So I am looking into traveling to Bocas Del Toro sometime this winter to do a little diving. I suggested it to my wife simple because the diving is supposed to be spectacular. (I am going to act totally surprised to learn that there are Dart frogs all of the island)
Has anyone else been there? any suggestions?
-Byron
Byron,
I had never been to a coral reef until I snorkeled off of the north east side of Isla Colon two years ago. It was a pretty overwhelming experience for a noob. We saw a nurse shark, a big lion fish, a stingray, blue, pink, green, yellow fish and corals. Again, overwhelming. I did not swim that far, I must have stayed in a 50 foot radius the whole time. It is my understanding that there is a pretty good drop off just past the reef that others with more experience explore.
Wait, on second thought, it was a terrible time. :twisted: I do not recommend that anyone else go to my little private piece of heaven on earth.
Oh, we had another opportunity to snorkel off of a restaurant's dock. Coral Key was the name of the place. Good times and fantastic food.
Dude....do not lie to the w-i-f-e. heh
Well, I have hit most of the caribbean. I had heard good things about Panama in the past but this gives me a completely new opportunity to check out the frogs as well.
Please my wife was on to it before I even finished mentioning the location.
"Hey Honey, Lets do a dive trip some time in early '14 I was thinking Pana...."
wife: " I swear to god if you tell me we are going diving and we end up looking at frogs the entire time I will kill you"
-Byron
I like your wife! Smart lady!
Sherman Wrote:Byron,
I had never been to a coral reef until I snorkeled off of the north east side of Isla Colon two years ago. It was a pretty overwhelming experience for a noob. We saw a nurse shark, a big lion fish, a stingray, blue, pink, green, yellow fish and corals. Again, overwhelming. I did not swim that far, I must have stayed in a 50 foot radius the whole time. It is my understanding that there is a pretty good drop off just past the reef that others with more experience explore.
Wait, on second thought, it was a terrible time. :twisted: I do not recommend that anyone else go to my little private piece of heaven on earth.
Oh, we had another opportunity to snorkel off of a restaurant's dock. Coral Key was the name of the place. Good times and fantastic food.
That is very unfortunate that you saw a Lion Fish, as they are not indigenous to that part of the world. I know people have released them in the Florida Keys, but didn't realize it was happening further south.
This is a perfectly good derailment..
They were actually first spotted in North Carolina in the 90s the common theory is that hurricane Andrew is to blame for their release.
The biggest concentrations of them are in the Bahamas and North Carolina. Unfortunately they have spread to most of the caribbean as well.
-Byron
Again off topic but I see them on almost every dive here. It wasn't this way a few years ago. I hear they are good eating but I haven't had one yet.
I was on a live aboard in the Bahamas last October. We were suppose to have a permit from NAIB(or a permit under them)to spear them but we didn't get it in time. I wanted to spear them and cook them. The boat crew was having none of that.
When I was in the Keys 2 years ago they were offering special use permits allowing people to spear lions even in protected areas.
Are they still doing that Dustin?
From what I understand there are permits available that allow harvest in no take areas but you have to complete some training of the sorts. I am not sure what it really entails. As far as harvesting in other areas there are no regulations other than if you are fishing with hook and line or a spear gun you have to have a fishing license.
I was referring to the permit that required training.
Good to know that it's still around.
-Byron