Charles W Guthrie

A 300 foot cargo ship that is laying on it’s port side. Hilma was a captured drug ship that was sunk as a recreational dive site. The ship is the home of many large tarpon and is covered and bright corals. The picture us of the stern looking at the prop. 10mm wide angle lens, Canon 20D at 1/125-f/13.

What is a Crinoid? Crinoids, also known as "sea lilies" or "feather-stars", are marine animals. Crinoids are characterized by a mouth on the top surface that is surrounded by feeding arms. I have never seen such a wide variety of colors in crinoids. They look like a feathered plant. On one coral head I found 18 different color crinoids. There were many more colors and patterns around the world.

We just returned from Bonaire, one of the ABC islands about 60 miles off Caracas, Venezuela. Bonaire’s Town Pier is probably one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. This picture is just a small section of a concrete piling. The dive site, under the town pier, is full of frogfish, sea horses, drum, chain moray eels, hard and soft corals, etc etc etc. The picture looks like a Picasso palette.

There are 1000+ variations of the Sea Slug. I believe this is a Chromdoris – Willani.
I will need to get a book (or two) to help with the identification of these fellows.
A site called www.seachallengers.com has great links and is a good first source
for finding info on what they called “Sea Jewels.”

A lot of Spotted Trunk fish in Bonaire waters. This lovely fish
did not depart when I approached and came straight toward me.
The texture of her skin almost looks like leather. Seems like she wants to kiss you.

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Another great thing about the Philippines is the abundance of Frog Fish.
They look like toys and move very slow. We were lucky on this trip and got pictures of swimming Frog Fish.
Frog Fish change color based on their surroundings. This fellow has not been in this spot to long because his color has not changed.

One of my favorite fish. They are called Lion Fish, Fire Fish and Scorpion Fish.
The family is Scorpaenidae. This fellow is called a Red Fire Fish. Another book calls
him a Feathered Lionfish. Whatever you call him just do not touch him.
Wounds very from bee sting like to unbelievable agony.
Great detail in this picture. Shot with a 100mm macro and 20D Canon.

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