free shore snorkelling in Zihuatanejo Bay photos

Some recent photos at the end of a particularly rainy season when the estuary at El Manglar was still running hard and feeding added silts to Zihuatanejo Bay . These photos are split evenly between this little south bay jetty (old stolen image) and Las Gatas and at Las Gatas itself . They are amongst my first underwater photos with only some contrast correction editing , done with equal inexperience .

This urchin with the brilliant blue dots is unique to Zihua in my experience at Las Gatas . Maybe a "spotted owl kind of creature .

These shots are from the north end of La Ropa and out around the big rocks to the Madera side.

The underwater topography is just like the topside with spires of white rock rising up to visble depths backlighting the fish in quite a wide arc around the rock's tip .

Then the shot below came along with average to poor visibility .

A few yellow tailed surgeon fish , local tangs , and something to the right

Several times in different locations a small fish like the one shown swam along drafting on my mask like some kind of directional indicator . He was quite small but still startled me several times suddenly appearing right in my face .

When an eagle ray suddenly glided under me in four feet of cloudier water the startle factor rose exponentially . My fists balled involuntarily on my chest . When I saw a very large lime green moray eel , fat as a softball , at Las Gatas last year in clearer water my hand had time to protect more stategic areas . I've seen some fantastic Eagle ray behaviour often in groups of 12 or 14 in various sizes who seem to swim with me rather than the reverse at both ends of La Ropa but never at Las Gatas . The same with the turtles , less often and less clearly and they usually book at first site . My wife who like most women is a more patient snorkeller even spotted a seahorse a few years back , right out in front of the Rossy on a clear vis day .

Two classic beach shots to end up .

And this one from Navidad 2011 that sums things up for us .

We spend days at the Rossy and will snorkel everyday if at all possible Dec 22 - Jan 5 2013/14.