BigSexysPlayground

Nurse sharks are like the puppies of the deep. They are gentle and harmless, although they are still large sharks and they are intimidating until you become convinced that they will do you no harm. These divers were exploring the reefs of San Pedro, Belize, looking for lionfish, an invasive species that need to be eradicated for the good of the local ecosystem.

Stingrays are rumoured to be deadly killing machines with a vicious nature , but the truth is much different. Gentle in nature, and highly intelligent, they don't pose any serious threat to swimmers unless they are stepped on. Reflexively, they will arch their back and use their venomous barb for defense, as they would when attacked by a shark, their most common predator. But swimming freely, they rarely feel threatened. They also never attack humans out of aggression. We are simply not their food source. These stingrays are completely wild and can swim anywhere they like. They frequent a marine park in Belize near San Pedro Island and they are accustomed to humans treating them respectfully. They will approach swimmers curiously, often interacting with them in delightful ways. But this snorkel guide seems to have captured their attention more than usual and they followed him closely, swimming up and around him, trying to look into his eyes and see what he was up to. The tourists in his group were very impressed and entertained with this wonderful display.

Scuba diving is a sport that creates unforgettable memories for those brave enough to strap on air tanks and slip beneath the surface to explore a magical and mysterious world. The corals and reefs create an endless display of beauty. The animals are unlike anything we could encounter on the surface. Some of the most magical encounters happen when a scuba diver meets up with a sea turtle. Beautiful, graceful, and extremely gentle, these animals are endearing as well as fascinating. This is a critically endangered sea turtle which is a rare treat for a scuba diver to happen upon. With a respectful approach, this diver in Belize spent several minutes gliding over the reef with the turtle completely unconcerned about her presence. An encounter like this is peaceful and surreal and one that will never be forgotten. Hawksbill sea turtles were hunted to near extinction for their ornate shells. Laws have been put in place to protect this beautiful creature. Through conservation efforts and tourism which supports education and recovery, the hawksbill numbers are starting to rebound.

Nito, known as Big Sexy in the scuba diving world has been diving on these reefs since he was a very young man. He has become very familiar with many of the ocean creatures near his home in Belize. In particular, he has become quite friendly with a pair of 6 foot long moray eels that frequent a small underwater cave on one of his favorite dive sites. They will curiously approach his face and sniff at him, but they show no signs of aggression or desire to bite. Nonetheless, he moves very slowly and lets them approach him in order to not startle them. A moray eel is a serious potential danger if it feels threatened. Moray Eels are enormous and formidable creatures with not one, but two sets of teeth that are large and powerful. The second set of jaws are actually located in the throat. (Pharyngeal jaws) They thrust forward to grab prey and drag it inside the eel’s mouth. The bite of the Moray Eel is extremely dangerous. The eel is also capable of anchoring its body under coral or in a crevice and pulling an animal so that it cannot break free of its bite. The bite power of the Moray Eel is enough to cut through bone. Their jaw design has actually been copied for the monster featured in the Alien movies. Moray Eels are the only vertebrates to use this remarkable hunting innovation. Moray Eels are also capable of separating the left and right halves of their jaws so that they can seize pray and then work their teeth back and forth to climb them farther up on the animal, much like large snakes. But despite this powerful and fearsome bite, the Moray Eel is not the savage monster that we believe it to be. It is a greatly misunderstood creature that is the subject of a healthy mixture of myth and fact. This diver demonstrates that, although risky, coming face to face with two Moray Eels doesn’t result in a savage attack. They are curious animals that have poor eyesight. They rely on their sense of smell to locate fish and octopus, their main food sources. They have no desire to attack a diver unless they feel threatened. They emerge from their lair to see if there is food available and one of them seems interested in smelling the camera that records this video. Divers are fascinated with these eels and find that they make interesting subjects for photographs and videos. They are gorgeous creatures, with a striking emerald green mucous that gives them their unique color. In the past, divers have hand fed Moray Eels, but this has had regrettable results because the eels’ poor eyesight and high prey drive has caused severe injuries. These bites are generally accidental, as the eels are looking for food and not acting out of aggression. While close contact with Moray Eels, or any wild animals, is generally inadvisable, this diver’s experience does demonstrate that they are not the monsters that they are often made out to be.

