Ted's Point

Ted's Point

Location: 
Utila, South East
Highlights: 
Ted's Wreck, Errol's BBQ

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.

Normal Visibility: 
24metres
Currents: 
Caribbean Light
Site Depth: 
7metres
35metres
Divesite Difficulty : 
Easy (Open Water)
Time to Site : 
8minutes
Common Marine Life Sightings: 
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
Dive 25 Hotspot Watch: 
Cryptic Teardrop Crab, Roughtail Stingray, Southern Stargazer, Yellowtail Snapper
Dive Site Map: 

Southern Stargazer

Souther Stargazer
Academy Award: 

Family: Stargazers - Uranoscopidae

IDENTIFICATION: Varying sizes and shapes of white blotches on head and body, being circular to elongated ovals which maybe arranged into starburst patterns (Similar Northern Stargazer, A. Guttatus has round white spots on head becoming larger on sides and rear body). The pectoral fins are dark with wide white margins, with the upper main body in shades of brown to black and white below. Their mouths are upturned, almost vertical.

Diver Interaction: 
Adviseable not to touch these fish as they can deliver an electric shock from area behind eyes. They move only when molested.
Species in Action: 
Habitat & Lifestyle: 
By Vibrating their bodies they can bury rapidly in the sand, and like sand, silt and rock-rubble bottoms.
Genus: 
Astroscopus guttatus
Maximum Size: 
45.00cm
Average Size: 
17.0cm
36.0cm
Depth: 
1.0metres
37.0metres
Endangered Rating: 
Low
Global 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.
Visual ID: 
Local Hotspots: 
Ted's Point, Diamond Cay
Abundance: 
Uncommon – Sightings are unusual

Yellowtail Snapper

Yellowtail Snapper
Academy Award: 

Family: Snappers - Lutjanidae

UNIQUE PHYSIQUE: 1. Brilliant yellow midbody stripe and tail.

Diver Interaction: 
Unafraid; They often closely approach diver.
Species in Action: 
Habitat & Lifestyle: 
Swim alone, well above reefs, or in loose schools or aggregations.
Genus: 
Ocyurus chrysurus
Maximum Size: 
77.00cm
Average Size: 
30.0cm
61.0cm
Depth: 
3.0metres
18.5metres
Endangered Rating: 
Low
Global 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.
Visual ID: 
Local Hotspots: 
Bay Islands: Ted's Point, Black Coral Wall - Silver Gardens
Abundance: 
Abundant - At least several sightings can be expected on nearly every dive.

Cryptic Teardrop Crab

Cryptic Teardrop Crab
Academy Award: 

Family: Spider Crabs
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: True Crabs - Brachyura

Diver Interaction: 
Crytic tear crabs are unconcerned, generally remain motionless, relying on their camouflage for concealment.
Species in Action: 
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.
Genus: 
Pelia mutica
Maximum Size: 
2.50cm
Average Size: 
1.0cm
2.0cm
Depth: 
6.0metres
40.0metres
Global 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.
Visual ID: 
Local Hotspots: 
Ron's Wreck - Moon Hole, Ted's Point
Abundance: 
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.

Roughtail Stingray

Roughtail Stingray
Academy Award: 

Family: Stingrays - Dasyatidae

IDENTIFICATION: Colour varies from brown to black, with white underside. Whip-like tail, with one or two venomous spines at base. *Size refers to diameter of disk, excluding tail.

Diver Interaction: 
Appear unconcerned; lie motionless unless closely observed or molested.
Species in Action: 
Habitat & Lifestyle: 
Inhabit sandy areas, and often lie on bottom, often covered with sand.
Genus: 
Dasyatis centroura
Maximum Size: 
214.00cm
Average Size: 
122.0cm
183.0cm
Depth: 
0.5metres
25.0metres
Endangered Rating: 
Low
Global 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.
Visual ID: 
Local Hotspots: 
Bay Islands; Ted's Point, Aquarium
Abundance: 
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.

Spotted Drum

Spotted Drum Intermediate
Academy Award: 

Family: Drums – Sciaendae

IDENTIFICATION: The iconic emblem of 'Ecomarine Dive Center in the Bay Islands' has an unusually long front dorsal fin. The vertical black and white bars on the head change angle to form multiple horizontal stripes from dorsal fin to tail.

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.
Species in Action: 
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.
Genus: 
Equetus punctatus
Maximum Size: 
28.00cm
Average Size: 
15.0cm
23.0cm
Depth: 
4.5metres
30.5metres
Global 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.
Visual ID: 
Local Hotspots: 
Bay Islands: Ted's Point, Iron Bound
Abundance: 
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.
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