Salt Pier, Dive #6 - 7 June 2004

Banded Butterflyfish

French Angelfish

Mahogany Snappers

Spotted Drum

We missed out on Salt Pier last trip, and we'd heard nothing but good things about this site. It's a large structure, with a conveyor belt that carries salt several hundred yards out into the ocean where it is dumped into large salt barges. We checked with the dive operator, and the Harbor Master cleared us to dive (i.e. no boats expected to dock that day). Rock 'n roll!

The entrance was easy, and we swam to the third piling and descended. Almost immediately, fish life was everywhere! From my log book:

Camera performed well, hope it all turns out! Pier legs were so-so [we've been spoiled by High Island 389A in the Flower Gardens] but tons of life on ground below. "Snow" under the deepest point / center, from falling salt flakes. Barracuda, 2 French Angels (one with a war wound), Shrimp, Arrow Crabs, Large & Small Drum, & my first Chain Moray.

[Added later] Got pics developed 6/8 - Great!!!

I was a little creeped-out at first but I quickly adapted and we had a fantastic dive. We knew we'd be coming back to this site later!