My 2011 Looe Key Reef pictures (shark pics included!!!)

[aquavista99]

http://s122.photobucket.com/albums/o256/aquavista99/Looe%20Key%20Reef%20show%20pics/?albumview=slideshow

Enjoy the slide show. We recently returned from vacation in Key West and I spent three days on Looe Key reef, which is rated as one of the top ten reefs in the world (according to some publications) and is the only living barrier reef in North America. Looe Key reef  is protected as a National Marine Sanctuary since 1981, and is home to a large variety of corals, including stands of endangered elkhorn and staghorn, and over 195 different species of fish. Lots of sharks (hammerheads, Caribbean reef, black tip, nurse sharks, etc.) call Looe Key Reef home as well.

Cheers!

Tim(aquavista99)

[Boonjob]

Thats awesome! but where is all the Aiptasia and green hair algae. Looks SOOOO ODD without it.

[micki]

Beautiful Tim!!!  I would LOVE to swim with the Shark someday!    Thanks for sharing!

[CoralBeauties]

I got to dive on that site years ago.  It was my all time favorite dive in the keys.  If I remember right it was about 35ft of water and was just like row after row of coral with sand floors between each row.  There was a baracuda on the reef with a fish hook hanging out of it mouth.  I stayed clear of that guy.
Nice pics
Jeff

[muttley000]

Very nice, I hope I get to dive on the reef someday!

[aquavista99]

I really appreciate the compliments, guys & gals! I had an absolute blast on Looe Key reef and I am glad I was able to share my underwater slide show with you. I lost my camera on the last dive due to water damage but was able to save the pictures.

Here is an aerial view of Looe Key reef. It is the only living barrier reef in North America. 

[aquavista99]

Diving with sharks was an amazing experience. The sharks in the photographs above were Caribbean reef sharks, but there were a few black tip sharks in the area as well. Swimming with thousands of Atlantic Blue tangs was an awesome experience as well. I did not eat the invasive lionfish that was removed from the reef, but the fish did end up on the menu at TGI Fridays in Key West shortly after we returned from our trip.

[micki]

Wow, we may have to look into going there at some point in time!!!  Are lion fish typically found in that area?  I was surprised to see that.  They don't really eat them do they?

[aquavista99]

Wow, we may have to look into going there at some point in time!!!  Are lion fish typically found in that area?  I was surprised to see that.  They don't really eat them do they?

Yes, invasive lionfish are causing major problems throughout the Atlantic, Florida Keys and the Caribbean. They have no known predators and kill a lot of native fish, including commercial fishing industry favorites like grouper and snapper. And yes, people do eat lionfish (see attached links ... numerous lionfish recipes listed below). The lionfish that was removed from the reef on my trip ended up at the local TGI Fridays in Key West.

http://www.lionfishhunter.com/Lionfish%20Recipes.html

http://www.deathtolionfish.org/recipes.html

[micki]

Wow, I had no idea!  I have trouble eating fish when I'm sittng near my tank!  Stupid I know LOL

[FancyDirty]

great pics

[aquavista99]

Thanks for the compliment!

great pics

[aquavista99]

Swimming with large schools of Atlantic Blue tangs on Looe Key reminded me of a previous trip to the Big Island of Hawaii (ie, swimming with large schools of Yellow tangs on the Kona Coast)!!!

[aquavista99]

Looe Key SPS! 

[aquavista99]

Looe Key Caribbean Reef Sharks!

[aquavista99]

Check out this recent ABC news video about hunting and eating the invasive lion fish from Miami, Fla. 

http://news.yahoo.com/video/odd-15749658/hunting-the-poisonous-lion-fish-26061310.html

[/quote]

Wow, we may have to look into going there at some point in time!!!  Are lion fish typically found in that area?  I was surprised to see that.  They don't really eat them do they?

[micki]

Too Wild!  Thanks for sharing!