Open Window

Fish in The Dig at Atlantis

The Dig at Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas is a stunning collection of live marine exhibits that are set amongst the streets and tunnels of the sunken ruins of the lost city. Every time we visit, Peter and I spend hours mesmerized by the variety of fish that swim by, eye to eye with us and, of course, our cameras. Colorful tropical fish shine brightly dressed in yellows, greens, and cobalt blues. Groupers swim together in small gangs looking menacingly down on the schools of smaller fish, and large manta rays float past gracefully like ugly ballerinas. 

If you've followed this blog for any period of time, you'll have noticed that I often see things that are not there and/or attach human attributes to animals or inanimate objects. The former, I learned from my sister is known as Pareidolia (par-i-DOH-lee-a) ... and "is the phenomena of seeing faces/figures/forms in patterns", like seeing a man in the moon. The latter according to the internet is Anthropomorphic behavior- "ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things". I attribute both to a very active imagination.

Now please, watch this slide show of the fish of Atlantis and tell me truthfully that you can't imagine what these fish might have been thinking or feeling at the moment their picture was captured. Remember, .... be truthful, you're most likely anthropomorphic too!

Are you looking at me?

 

Photos and Slide Show © 2013 Claudia Ward
Music: "Tumbling Dice" by the Sweet Little Band

Enjoy!

 

John's Jellyfish

Time passes way too quickly and we who are in the second half of a century of living know that it only accelerates - one of those sad realities with which we must live.

"Live for today." "Don't put off until tomorrow ..." "Embrace the moment and those around you." We all nod when we hear these expressions and then most of us resume our busy work-a-day lives, dashing to and fro, texting, surfing, and heaven only knows what - with all of the impatience we can sustain, not really savoring anything to its fullest, even each other.

In this life I've been incredibly fortunate to meet many people from a lot of different backgrounds, traditions, and religions, and I've enjoyed learning from them and appreciating the contrasts and similarities in our respective journeys. I've also worked with hundreds of people in and around banking, most on stress-filled days when our best attributes were probably not the most apparent. Since "retiring", I've had the good fortune to get to know some of these people much better than I did when we were working together. I believe there was always respect but once the veil of self-inflicted roll-playing and privacy was dropped, a true appreciation for the other evolved. Such has been the case with John.

Once we were settled in our retirements, John and I weren't close geographically but we "followed" each other - through email and this blog - and learned we had a number of things in common. We both love to rise early and gravitate to the ocean for sunrise; we both enjoy photography and showing what we see in this world; and, we both truly appreciate little things.

Well, sadly, John is no longer with us, which is a loss for this world in my opinion, but I found these photographs in my files today - images he shared with me, images that brought smiles to my face and he knew that they would. I think they are incredibly beautiful in their simplicity, but mostly because John saw them and "captured the moment".

Please do the same.

 

The Dig at Atlantis

The Dig at Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas is the largest open-air marine habitat in the world with the exception of the world's oceans. It's absolutely amazing. Just under and outside the Royal Towers is a labyrinth of dimly lit halls and chambers paneled with floor to ceiling windows on one side, and individual aquariums and tanks on the other. Not only does this watery world house the recreated ruins of the destroyed city of Atlantis but it is home to an incredible array of exotic sea creatures.

As you meander through the maze of chambers, you'll be stopped in your tracks as you see the gigantic manta rays turn the corner and float directly toward you, only to brush the window and proceed on their way; or, you'll be transfixed by a school of shimmering translucent-looking silver jack fish. Captivating too are the lionfish - venomous creatures using their reddish-brown and white stripes as camouflage, their needle-like dorsal fins to deliver venom to their victims, and their long flashy pectoral fins to say "Stay away!" which it appears should be fairly effective. And, I smile every time I turn the corner and find myself eye-to-eye with the tiny orange and white striped clownfish wondering which one is Nemo. This year, however (and you'll see) one was different - one was black with white stripes. How'd they do that?

Whether you like primeval looking gargantuan groupers, undulating jelly fish, rocking seahorses, slithering moray eels, spiny lobsters, or piranha, you'll find a chamber holding them, but what I found the most mesmerizing was the Ruins Lagoon. Thousands and thousands of fish swim past you at eye level revealing their spectacular colors and/or quirky natures. So many species in one location, some acting independently, and others darting to and fro in huge schools with no recognized leader and no understandable reason for their collective, erratic behavior.

I've put together this slide show to share with you some of the magic of The Dig and its inhabitants. Shooting fast moving objects in very dark lighting is a challenge and one that I still need to master, so please be patient with the graininess of some of the photos, but I did so want to share these characters and their colors with you. Remember to get the best resolution change 360 to the highest number you can (either 480 or 720).

 

Photos and Slide Show by Claudia Ward ©2010 All Rights Reserved
Music: Under the Sea by Kidzone