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The underside of a harmless Cannonball Jellyfish. Beautiful and graceful, this jelly has no stinging cells, and sometimes can be seen in huge swarms, floating in and out of the bays of Manzanillo on warm water currents. |
Manzanillo U/W Exposed
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The underside of a harmless Cannonball Jellyfish. Beautiful and graceful, this jelly has no stinging cells, and sometimes can be seen in huge swarms, floating in and out of the bays of Manzanillo on warm water currents. |
| Night dives allow you to get up close and personal with the animals. This Lobeskin Puffer can be found laying on sandy bottoms, sometimes almost buried in the sand. He is one of seven species of puffers found in the waters of Manzanillo. |  |
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Even under natural light, this sponge is a brilliant
blue. Sponges are the simplest many-celled animals. Their shapes vary
from tiny cups, broad branches, to encrustations.
The tan sea star next to it is very common in the bays of Manzanillo. |
| This yellow soft coral (gorgonian) comes out to feed at night. The colonies of these animals can be found attached to shallow rocks and around reefs. Gorgonians come in many colors, the most common being orange, yellow, and purple. |  |
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An unusual species of hydrocoral that can only be found in one area, at about 25 feet. Corals secrete a mucus that is utilized in catching tiny food particles, as well as keeping the polyp free of settling sediment. Reef corals are found where the temperature ranges from 78-85 degrees. |
| Chain Jelly, technically called a Chain Siphonophore, this species is a floating, free-swimming colony made up of individual polyps. The colony moves slowly forward by the action of the pulsating bells. This creature is delicate and breaks easily when handled. |  |
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A school of Spottail Grunts, seen in every bay around Manzanillo. During the day, grunts stay close to shallow rocky shores and reefs, but at night, they move to the sandy areas to feed. A diver, moving and breathing very cautiously, can get to within a foot of a large school. |
| Seahorses are seen frequently in Manzanillo, and
come in many different colors and sizes. This male is pregnant!
coronet: is nearly as distinctive as a human thumbprint |
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Enjoy these U/W videos taken by PADI Instructor Fernando Hernandez of Underworld Scuba/Scuba Shack.
Fernando, a marine biologist, also teaches underwater photography and fish I.D. courses.