Nito, known as Big Sexy in the scuba diving world is one of the most sought after dive and snorkel guides in the area. His love of the reef and his incredible way with animals provide guests with some of the most amazing and memorable experiences possible. Between dives, Big Sexy took his group to an area where they could swim with sting rays and nurse sharks in a shallow bay. The crystal clear water and plentiful animal life make this a perfect spot to get right up close with some wild, but friendly creatures of the ocean. The sharks and rays swim freely among the people and will approach curiously. Sharks and stingrays have a badly deserved reputation as cold-blooded killers and savage beasts. They are highly intelligent and surprisingly good-natured animals that deserve better understanding and respect. Without them, the delicate balance of the ocean ecosystems would be in serious peril. Big Sexy not only provides entertainment and fun on his dives and tours, he also teaches people about the softer side of "scary" creatures. Through education and demonstration of a true love for nature and all its beauty, Big Sexy promotes conservation and responsible tourism. His guests go home with more than just memories and great footage. They leave with a better understanding of the world that few are lucky enough to experience.

Nurse sharks are large and formidable looking creatures with strong jaws and impressive teeth, but their nature is much more docile than you might expect. Their mouths are actually designed more for scavenging than attacking anything and they are particularly relaxed around people. These completely wild sharks live on the reef in Belize and swimmers and divers are delighted to share the water with whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Scuba divers all over the world dream of seeing wild dolphins, and many that dream come true, seeing one from afar. When a diver has a prolonged encounter with a dolphin, you will hear them speak about it happily for many years. What happened to this diver was even more incredible. As he swam over the reef and approached a collection of soft coral swaying in the current, a large dolphin swam right in front of him and began swimming around in circles, performing acrobatics and looking him right in the eye with what can only be interpreted as an invitation to play. The scuba diver holding the camera is a dive master named Nito, but he is known around the world as "Big Sexy". One of the most popular scuba masters in Belize, he has a serious fan club. Guests who come to Chuck & Robbie's Scuba Diving from all over the globe seek out this operation for their professionalism and dedication to safety. But they fall in love with the fun-loving personalities of the staff, and they go home feeling like family. One of the most charismatic of the bunch, Big Sexy works extra hard to show his guests the amazing sights in his underwater world. He teaches them diving skills and keeps them safe, but he also has a way with animals, and encounters with beautiful creatures are common when you dive with him. This dolphin repeatedly swam in front of Big Sexy, looking into his eyes, and performing acrobatics, The flips, rolls, and slow passes left everyone in awe and wonder. These are wild creatures in their own habitat, approaching this diver completely on their own terms. Looking at its beautiful face, it almost seems like it has a smile as it looks at him. There is no doubt, Big sexy had a wide-eyed smile throughout all of this as well. This playful dolphin made this one of the most memorable dives he has ever had. True communication between animals and humans is a beautiful thing and this dolphin tried doing just that. As the coronavirus keeps everybody in the world guessing about when things will return to normal, these gorgeous animals and pristine reefs await those scuba divers who are dreaming of getting back in the water. Big Sexy and his crew have their fins ready and their tanks full, eager to lead groups on adventures like this.

Swimmers in Belize were treated to a close up experience in the water with a pack of hungry nurse sharks. Lowering a tube of bait and throwing chunks of fish in the water creates a feeding frenzy with these ten foot long animals all bumping and shoving each other to get at the food. Nurse sharks are not particularly dangerous to swimmers. They often follow scuba divers, hoping one will spear a fish or attract smaller fish to prey on. They are curious animals and their mouths are not shaped like some of the more predatory sharks. Although they still possess formidable teeth and impressive jaw strength, they are not designed or inclined to bite people. These swimmers were nervous about entering the water so close to a group of huge and powerful creatures, but their enthusiasm and curiosity soon replaced fear as they watched with fascination while the sharks fed. Occasionally, the rough skin of the sharks brushed against the swimmers and their muscular bodies bumped and jostled them, reminding them to stay out of the way of the action. Seeing animals like this, so close up, in their own environment is a far more rewarding experience than seeing them in a tank.

