I went diving last Friday afternoon, October 5th, which is the start of the second spawning for Sept-Oct 2001 for some species of coral and other invertebrates. I found the sea cucumbers that normally lie on the sandy bottom were perched atop coral heads and when they finally got into position would lift themselves half way off the coral and sway back and fourth. I thought it was neat to see. I also saw quite a few of the Touch Me Not or Fire Sponges spewing their spawn.

This is called a Three Rowed Sea Cucumber. I think a better name would be Chocolate Chip Sea Cucumber!

Ellen, that is so cool! The only evidence I've ever seen that a sea cucumber is even alive has been that it poops, so all that activity must tucker the little guys right out!

Wow Ellen, thanks for sharing. When the fire coral spawns, is the "stuff" also toxic if you swim through it by accident? Another behaviour question :-)

We saw a sea sponge off Bari one afternoon and it had this white stuff ozzing from the top of one end (it was ozzing when we arrived upon it). We thought it was "spawn stuff" or something like that. When we talked to the folds at Sand$ Dive and Photo, they explained that when a sponge is threatened, or in a defensive mode it will spew its inards out...It wasn't nearly as pretty as your choco chip one :-)

Oops, I meant sea cucumber not sponge...

Great pictures!

Ellen,

More spectacular photos. Were you using the flash in these pictures? You had mentioned in the previous post not having any/much problem with backscatter. I just cant get over the water clarity!

Excellent photos Ellen!

Ellen, Ellen, Ellen.....these are absolutely breathtaking shots...AGAIN! You seem to be outdoing yourself each time you dive and shoot. Joe just got up off the Lay Z Boy to come check them out...not THAT is true appreciation of your work! Can't wait to see you again in November. I definitely would like to check out the equipment you are using....you have already told me what it is, but I would like to see it all "in action" if we can swing it! (Snorkelling level only, however, unfortunately!) See you soon. Carole

Ellen, you did say you are only using an internal flash on the dsc-p1 right? Are you using the filter?

Yes, Kay, Snorkelguy, I use the internal flash for closeup shots, no filter.

Cynde, I don't know the answer to your question but I doubt it.

I'm not even going to comment on the pics Ellen!
I don't know either Cynde, but it had never even occurred to me that it could be. Why do you think it might? As for the white threads the cucumber ejected...whilst it can eject its innards in extreme cases, these were probably just tentacles which it uses both for defence & to snare food.
I know we are tought not to touch, but....it is interesting to very gently turn cucumbers over & sometimes you can discover tiny crabs living more like remoras attached to the cucumbers underside, where they eke out a lving sifting thru' the waste ejected by the cucumber.

Andy and Ellen, I guess what I meant by "toxic" is that would it sting or burn your skin as if you touched the coral. I thought I read somewhere that a coral spawning "string" would sting if it touched your skin...then I would need my windex or Andy of course!

ellen, thanks for sharing the photos. they are great. you are a very talented lady.

INCREDIBLE PICTURES, ELLEN!!!!!!

WOW!

Ellen thanks for this greats pictures !!! You are a professional lady, and I hope that one day I will be like you !!! So I have one question please, could you tell me how is the best way to learl diving, because I have see that we can learn in the sea during holidays or in a swimming-pool ?? What is the best way because I am not a professional and I know that you are a specialist. EVERYBODY ... THANKS FOR YOUR HELP I WAIT YOUR ANSWER T H A N K S ****SONIA

Sonia, you can do it either way but if you take a scuba diving course at home before you go on holiday you can spend your vacation time enjoying the diving instead of studying. It is a personal choice. Maybe others here can comment on their experiences.

Sonia, by all means do the classwork and pool dives at home. Then get a referral to a dive resort, such as Capt. Don's Habitat in Bonaire, to complete your certification. You'll make 4 dives the first two days, and then you're free to dive on your own. Sure beats sitting in a classroom while in you're in a paradise like Bonaire.

We just did this in September, at Capt. Don's, and we highly recommend it. We arrived Saturday night, and were certified by Monday afternoon. The dive staff and instructors there are great!

Steve & Sandy

Cynde, I am not aware of any toxins being released from the reproductive polyps (corals). Thus, I'm sure it would be OK to swim through the gametes. The polyps that contain nematocysts (stinging cells), are there for feeding/defense purposes.

It can be a problem if you are swimming in water full of jellyfish larvae though. The larvae get trapped under bathing suits etc and cause a painful rash!

Corals are a member of the Phylum Cnidarea along with jellyfish, sea anemones and so forth.

I will chat about this though with my Prof at Uni, it's an interesting subject. S

Cynde, sorry, whilst looking back at Ellen's wonderful shots, I noticed you mentioned fire coral (different altogether, they're in their own little sub-kingdom along with the sea anemones etc... So yes, fire coral larvae does contain nematocysts, so like with the jellyfish larvae, they can get under your suit and cause itching and a nasty rash!!! But this doesn's usually happen with regular coral spawning.. though keep the antihistamine's handy! S

ps. will still check this when I'm back at Uni on Monday.

THANKS Sandy Steve and Helen for your attention, now I know what to do and where, I see that its possible quickly to learn this. BYE SONIA.

Sonia, I also got certified on Bonaire this summer. Did almost everything but the two days - four dives at home, then finished up on Bonaire. It was SO MUCH nicer doing those dives in wonderful clear water, but I was glad I had done the classroom and pool work at home. I used BonBini and really recommend them. I'm a very nervous diver still, but I know I can do it now, and will keep up my skills so I get better. Will be back to do that on Bonaire in February!

I've done a lot of snorkeling, but diving is so much nicer.