9/1/12

Foto Finish: Wet


Before we start, I need to let you know that this will be the last Foto Finish until October 6th.  I'm putting Foto Finish on hiatus while I travel during the month of September.  I'll be looking for your images when I return . . . and I'll still give you a theme to ponder while I'm gone.  As I've said before, I'm traveling to several national parks while I'm gone, and I will be blogging along the way.  My experience in the national parks has been that internet access is spotty, and so I don't know how often I'll be able to post.  When I can, I'll be showing you some of the scenery along the way, so stay tuned.

As for today, this week's theme is "Wet".  Here's my entry.


This image was taken during a previous RV trip when we stopped off at Balmorhea State Park in West Texas.  Balmorhea is a fascinating place.  It is a swimming pool built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.  It captures the water from San Solomon Springs, which is also used for irrigation in the surrounding area.  The pool is around 2 acres in area, and there are schooling fish, turtles and other aquatic life, including the endangered Comanche Pupfish.

Balmorhea is also a scuba diving site, and because it is spring fed, it is designated as an open water site for scuba divers to do their open water certification.  There is a dive shop right next door, which is something funny to see with the nearest natural body of water being hundreds of miles away (except for Balmorhea, of course).  We weren't shy, and decided to go scuba diving in the pool.  So we rented tanks from the dive shop, suited up, and took the plunge.

The schooling fish, all varieties about 2 inches long, followed us all over the pool. When we were diving, they seemed to identify us as their fearless leaders, and they followed us everywhere by the thousands. They also nipped at us because they have come to associate swimmers with food. People feed them all the time, and so this creates a problem. It didn't really hurt, but it was terrifically annoying.   Here is an image taken with the camera held under my body of the fish following me around.  You can see my fin tip in the upper right corner of the image.

When Foto Finish returns, I'll have glaciers on my mind, having visited Glacier National Park.  I think I'll make the the theme for the return of Foto Finish, "Cold".

Now I'm ready to see your wet images.  Here's Mr. Linky:

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9 comments:

Kate said...

Very cool picture! Love the deep blue color of the water. What a great vacation adventure.

make.share.give said...

When we were snorkeling on our honeymoon the fish swimming around us really creeped me out. If they had nipped at me, it would have been the end of my adventure. I kicked up a mess of waves when a ray swam underneath me.
I'm impressed with your bravery :)

Denise :) said...

This is an awesome shot! You set the bar too high this morning, I'm afraid ... I scoured my pics for 30 minutes before determining I had no worthy offering for this week! LOL!! :)

Snoodles said...

That is an amazing photo! Have fun on your trip!

Junebug613 said...

Neat shot! How funny that you should post a picture of a scuba excursion, when we are planning on going scalloping tomorrow and are taking our scuba gear for some practice. I wish I had an underwater camera years ago when we went diving with the manatees.

Dirt Road Quilter said...

My old stomping grounds! Now I am homesick! Bet you didn't think this post would make anyone tear up! :)

quiltzyx said...

Where is Nemo? We KNOW you know where Nemo is. Take us to Nemo, PLeASE!

Love it! I've heard that there are places to get pedicures (overseas?) where you put your feet into a school of fishes & they nibble the dead skin off....

Maree said...

Great photo Barbara. Have a great holiday.
quiltzyx - I have a photo of two chaps sitting with their feet in a glass fish tank doing exactly that. It was taken in Bali last year.

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Wooden Boat Show in Port Townsend WA a few years ago. What a cute little pocket boat.