USVI-On-Line

Dear Message Board,

We just returned from 8 fabulous days at Caneel bay to celebrate Sharon’s birthday. We swam many times each day, leaving the property only twice: Once to eat at La Tapa and grocery shop, and once to visit Mongoose Junction and eat at Roma Café. We identified 77 different fish with 12% new to us, bringing the total since we kept track in 2005 to 236 different fish photographed and identified. You can see the trip report and photographs in a folder behind our website at:

http://www.doppstein.com/ceramic_arts/f ... /index.htm

We are returning this December and again next June, as this may well become a new “Tradition”. St. John is sure a wonderful island and Caneel is a magical retreat. A perfect mix of elegance, rustic with fabulous beaches and reefs.

Enjoy the water!
Bob & Sharon

Wow, that is impressive that you can identify all those fish!! I love to snorkel & look at all the fish but have never taken the time to research them all!!

Thanks for the trip report & pics!

XOXO
Bug

Hey Bob & Sharon nice meeting you guys. Would you say the quantity of fish was low this past week, but maybe the quality/variety was good? And where were the big turtles?
JMQ

It seemed there were many more fry and fewer adults. We only saw one large grouper but lots of smaller rock hinds and no large triggerfish nor filefish, only little guys. As you said, the same was true of the turtles. We thought it might have to do with the time of year. In the winter we see larger fish. Perhaps they were out in deeper water. In the winter there are huge clouds of silver-sides but this time there were also the many look-alike striped fry.

We still feel the sway of the surf on this hard Atlanta soil!
Bob & Sharon

OK you fish ID crazy couple...saw this in Turtle Bay. What is it?

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Vu ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8poT_jdtsYw/SkPNn ... h.jpg"></a>

That is a Scrawled Filefish. When you got close to it, did you see the blue-purple lines grow bolder? Nice sighting.

Grrrr...Your trip report tortured me!

I pushed hard for a July Caneel trip but just couldn't get Husband to commit. We sent the deposit in for our Feb trip and I just bought the tickets so I can't complain too much.

So much of what you wrote about in your report are the same things we enjoyed during our Caneel trips. Thanks for jogging the memories.

We are definately going next summer for our 15th anniversary.

Bob and Sharon,

Nice underwater pictures. You must have been in the water more than out! What a great way to spend a birthday.

Thanks for sharing your pictures and trip report....sounds like you are a bit of an engineer, statistician or scientist to me....glad to hear you enjoyed your trip...
Peace.

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing.
Sorry I missed you.
- Ruth

So many terrific underwater shots, and I love that you have the ID right there...what a learning experience for this novice. Thanks.
Seemed like this birthday was rightly enjoyed. Wonderful!

When I grow up, I want to stay at Caneel too. Thank you, great report and pics.

Love your pics. I shot this pic and for the life of me can not figure out what it is. Any ideas?

[img]http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=ho ... 1052991169

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Tina: That is a Flying Gurnard. We have never seen one! Where in St. John did you see it? Great sighting!

Bob and Sharon, I have always enjoyed your pictures and trip reports.Great job once again! The purple sponge was very impressive and that resort is tops! I've never stayed there but I hope to someday. Parafins....