Some photos from The Cook Islands

[Aragorn]

OK,
As promised, here's some pics. If anyone is interested, I could post some more as we get the other photos developed. Here's one of Jemma(my wife) and I on the Reef Slope:

[Aragorn]

Here's one of my son, Christian:

[Aragorn]

Here's some Butterfly fish in the lagoon:

[Aragorn]

Here's a nice Acropora in the lagoon:

[Aragorn]

Here's a juvenile Emperor:

[Aragorn]

Here's another nice shot from the lagoon:

[Aragorn]

Here's a pic of Muri Beach where we stayed looking from the Reef Crest when we walked out to it. Hope you like the pic's. As you can tell, we're NOT professional photographers

[ScottC]

Sweet pics!!! Keep em coming!!!

[petpoor]

MORE!!! Oops forgot my manners, MORE PLEASE.

[Aragorn]

Thanks folks. I hope you like these. I've got another 12 rolls to have developed so I'm sure I can post a few more.

[scubadude]

Thanx alot

The one that says

Here's another nice shot from the lagoon

Is that M. Capricornis?


Which corals did you see the most of? fish? can you tell us some more specifics ? What was the visibility like? water temp? seas? Did you do any fishing? I got the movie Castaway on DVD last week and they give you an extra CD about the making of the movie and where it was and I was thinking about you the whole time I was watching it......Was the trip well worth it? Im sure it was though

[Aragorn]

Scuba,

Not sure yet. I haven't broken out the books. I will soon though to ID all the pics we got. Anyway, I can give you detail to genus. We saw mostly Acropra, Porites, and Favites. Of course different species of all. Lotsa Acro's! Beautiful coral heads that were huge! Tabletops that were gorgeous!

OK, visibility averaged 35-40 meters. When we dove to the Matavera Drop-off(20meters) I went out over it and could see down the the bottom at about 45meters. The average temperature was about 75-78 degrees fahrenheit. Keep in mind that it winter there right now. We wore 3mm "shorties" and were fine. We did 10 dives and for the most part the seas were exceptionally calm(no surges underwater). One day we did experience some swells at the surface, but no problem. Didn't do any fishing but we saw alot of people catching Marlin and Barracuda. We personally saw a HUGE(6-8ft?) Napolean Wrasse. Absolutely fantastic!

On the subject of fish. For the most part, the species didn't differentiate too much between lagoon and slope. We saw:

1. Triggers...lots of'em. Lotsa Huma Huma's
2. Butterflies...all different species
3. Moorish Idols
4. Tangs...Browns, Convicts, Naso, Unicorn...you name it
5. Boxfish all over! One that had to be at least 3 ft(I swear!)
6. Angels...dwarf and full size. Lotsa Emperors(juvenile and adult), Flames, etc.
7. Lions out on the slope(big boys )

That's what I've got off the top of my head for now. When I develop the rest of the film, I'm sure I'll have more. Of course we saw alot of Humpback Whales up close and personal aw well. Too cool!

Was the trip worth it? You bet! We're already planning on going back next year. This place was so "laid back" and since it isn't a well known tourist destination, was definitely not crowded. The exchange rate was fabulous. The trip averaged $1750 per person. This cost included round trip air fare, lodging for 2 weeks, food for 2 weeks(dining in nice restaraunts), SCUBA certification, 10 dive trips, and souvenirs. I'd be surprised if that price can be beat to any other tourist destination in the world(that is just a nice).

[Bamm Bamm]

Boy it sure looks liek you guys had a ball!!That would so amazing to go and do that..Hopefully I'll be able to sometime..