Ted's Point
Ted's Point
Location
Utila, South East
Highlights
Ted's Wreck, Errol's BBQ
Visibility
24metres
Currents
Caribbean Light
Site Depth
7metres
Difficulty
Easy (Open Water)
Duration
8minutes
Sight-seeing
Spotted Drums, Brown Garden Eels, Great Barracudas, Spotted Eagle Rays, Wrasse Blenny, Chocolate-lined Topsnail, Flamefish, Grooved Blade Sea Whip, Corkscrew Anemone, Lobed Star Coral
Hotspot Watch
Cryptic Teardrop Crab, Roughtail Stingray, Southern Stargazer, Yellowtail Snapper
DIVE BRIEF: From the coast of the wall there is a plateau teeming with sand channels, towards the West the wall descends to 16metres and meets with a sandy bottom that continues on a gradual decline. Towards the Eat: The wall descends to 35metres until it reaches the sandy bottom that will continue it's descent to more than 40metres. From the buoy going South East, a diver will spot a sunken sail boat that lies on the sand at 25metres with it's top rising to 18metres. Another interesting point to check out towards the South East is Erroll's grill that was sunk in 2003.
Southern Stargazer
Size
45.00cm
Genus
Astroscopus guttatus
Avg. Size
17.0cm
Depth
1.0metres
Endangered?
Low
Local Hotspots
Ted's Point, Diamond Cay
Diver Interaction
Adviseable not to touch these fish as they can deliver an electric shock from area behind eyes. They move only when molested.
Habitat & Lifestyle
By Vibrating their bodies they can bury rapidly in the sand, and like sand, silt and rock-rubble bottoms.
Distribution
Uncommon Florida, Gulf of Mexico to Yucatan. Not reported Bahamas or Caribbean Islands. Central and South American coast to Utila and Cayos, Venezuela.
Unique Physique
1. Three dark stripes on tail. 2. Centre stripe fades as it extends forward across base of tail and onto rear body. 3. Two black bars on second dorsal fin.
Abundance
Uncommon – Sightings are unusual
Yellowtail Snapper
Size
77.00cm
Genus
Ocyurus chrysurus
Avg. Size
30.0cm
Depth
3.0metres
Endangered?
Low
Local Hotspots
Bay Islands: Ted's Point, Black Coral Wall - Silver Gardens
Diver Interaction
Unafraid; They often closely approach diver.
Habitat & Lifestyle
Swim alone, well above reefs, or in loose schools or aggregations.
Distribution
Abundant Caribbean,; common Bahamas and Florida; also Gulf of Meixo, north to Massuchusettes, Bermuda, south to Brazil and eastern Atlantic.
Unique Physique
1. Brilliant yellow midbody stripe and tail.
Abundance
Abundant - At least several sightings can be expected on nearly every dive.
Cryptic Teardrop Crab
Size
2.50cm
Genus
Pelia mutica
Avg. Size
1.0cm
Depth
6.0metres
Endangered?
Local Hotspots
Ron's Wreck - Moon Hole, Ted's Point
Diver Interaction
Crytic tear crabs are unconcerned, generally remain motionless, relying on their camouflage for concealment.
Habitat & Lifestyle
Their bright red carapace is exceptionally colourful and can often be covered by tunicates and sponges. Their homes are reefs and they often feed, camouflaging themselves against pore rope sponges or vase sponges.
Distribution
Common South Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.
Unique Physique
A decorator crab; They have light blue to purple claws with scattering of dark speckles and flattened legs. The attachment of living sponge to its carapace and legs is distinctive of this species.
Abundance
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.
Roughtail Stingray
Size
214.00cm
Genus
Dasyatis centroura
Avg. Size
122.0cm
Depth
0.5metres
Endangered?
Low
Local Hotspots
Bay Islands; Ted's Point, Aquarium
Diver Interaction
Appear unconcerned; lie motionless unless closely observed or molested.
Habitat & Lifestyle
Inhabit sandy areas, and often lie on bottom, often covered with sand.
Distribution
Occasional Central and North Florida; rare South Florida; also north to New England. Absent balance of Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean.
Unique Physique
1. Irregular row of spines and bumps down midback and onto tail. 2. Numerous rows of spines on tail. 3 Snout and tips of ‘wings’ pointed.
Abundance
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.
Spotted Drum
Size
28.00cm
Genus
Equetus punctatus
Avg. Size
15.0cm
Depth
4.5metres
Endangered?
Local Hotspots
Bay Islands: Ted's Point, Iron Bound
Diver Interaction
Undaunted; can be closely approached with slow, non-threatening movements. Surprisingly, they are difficult to photograph with a standard underwater camera due to the nature of their movement.
Habitat & Lifestyle
Inhabit secluded areas of reefs, and are often found under ledges or near entrances to small caves. Swim in established circuitous patterns, and leave their shelters to feed on open reef at night.
Distribution
Occasionally found in the Caribbean, South Florida, Bahamas and Gulf of Mexico.
Unique Physique
ADULT: 1. Black rear dorsal & tail fins with white spots. JUVENILE: 2. Black spots on nose 3. Exceptionally long dorsal fin that shortens as body fattens during stages of adulthood.
Abundance
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.
