Pic's (mostly) Pics & Report - August 2013

Pickle · Post by **Pickle** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 11:03 pm

I posted a rather extensive trip report back in June so I'm taking a little break this time and posting more photos than words.

We were fortunate to have just spent one more week on St. John and had a fantastic time. We've been annual May/June visitors for the past 10+ years and our August trip is an add-on. Now that we have visited the island twice in August, we actually prefer August (primarily because of the noticeably warmer water). That is, of course, as long as we don't experience major storms.

------- Snorkeling -------

We picked one beach a day, snorkeled and then chilled. We took it easy and no beach hopping for us during our 6 full days on St. John.

Francis: Highlight - Octopuses

Green Turtle

Caribbean Spiny Lobster

Mullets

Flamingo Tongue

Gibney: Highlight – Tarpons and Scrawled Filefish

Blue Tangs & Surgeonfish

Social Feather Duster

Three Tarpons were hanging around near the point between Gibney and Denis Bay

Scrawled Filefish

Maho: Highlight – Checkered Puffers, Spotted Scorpionfish and army of young Caribbean Reef Squids

Porcupinefish

Can you see the shrimp?

Too bad the camera focused on the anemone. After this shot the tiny Pederson Cleaner Shrimp hid deep into the anemone.

Checkered Puffer - glittering green eyes, teardrop shape and skittishly cute behavior... all add up to "one of my favorite fish"

Caribbean Reef Squids

Octopus - hiding in plain sight and playing possum

Spotted Scorpionfish

Green Turtle

Great Lameshur: Highlight – large (4+ feet) Barracuda and ending up snorkeling in a downpour

Caribbean Reef Squid

large Barracuda

[

Schoolmaster & Sponge

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On the way to Tektite near Donkey Bight, it started really pouring. We couldn't see much above the water. Despite the dramatic scene above the water, the underwater world was pretty much business as usual. The contrast was rather amusing.

more octopuses...

Vie's/Hansen: Spotted Eagle Ray and Pipefish

Hawksbill Turtle

Sun Anemone

Warty Anemone - the following day at Francis, I found one that was more exposed and it looked awesome.

Shortfin Pipefish - lousy shot but the best I could do. Saw a red one at Gibney last August and this black one was only the second Pipefish that I've ever seen in the waters of St. John.

Spotted Eagle Ray - I had seen one in the same spot (middle of the bay) this past June so I was hopeful.

Francis (again): Highlight – Half dozen Octopuses and 5-foot Lemon Shark

small Lemon Shark

Banded Coral Shrimp

Eels were all idle...

Spotted Scorpionfish

Blenny

This 5-foot Lemon Shark came from behind and swiftly swam right past me. For a moment I thought it was my husband.

Francis (the right side towards Mary Point) is our go-to spot for octopuses. From baby to adult, they were pretty abundant that day and we had so much fun observing them.

Quartet: Magnificent Feather Duster, Banded Coral Shrimp, Octopus and Saddled Blenny

The same octopus in different colors...

Baby Octopus, floating

Warty Anemone - the same species that I saw the previous day at Vie's but more exposed

Overall, I think we had great snorkeling on this trip. Saw sharks (either Lemon or Nurse) and octopuses nearly every day. The only disappointment was that we didn't get to see active eels this time. The ones we found were all hidden and idle.

------- Egret's Rest (Grande Bay) -------

This was our home for the week. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Egret's Rest. The owner (Tracy in WI) is a contributing member of this forum and, as I've mentioned in the past, she is wonderful to work with.

------- (A little bit of ) Food Porn -------

Our favorite meal on this trip was at La Tapa. Dining at ZoZo's on our last night on the island had been our tradition, but since they moved (are moving) to Caneel, we will most likely go to La Tapa instead. The place was booming when we were there - the absence of ZoZo's might've had something to do with it.

La Tapa

Sun Dog Cafe

Waterfront Bistro

Aqua Bistro

------- Parting Words -------

Regret that we missed seeing Sloop Jones on this trip. However, we had great laughs and fun with our dear friend EagleRayLover a few nights and also meeting very nice folks was a great bonus (hi to you all if you are reading this).

