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A gray angelfish approaches the camera. Angelfish appear large from the side but are unexpectedly thin when viewed from the front. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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This barracuda was found hovering low between reef sections of the El Cedral Shallows. Like many fish, they have the ability to alter their coloring based on their mood, and this one's stripes were more accentuated than normal. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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Divers gather around a feeding sea turtle to photograph and video it. Turtles are a favorite of divers, and if a turtle is busy eating, it is usually easily approached. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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A hawksbill sea turtle munches on a sponge with a gray angelfish in the background. It is not unusual to see multiple angelfish hovering around feeding turtles to snap up any small, loose pieces of sponge the turtle sends into the water. This is another example of mutual feeding. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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Upon returning to the room at Villa Blanca on Wenesday, it was discovered the maid had created these imaginative scorpion or lobster creatures out of fresh towels. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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On Thursday evening Cindy and Kevin toured the Kaokao chocolate factory with Sheila McIntyre. This small family operation has recently started using Yucatan cacao beans to make chocolate on the island, and they offer tours. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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Kevin pats a little kitten friend while waiting for the chocolate factory tour to begin. The husband-wife owners recently adopted two kittens from the Humane Society. The Humane Society has done much to solve the feral cat problem on the island. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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The chocolate factory tour includes a complete history of chocolate and how it is made. These are Mayan and Aztecan grinding stones. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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Cindy helps grind roasted and dried cacao beans to make chocolate. The tour includes hands-on demonstrations and tastings for how chocolate is made. (Photo by Sheila McIntyre) |
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Kevin, Cindy, and Sheila enjoy dinner Thursday night at one of Sheila's favorite restaurants. |
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Cindy drifts along in the fast, deep current at Eagle Ray Alley on Friday, Dec. 16, looking for elusive spotted eagle rays. The current is so fast her bubbles stream behind her instead of going straight up. (Photo by Kevin Magee) |
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As luck would have it, several spotted eagle rays were seen at the end of the dive. This one swam right past us as we dove down close to the reef to avoid spooking these shy animals. (Photo by Kevin Magee) |
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Cindy and a spotted eagle ray check each other out. Cindy was so close she could watch the eagle ray's eyes watching her as it flew past. (Photo by Kevin Magee) |
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The spotted eagle ray swims along the deep wall of Eagle Ray Alley. After this encounter, everyone needed some extra time at the safety stop to make up for this exciting encounter. (Photo by Kevin Magee) |
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Upon returning to the room after seeing the spotted eagle rays, the maid had made rays out of the towels. What a wonderful coincidence! (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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Here is the room at Villa Blanca. The rooms were beautifully made, spacious, and comfortable. The hotel is also conveniently located right next to Pappa Hog's dive shop. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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Kevin Magee fills out his dive log next to the pool at Villa Blanca while enjoying a nice tasty rum drink. The rum makes the dive log entries much more interesting. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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This is the pool at Villa Blanca, which Cindy and Kevin swam in every day. The hotel is a small, non-resort hotel that is perfect for relaxing and mingling with the local people. Everyone at Villa Blanca was friendly, outgoing, and made the vacation both interesting and enjoyable. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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Here is the hot tub at Villa Blanca, which was located right outside the room and was enjoyed by Cindy and Kevin every day. While sitting in the hot tub, people, lizards, and birds could all be watched. (Photo by Cindy LaRosa) |
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The Cozumel Municipal Police building is decorated with lights for Christmas. The messages wish everyone a Merry Christmas (left) and prosperous New Year (right). The town was heavily decorated for Christmas, which is a major event of the year. (Photo by Kevin Magee) |
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