my snorkeling.
A massive ~3ft chain moray, Echidna catenata.

Beautiful princess parrotfish, Scarus taeniopterus

Juvenile princess parrotfish with a female stoplight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride

Male stoplight parrotfish

Juvenile jeweled damselfish, Microspathodon chrysurus.

Adult.

Indigo hamlet, Hypoplecterus indigo

Flamingos tongue, Cyphoma gibbosum on Eunicea laxispica.

Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus hiding in Eunicea sp.

Bridled burrfish, Chilomycterus antennatus.

Juvenile French angelfish, Pomecanthus paru.

Christmas tree worms, Spirobranchus giganteus amongst star coral, Orbicella annularis.

Juvenile blue tang, Acanthurus coeruleus.

Acanthurus chirurgus.

Juvenile black grouper, Mycteroperca bonaci

Hope @ISpeakForTheSeas and/or @i cant think appreciate the scientific names. That was a lot of work. Work. Now I need a break

Is that second to last not an adult coeruleus?

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Oh my goodness, this is a dream! So beautiful

 

[paragrouper]

Those are some incredible photos.

 

[Slocke]

Is that second to last not an adult coeruleus?

Nope. Positive on that ID as the adult coeruleus (pics to come) are a dark blue that is almost black in appearence. Also the dorsal and anal fins are wrong for a coruleus.

 

[JoJosReef]

Missing a few wrasses aren't we?

 

[Slocke]

Here you go @i cant think adult Acanthurus coruleus. By far the most common tang and would often roam the reefs in giant schools. Very very pretty fish. Also saw a dog snapper, Lotjanus jocu absolutely smash one up.

 

[i cant think]

Nope. Positive on that ID as the adult coeruleus (pics to come) are a dark blue that is almost black in appearence. Also the dorsal and anal fins are wrong for a coruleus.

The bars are also wrong for chirurgus, transitioning coeruleus are pale blue with yellowish fins - the caudal fin and dorsal/anal fins are the last thing to change during a transition.
Also, the body shape is too circular for a chirurgus.

 

[OrchidMiss]

Dude, take me next time.

 

[Slocke]

The bars are also wrong for chirurgus, transitioning coeruleus are pale blue with yellowish fins - the caudal fin and dorsal/anal fins are the last thing to change during a transition.
Also, the body shape is too circular for a chirurgus.

Edit now I think you might be right


It was completely gray but since none of the other tangs have horizontal stripes…


Edit edit. Wait think it’s Acanthurus bahianus. It was too big to be a juvenile coruleus.

 

[Slocke]

This is an incredible thing I got to witness. A hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata eating a large sponge. Joining it is the biggest French angel, Pomecanthus paru I have ever seen and a similarly sized gray angel, Pomecanthus arcuatus, and 3 tiny in comparison but still full sized queen angelfish, Holecanthus ciliaris. Finally a large dog snapper, Lotjanus jocu prowles around too.

New video by Sam Locke

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[i cant think]

Edit now I think you might be right


It was completely gray but since none of the other tangs have horizontal stripes…


Edit edit. Wait think it’s Acanthurus bahianus. It was too big to be a juvenile coruleus.

Bahianus is definitely possible but the scalpel colour is off - Bahianus has blue but that guy has a very white scalpel.

I know some adult coeruleus can have remnants of the juvenile phase for quite some time after they begin to transition.

 

[Slocke]

Bahianus is definitely possible but the scalpel colour is off - Bahianus has blue but that guy has a very white scalpel.

I know some adult coeruleus can have remnants of the juvenile phase for quite some time after they begin to transition.

I just feel the shape and color are completely off. It’s gray and from what I can see coruleus goes steadily from yellow to dark blue. Then the shape of the dorsal and anal fins are much rounder. Almost like a zebrasoma.

@ISpeakForTheSeas do you have an opinion? I think we are down to bahianus or coruleus

 

[Slocke]

Bahianus is definitely possible but the scalpel colour is off - Bahianus has blue but that guy has a very white scalpel.

I know some adult coeruleus can have remnants of the juvenile phase for quite some time after they begin to transition.

This link has some very gray looking ones so maybe you are right

Blue Tang - Acanthurus coeruleus - Surgeonfishes - - Caribbean Reefs

Florent's Guide To The Caribbean Reefs - Blue Tang - Acanthurus coeruleus - Surgeonfishes - - Surgeonfishes - Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Bermuda, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil -

reefguide.org

 

[Slocke]

Another incredible video. Distracted from watching the two eagle rays, Aetobatus narinari by a massive free swimming green moray, Gymnothorax funebris.

New video by Sam Locke

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I just feel the shape and color are completely off. It’s gray and from what I can see coruleus goes steadily from yellow to dark blue. Then the shape of the dorsal and anal fins are much rounder. Almost like a zebrasoma.

@ISpeakForTheSeas do you have an opinion? I think we are down to bahianus or coruleus

I'm thinking coeruleus; I can tell you it's not bahianus if for no other reason than the lack of coloration by the eye, but the tail seems wrong too.

 

[Slocke]

I'm thinking coeruleus; I can tell you it's not bahianus if for no other reason than the lack of coloration by the eye, but the tail seems wrong too.

Bahianus is definitely possible but the scalpel colour is off - Bahianus has blue but that guy has a very white scalpel.

I know some adult coeruleus can have remnants of the juvenile phase for quite some time after they begin to transition.

I concede defeat

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I have a coral research facility near me (this is where I go to get my corals), and the guy who owns it goes around the world to dive in the coral reefs and collect info. He's going to Roatan for the first time in September. I will have to show him these photos!

 

[PR_nano]

@Slocke, pictures look great. Can you share which case you bought? I’m going on a cruise in 3 weeks that goes to Rotatan and have a snorkel tour book would like to get a waterproof case.