One week on St. John is certainly too short but we feel we made the best of it with the precious time we had. We are planning to return to the island next May/June. Until then, I will keep roaming here... so thank you again, Anthony, for providing all of us forumites a place to obsessively hang out.

Wishing you all the best,

Pickle

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 11:27 pm

Awesome... the trip, sea life, pictures, report... thank you for taking the time! Love the shot of the rain drops!

susan & herb · Post by **susan & herb** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 10:22 am

Ffantastic pictures! Makes me jealous.

As a result of the great Delta airfare for next May we were able to add two more days to our trip. Unfortunately we are just missing you again.
Thanks for the great pictures. So glad you got to visit again.

Susan

ArkieLovesSTJ · Post by **ArkieLovesSTJ** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 10:48 am

WOW! I think you could move to STJ and make a living as a photographer! Those are some really incredible pictures. We snap a few hundred pictures a day when we snorkel, but I don't think we even have one picture as good as any of yours.

What kind of camera do you use?

Karla · Post by **Karla** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:17 pm

Yes, I'd be interested to know what kind of camera you used also. Awesome details!

poidog · Post by **poidog** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:19 pm

Amazing pictures! Can you tell us a little about the rig you use?

Pickle · Post by **Pickle** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 6:16 pm

Regarding the camera/rig, I've been using the same Canon D10 for the past 5 years and it's still going strong. I must be one of those fortunate ones who haven’t had to deal with leaking problems, at least not yet. I also use Photoshop for some shots. The on land shots were mostly taken with the Canon G15.

lprof, November will be here before you know it!

Susan, glad to hear you decided to extend your vacation. Hopefully, I'll see you one of these days on St. John (it's about time, don't you think?).

ColumbiaSCTraveler · Post by **ColumbiaSCTraveler** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 8:46 pm

Your pictures are FANTASTIC!!!!!!! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing!

I think we saw some of the same octopuses at Francis, as well as the coral banded shrimp. I'm glad we MISSED the humongo shark there, though!

strat62 · Post by **strat62** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 10:43 pm

fabulous pics! thanks for posting...

Wanda Creech · Post by **Wanda Creech** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 8:04 am

Can I go snorkeling with you? Your pics are amazing and you see different things that I have never seen in 12 years. I take hundreds of pics too but those are post card perfect. Thanks for sharing.

Backtotheislands · Post by **Backtotheislands** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:18 pm

Absolutely some of the best pictures I've seen! Thanks for making my morning!

mnfun2bme · Post by **mnfun2bme** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 3:02 pm

Oh my, Pickle..... these are STUNNING photos!!

Did your heart start to race a bit when you saw that 5' lemon shark come from behind you? I must say, I think I'd still be cleaning out my shorts!

Was it a bit of an adrenalin rush?

Has anyone else had a 5' lemon shark come from behind like that?

Tracy in WI · Post by **Tracy in WI** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:18 pm

Amazing doesn't describe your photos! I really appreciate that you take the time to share with us all the great underwater life you encounter. My favorite is definitely the changing colors of th octopus - what a miracle of nature.

Thank you also for the note about Egret's Rest, we are so honored to have you and Evan as our guests.

augie · Post by **augie** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:27 pm

Your pictures are always AMAZING!

Thank you for hanging out with my sweetie - next time I hope to join in!

Ed S · Post by **Ed S** » Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:51 pm

Wow, awesome pictures - thanks so much for sharing. Can't wait to get back to some great snorkeling (still 15 long weeks away though!). Francis is one of our favorite spots, but although we have seen where octopus "were" (lots of clean shells), we haven't actually seen one there. Can I ask where you saw all of these octopus? We mostly snorkel out towards the right, get as far as we can, then backtrack? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My wife so very much wants to see an octopus...... last Dec. I was snorkeling in front of Gallows Point (which is actually quite good) while my wife relaxed on a hammock, and I saw my first octopus, but was so excited I looked up to call her to join me and when I looked back down it was gone, not to be found again (despite both of us looking for a long time after).

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