Los Roques -

Hi, I just came from a weekend in "Los Roques" and want to share some info and photos from it.

Los Roques Archipelago National Park was created in 1972 to protect a marine ecosystem of exceptional beauty and ecological value dominated by coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful natural areas of Venezuela. The park is located about 80 miles (128 km) north of the port of "La Guaira" in Caracas, covers 221,120 hectares (546 acres), making it the largest marine park in the Caribbean Sea.

The coral reefs host some of the most beautiful underwater fauna and flora of the Caribbean. The park has exceptionally beautiful beaches of white sand and multicolor, crystalline warm waters which make it a diving paradise. Is like Bonaire regarding type of coral and sea fauna that you can find there, but with 10 times more fauna.

To give you and expamle in just one dive we saw turtles, barracudas, jacks, surgeons, parrotfish (several species of), sardines balls, stingrays, and an endless groups of fish typical for the caribbean.

There is a key on the north where is common to spot 3 to 5 black tip sharks and mantas. I been told some bull sharks were spoted some weeks ago... nurse sharks are common to the area also.

On the up side, it have amazing beaches of crystal clear water and miles of white sand, on the down side all the dives are boat dives (no shore dive there) at 130$ rate (2 dives pack). There is wi-fi, all services and in all hostels the food is included and really gourmet food (decoration and all..), lobster is a common dinner plate and all kind of sea food.

Rates are near 250$ per night.

Here are the links for underwater and topside pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50759770@N00/...951092697/show/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50759770@N00/...973509113/show/

Criticism is always welcome and needed (don´t be soft about it).

really nice work felix, those are beautiful wide-angle shots... you really do a great job getting your foreground and background exposures right-on...

what kind of visibility did you have?

you seem to be putting the 10-17 to good work... i'm looking forward to using mine in some clear tropical water!

I have actually been to los rocos before, I've been to venezuala a couple times.. I really enjoyed the secluded islands of los rocos.. this was before I was diving.

did you use your 17-70mm lens at all (how do you like it?), I'm looking at that lens now...

scott

what kind of visibility did you have?

Over 30 meters, visibility was amazing actually...

I have actually been to los rocos before, I've been to venezuala a couple times.. I really enjoyed the secluded islands of los rocos.. this was before I was diving.

Secluded indeed... that is one of its major feature... is to bad that when you had been there you didn´t dive yet.. If you come again, let me know!

did you use your 17-70mm lens at all (how do you like it?), I'm looking at that lens now...

I didn´t use it this time, because I only did 2 day dives and one night dive only, but I use this lens a lot, is the perfect "scout" lens, when you don´t know what to expect of a dive...

Sorry...looked long and hard to find something to critique. Couldn't find it! I loved the work with the birds. Good stuff.