Monday Monday

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Watch out for this fish!  He'll bite you!  A Damsel fish, hmm, where's the book?  There are the Longfin, Dusky, Threespot, Cocoa, Beaugregory, Bicolor, Yellowtail, Night Sargeant, and Sargeant Major.  Whew, see what books do for you?  I'm guessing this guy is a Threespot, because of the yellow 'eyebrow'. 
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They are very territorial, growing and tending a garden  about a meter/yard square.  See the fuzzy stuff behind the fish?  It's full of little thingies that the Damselfish eats.  Get too close, and the fish goes nuts trying to chase you away, charging right up to you menacingly.  Then rushing away to prepare for the next valiant charge.  And they will eventually bite, but it's just an tiny pinch to the Giant Bubbling Monster(me). 
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All divers agree that if these fish, smaller than the size of your palm, were a foot long, we wouldn't be able to get in the sea.
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Another danger!  A "Do Not Touch Me" Sponge.  You'll get a burn, stinging itchy rash that lasts a day.  OK, just stay away.  But,  if you're following a diver that gets too close, and their fin hits the sponge, they'll be OK, but the sponge will release tiny-to-invisible bits into the sea, and if you swim through the cloud. you'll be stung.  Wowee!  Dangerous Sea!  (I'm trying to be silly here...).

Coral colors, a pale gold Meandrina or Maze Coral.  Purplish blue Rope Sponges, and some burgundy colored ones, and one little feather worm.
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Lovely rich brown Boulder Brain coral, with two attending rope sponges.  This coral can have green grooves, or the whole beastie can be green, or gold, or other duller colors.
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Anothe Maze Coral, with white polyp's tentacles extended, feeding during the day.  Makes the coral look metallic, silvery gold.  A Bicolor Damsel fish lurks in the shade.  Sometimes Bicolor Damsels have three colors.  ??
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Some deep scenery, sponges and wire coral.  And a few bits of plate coral.

I had a terrible dive yesterday, with a dear friend, her Great niece and the niece's instructor.  I saw two Shamefaced Box Crabs, one wasn't afraid, was just tottering around on the surface of the sand, while the other one dived in and disappeared under the surface.  And then there was a Furry Sea Cucumber, and then, a  PURPLE Scorpionfish resting on a YELLOW mound of finger coral!!!  And I didn't have my camera!!  Terrible dive!

Ha.

Thanks for stopping by!  (Silly camera better come in the mail today!!!!!!)
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