7 replies to this topic

[uwfan]

This summer I fell in love.









With rock beauties!!

I can't say exactly what it is about these fish that has attracted me so much, but I really like their black and yellow features. It didn't take me long to learn their name, but there were other fish, plants and creatures whose names I didn't know.

I spent a lot of time learning names by listening to conversations, asking questions, and looking through fish id books to try to sort out what creatures I saw on my dives. But I'm wondering, how do YOU learn the names of what you see in the ocean? Do you have any favorite creatures? Or favorite wrecks...and why?

[WreckWench]

Truthfully I think EVERY thing I've learned to identify in the water was a mad flurry of sign language asking my buddy if they knew what it was and then trying to find it in an identification book.

I should of taken a class or five!

[Capn Jack]

I'm pretty good, and can easily identify big fish vs small fish vs marine mammal. I once pointed at a piece of coral thinking it was a nudibranch, causing my favorite dive buddy to laugh so hard she spewed out her reg.

[Bubbles]

But I'm wondering, how do YOU learn the names of what you see in the ocean? Do you have any favorite creatures? Or favorite wrecks...and why?

On every trip I learn the names of couple of new creatures. Usually I will point out the item of question during the dive and shrug my shoulders in hopes my buddy, or the person closest to me, recognizes what I have discovered. If they don't know at least there is somebody else who can help describe what we saw when we get above water.

In Bonaire I learned the Slipper Lobster. When I got on the boat it was quickly identified when I described seeing something that looked like a giant cockroach. Then in Curacao after describing what appeared to be a big black slug, I learned the Sea Cucumber. At this rate it is going to be LONG time before I learn the names of many creatures. Maybe someday I will have the opportunity to take a fish identification class.

[Cold_H2O]

I got pretty good at critter id when I lived in Seattle. So many amazing critters call Puget Sound home.
I learned a few ways ~ Was a Beach Naturalist with the Seattle Aquarium for several years.
The Aquarium does extensive training with its naturalist on what creatures live in and around Puget Sound.
Dive buddies were also willing to teach and point out how to spot critters.
Finally access to some great books that not only show photos but give information on the critters

Favorites ~ The list is long but here are a few.
Nudibranch ~ These guys come in so many different colors and sizes... always a fun find.
Chitons ~ Somewhat prehistoric in looks
Grunt Sculpin ~ This fish is so cute and strange looking that I fell in love at first sight.
GPOs ~ Octos are amazing creatures.. and to get to dive with the worlds largest ones was amazing.
Wolf Eels ~ Again.. so ugly you have to like them... Have seen a few that remind me of Golden Retrievers.. so happy to see a diver swim past.

[scubagoddess]

My favorite is the Trunkfish! I just love their spots,and how they look all puckered up for a kiss...batting their eyelashes like they are flirting!!

I also love how the juveniles look like little dice bobbing in the water!

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

I actually learned to ID the PLF's (pretty little fishes) by taking lots of uw photos, and when I got home and put them on the computer, I wanted to rename all the files to "pufferfish #1", etc. so that they weren't all named DSC0001 or something like that. I bought the Humann/DeLoach set of 3 books, and poured through them trying to match up to the pic on my screen. I learned a lot that way, very quickly!

And, I have yet to get a good pic of the rock beauty. Stubborn things seem to be very shy!

[uwfan]

I just had to add to this thread...after sharing my latest dive video from Grenada with three classes at the request of teachers... There's just something about being able to give kids real world footage and talk about "camouflage" with an octopus and stingray with 2nd graders... and being able to give names to kids of all the kinds of eels (they LOVED!). And when they say,"I wish I could do that!"....Ahhhh, that is WONDERFUL!! For my students...that means they have something that they might work for and have a reason to try to learn even if "school" isn't their thing.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me learn the names of the PLFs (and the not so PLFs ) so that my students can learn what they are!

Oh, and I would say by the sound of excitement.... green moray eels UP CLOSE are the ULTIMATE favorite!!