Bay Islands Big 5

Blue Marlin

Blue Marlin
Academy Award: 

Family: Makaira nigricans

The Atlantic Blue Marlin is a species, endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a predator that feeds on a wide variety of organisms near the surface. By using its bill, it can slash while swimming through schools of fish, and then return to eat the stunned or dead prey. It is highly sought as a game fish to be caught by the means of rod and reel and has commercial value because its meat has a relatively high fat content.

Diver Interaction: 
The most often interactions divers may have with the Marlin are during surface intervals where marlins on the hunt slashing around at the surface.
Species in Action: 
Habitat & Lifestyle: 
The Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) is a species of marlin, endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a predator that feeds on a wide variety of organisms near the surface. By using its bill, it can slash while swimming through schools of fish, and then return to eat the stunned or dead prey. It is highly sought as a game fish to be caught by the means of rod and reel and has commercial value because its meat has a relatively high fat content.
Genus: 
Makaira nigricans
Maximum Size: 
400.00cm
Average Size: 
200.0cm
300.0cm
Depth: 
0.0metres
30.0metres
Endangered Rating: 
Critical
Global Distribution: 
The Atlantic blue marlin lives in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The distribution of Atlantic blue marlin expands in a northerly direction during the warmer months and contracts towards the equator during colder months.
Unique Physique: 
The bill is long and stout. Both the jaws and the palatines (the roof of the mouth) are covered with small, file-like teeth. The lateral line system is a group of neuromasts rooted in lateral line canals that are used to perceive weak water motions and large changes in pressure. It has the appearance of a net. It is obvious in immature specimens but unclear in adults, as it becomes increasingly embedded in the skin.
Visual ID: 
Abundance: 
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.

Rough Tooth Dolphin

Rough tooth dolphin
Academy Award: 

Family: Delphinidae cetaceans

IDENTIFICATION: The lip, throat and belly are pinky-white. The flanks are a light grey and the back and dorsal fin a much darker grey. The dorsal fin is pronounced.

NOTE: The Rough Tooth Dolphin, is named for the 20-27 teeth with faint ridges located in both the upper and lower jaw.

Diver Interaction: 
The Rough Tooth Dolphin is a gregarious species found in groups of 10-30 on average, as well as schools of up to 160 dolphins containing up to 8 smaller subgroups. Like other dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins communicate and echo-locate using clicks and whistles. Divers can simulate their noises in order to attract their attention. It is unknown whether the wild dolphins interact with divers out of curiosity, playfulness or to distract the unknown divers whilst their young can swim away.
Species in Action: 
Habitat & Lifestyle: 
The species is social. Group sizes are commonly as large as fifty and groups as large as 100 have been reported. The dolphin has not been observed to bow-ride but does ‘skim’ and swim with their heads and chin above the surface of the water.
Genus: 
Steno bredanesis
Maximum Size: 
270.00cm
Average Size: 
190.0cm
250.0cm
Depth: 
0.0metres
70.0metres
Endangered Rating: 
Medium
Global Distribution: 
The distribution and population of the Rough-toothed Dolphin is poorly understood. Most of the research activity concerning the dolphin has been directed in the eastern Pacific Ocean where a population estimate of 150,000 has been obtained. There have been numerous reports from other warm seas, usually as a result of by-catches. Populations of unknown sizes exist in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas and the Atlantic, Indian. Live sightings are almost universally made far off-shore beyond the continental shelf.
Unique Physique: 
The characteristic feature of this dolphin is its conical head and slender nose. The flippers are set back further than in other similar dolphins (at sea this dolphin maybe confused with Spinner, Spotted and Bottlenose Dolphins).
Visual ID: 
Abundance: 
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Academy Award: 

Family: Sea turtles - Chelonioidea

IDENTIFICATION: They can usually be distinguished by their beautiful brown shells with yellow-brown, fan like markings and overlapping shell plates (This is the only species with overlapping plates) with rear border plates that usually have a serrated edge. They also have an overlapping upper beak resembling a 'Hawkesbill'.

