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Manzanillo U/W Exposed

These fascinating photos were all taken during one of our underwater photography courses by our dive staff. Our digital cameras used in the course are some of the finest in the industry, and even amateur divers and photographers can enjoy Manzanillo's underwater world through the lens of a professional camera. For more information on PADI specialty courses, click here.

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.
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.

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
dorsal fin: moves fish forward
pectoral fins: control turning and steering
eyes: each eye moves independently
reproduction: male becomes pregnant when a female, deposits her eggs into his pouch; each pregnancy lasts about two to three weeks (varies with species and water temperature); once the male gives birth, he usually becomes pregnant again right away
diet: each day a seahorse can consume up to 3,000 brine shrimp; seahorses have no teeth and swallow their food whole
species: about 35 known species exist

More photos:

Barberfish
by Fernando Hernandez

Bullseye Electric Ray
by Fernando Hernandez

Barberfish & Coral
by Fernando Hernandez

Barberfish & Cage
by Susan Dearing

Cardinalfish & Cave
by Fernando Hernandez

Acapulco Damselfish
by Richard Baker

Jewel Moray Eel
by Susan Dearing

Panamic Fanged Blenny
by Susan Dearing

Yellowtail Surgeon
by Richard Baker

Diver & Turtle
by Susan Dearing

Carrizales Cove
by Fernando Hernandez

Diamond Ray & Diver
by Susan Dearing

3-Banded Butterflyfish
by Richard Baker

Diver at  La Ahogada
by Fernando Hernandez

Moorish Idols
by Fernando Hernandez

Jewel Moray
by Fernando Hernandez

Jawfish
by Susan Dearing

Bulleseye Puffer
by Richard Baker

Panamic Solderfish
by Fernando Hernandez

Turtle in Crevice
by Fernando Hernandez

Yellow Seahorse
by Fernando Hernandez

Orange Seahorse
by Fernando Hernandez

Cup Coral on Wreck
by Fernando Hernandez

Shipwreck Ladder
by Fernando Hernandez

Swimming Turtle
by Fernando Hernandez

Slide Show for Snorkelers