Snorkeling at las Marietas II

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Some species are shy while others will come right up to you expecting to be fed. This unnatural behavior was created by repeated hand feeding and/or the regular throwing of crumbs in the water surrounding the boats. The debate of whether this practice of feeding fish is advisable or not continues. While this adaptive fish behavior presents no danger to humans, it could be detrimental to the fish should a spear fisherman enter the area. The fish wouldn't know the difference and that would make the poacher's job a lot easier. The three species of fish that most frequently approach people and boats at Las Marietas are: The King Angelfish, the Panamic Sergeant Major and the Cortez Chub. You may find interesting to know that if hand fed, the first two will carefully only take the bread but the third will often nip your finger by mistake.

A few species are also very good at camouflage. The combination of their coloration, the area they inhabit and their tranquil behavior permits them to remain unseen by most inexperienced snorkelers. You could find yourself no more than four feet away from a Panamic Fanged Blenny (although it can measure up to 10 inches (25 cm) in length) and not see it as it blends perfectly well with the rocky reefs and moves very little. Another one who follows the same example, and one of my favorite reef fish, is the Flag Cabrilla. This particular fish can measure up to 1.7 feet (0.5 m), its body is of an olive green to reddish brown with irregular white spots.

It usually sits between two rocks and also moves very little unless it feels threatened. The reef Cornetfish, will also change its coloration pattern to avoid being seen. This long tube-like fish (up to 5 feet in length (1.6 m)) has a very elongated narrow snout and a long filament extending from its anal fin. Under normal circumstances, it is of an almost transparent color with large vertical light beige bands along its body. When detecting an unfamiliar presence, it will change its color pattern to narrow horizontal light blue pinstripes, making it hard to see in water or over a sandy bottom.

On the other hand, some fish seem to always steal the spotlight with their vibrant colors, special traits and active swimming. In this group, we find the Giant Damselfish, a 2-tone blue fish with long elegant caudal and anal fins (males can be distinguished by their silvery head). The Juveniles of this damselfish are simply spectacular with their dark purple-blue body and bright neon blue spots. Also included in this group, although more rarely seen, is the beautiful Moorish Idol (up to 8 inches in length (20 cm)), a white and yellow-bodied fish with clearly defined vertical black stripes, an elongated snout and a long whitish filament on the dorsal fin that extends beyond its tail. Snorkeling tours to the Marietas Islands can be reserved all over Vallarta.