Diver Interaction: 
Occasionally encountered by divers on reefs, often amongst areas of broken coral. Can often be approached, especially if they are too distracted whilst feeding. Divers are warned not to hassle sea turtles as when these mammals panic they tend to dive down further to avoid danger. This can leave them susceptible to drowning as they are too over-exerted to head to the surface to get a fresh supply of air.
Species in Action: 
Habitat & Lifestyle: 
Adult Hawkesbills are primarily found in tropical coral reefs. They are usually seen resting in caves and ledges in and around these reefs, throughout the day. As a highly migratory species, they have also been seen in a wide range of habitats, from the open ocean to lagoons and even mangrove swamps in estuaries. Not a great deal is known about the habitat preferences of early-life stage of Hawksbills, however like other sea turtles' young, they are assumed to be completely pelagic and thus make the open sea their home until they mature.
Genus: 
Eretmochelys imbriocota
Maximum Size: 
102.00cm
Average Size: 
60.0cm
92.0cm
Depth: 
0.0metres
25.0metres
Endangered Rating: 
Critical
Global Distribution: 
Hawksbill turtles have a wide range, found predominantly in tropical reefs of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Of all the sea turtle species, E. imbricata is the one most associated with tropical waters. Two major subpopulations are acknowledged to exist, the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific subpopulations.
Unique Physique: 
1. An overhanging upper beak resembles a ‘hawk’s bill’. 2. Four coastal plates, the first of which does not touch the nuchal, further distinguish them from Loggerheads. They also have two pairs of plates between the eyes, which distinguishes them from similar appearing Greens which have only a single pair of plates between the eyes.
Visual ID: 
Abundance: 
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.

Bushy Black Coral

Bushy Black Coral
Academy Award: 

Family: Antipatharia

NOTE: This species, prized by the jewellery industry, is often called ‘King’s Coral’.

SIMILAR SPECIES: A Salix is often confused with this species and is common between 90 - 305 metres.

Diver Interaction: 
Unresponsive. Due to the impact of overharvesting black bushy coral for the purpose of jewelry-making, most divers first encounter with the coral will be at market stalls and other tourist traps where locals may still be selling. Help stop the demand for black coral by spreading awareness on how depleted black coral actually is in the ocean.
Species in Action: 
Habitat & Lifestyle: 
In shallow water, occasionally found under large overhangs and in caves. In deep water inhabit wall faces and canyons with some periodic water movement. They are most common between 24 and 74 metres; In many locations are rarely found above 45 metres, because of overharvesting.
Genus: 
Antipathes caribbeana
Maximum Size: 
480.00cm
Average Size: 
61.0cm
366480.0cm
Depth: 
12.5metres
92.0metres
Endangered Rating: 
Critical
Global Distribution: 
Common to uncommon Bahamas, Caribbean; rare South Florida. Because of over-harvesting, rare in many locations.
Unique Physique: 
These coral colonies are bushy and consist of primary stalks with long thin untidy branchlets. The colours of the primary branches vary from golden brown to brown to black and are maybe tinted red, green or blue. Branchlets are often a lighter colour. Sadly due to overharvesting it is rare to see colonies over four feet in height.
Visual ID: 
Abundance: 
Uncommon – Sightings are unusual

Whale Shark

whale_shark_research.jpg
Academy Award: 
Family: Carpet Sharks - Rhincodontidae IDENTIFICATION: They have thin whitish lines whch join the many sized spots on their back, and are grey to grey-brown in colour, fading to white on their underside; From their heads to the base of their tail run three ridges. The first dorsal fin is more than halfway back on their body. They are quite magnificent, ovewhelming to see and the world largest fish!
Diver Interaction: 
Ignore divers. Do not react dangerously if ridden, however apparently they are irritated. They tend to dive and disappear shortly after such activities, but often remain close by and can make numeroue passes if left alone which can be a great experience for the diver.
Species in Action: 
Habitat & Lifestyle: 
Considered open-water oceanic. Cruise occasionally along walls and steep slopes. Feed on plankton, baitfish, tuna, squid, and pelagic crustaceans that are sieved from the water.
Genus: 
Rhincodon typus
Maximum Size: 
1700.00cm
Average Size: 
600.0cm
1400.0cm
Depth: 
0.0metres
1000.0metres
Endangered Rating: 
High
Global Distribution: 
Rare Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean; also Gulf of Mexico; Bermuda; circumtropical.
Unique Physique: 
1. Bold patterns of large, white spots covering body.
Visual ID: 
Abundance: 
Uncommon – Sightings are unusual
Syndicate content