Catch of the Day - Feb 15

Over the past couple of days, we learned that our accommodations are located in the middle of a underwater marine preserve, including the mangrove lagoon on which our villa is facing and about four miles of adjacent beach and coral reef. After a day of rest and site seeing yesterday, we ventured to Doctors Cave beach in downtown Montego Bay which falls within the preserve perimeter. About 100 yards offshore in about 15-20’ of water we found reefs resplendent with staghorn coral, among a variety of hard and soft corals, sponges, anemones and reef fish and animals. Here is today’s catch of the day.

The following images are attributed to Dylan Kerr.

Jamaica Day 2 - Catch of the Day

We investigated different parts of the bay including some shallow reefs and rock walls along the shoreline.  My son took over the camera and captured some great images of sea slugs and lionfish, of which we saw several. Pretty but really ruinous for the Caribbean reef system.

Today’s watercolor is a blend of several different references, capturing the general feel of the underwater environment just off the shore.

At the Edge of the Mangroves
Watercolor, 7x11

Jamaica - Catch of the Day

The water in Montego Bay is murky as the bay is bordered by a mangrove swamp so there is an abundance of life filtering food from the water. Here are some photos of a few of the animals we found as well as a watercolor capturing the edge of the mangroves.

Mangroves, Montego Bay
7 x 10, Watercolor