Loidy is a scuba master with a serious talent for guiding his clients over the reefs and providing them with amazing experiences. Whether he leads them on a search for sea turtles, or a thrilling dive among Caribbean Reef Sharks, he always provides them with memorable sights and amazing experiences. He is part of a very skilled and professional operation in Belize known as Chuck & Robbie's Scuba Diving and Instruction. When the dives are over and the guests are completing the mandatory three minute safety stop to expel nitrogen gas from their blood, the divers gather at 15 to 20 feet beneath the surface and count off their three minutes. It's a great time to look around below and see the creatures of the reef as they move over the coral. It's also a good time for the dive instructors to show their guests a few tricks and skills. Loidy demonstrates a fascinating trick that involves pushing some of his air bubbles down in front of him. He then puts his fists together and rapidly pulls them apart, creating a spinning vortex of water and air that forms a circular bubble ring. The ring swirls and moves slowly through the water away from his body, creating a mesmerizing effect. Loidy's guests had heard about this maneuver and they had asked him to demonstrate. Of course, he was willing to entertain the divers and teach them the skill. Scuba diving is a thrilling sport that exposes the adventurous to a world of unspeakable beauty and wonder. The animals here are like nowhere else on earth. Humans are the clumsy intruders who make their way over the reef while the other creatures move swiftly and gracefully. The sport is very safe, as long as basic safety rules are followed. Divers must also undergo thorough training to teach them how to avoid complications and how to deal with underwater emergencies. Diving is never advisable without a partner and a specially trained scuba master to lead the group and plan the dives.

Octopus are one of the most bizarre and fascinating creatures on the reef. They are also one of the most intelligent. Possessing problems solving skills, phenomenal memories, complex social structures, and reasoning ability, they are the most intelligent invertebrates on the planet. They are also surprisingly powerful and flexible unlike any other creature. All of this together makes them formidable hunters. These scuba divers in Belize had gone on a night dive at Hol Chan Marine Park. The animal life at night is vastly different than during the day. The octopus is one of the creatures that is more likely to make an appearance after dark. It hunts by swimming or gliding over the rocks and coral, spreading its body out around the crevices and reaching under with long arms to catch fish. Any that dash out to avoid the tentacles will be captured and drawn into the center where a razor sharp beak delivers a fatal bite. Octopus can propel themselves using jet propulsion, ejecting a stream of water through the vent hole. They can also use their limbs to swim. It almost appears that they are flying or even climbing through the water. Their movements are fascinating and hypnotic. A male octopus will die withing weeks of mating. It undergoes metabolic changes that make it unable to eat. Some species mature in approximately six months while others may take up to five years. The females also die after mating, but they live long enough to care for the eggs until they hatch. The eggs will not survive without her efforts to keep them clean and aerate them.

These beautiful spade fish cruise through the deep waters in the south Pacific oceans. They hang out in the open, feeding on small fish that they encounter. As large as gigantic dinner plates, they are a sight to behold. They enjoy bright sunshine near the surface but they will occasionally venture into the deep. As these scuba divers were returning from the depths to be picked up by their boat, they realized that the big fish were following them. The fish were particularly interested in the divers' fingers. Coming close to get a look, the fish were obviously curious about the strange and clumsy creatures in their domain. Interacting with animals or sharing a moment of communication is a thrill for those who venture into this world beneath the waves. Seeing animals in their own environment and getting a close look at them on their own terms is a very satisfying experience.

Squid are one of the most bizarre creatures in the ocean. They are tube shaped animals with large eyes and strange looking appendages, covered in tiny, gripping suction cups. Their arms are capable of grabbing prey or adopting a defensive posture to discourage predators. Surprisingly intelligent, they are among the smartest of all invertebrate animals. Closely related to the octopus and the cuttlefish, they are capable of complex memory skills and problem solving behaviour. They are able to learn visually and they can develop understanding through watching other animals. They are even able to recognize animals that they had seen through the egg sacs while they were still unhatched. The squid has an advanced system of communication with other squid, using changes in its body to give off light and colour signals to others. They can even display different messages simultaneously on either side of their bodies. Squid often hunt in packs and assist each other to capture food. Although the larger squid, such as Humboldt Squid, are a serious threat to almost any animal, including humans, these Caribbean reef squid are perfectly harmless. They hunt fish and small crustaceans, capturing them by shooting out two of their rubbery arms to latch onto prey and pull it into the mouth where their sharp beak delivers a paralyzing bite. Seeing a squid for more than a brief moment is a rare sight for divers and these lucky observers thrilled to have such a display. The squid drifted between the divers in the group and changed colour and arm position, no doubt communicating a message of some sort, likely a warning to keep back. Squid are curious creatures that are likely to watch divers with fascination, although it will rarely last for long. They are also much more active at night, making them difficult to find.

Loggerhead sea turtles are gigantic and powerful animals that can reach weights of up to 450kg (1,000lbs). They can grow large enough to completely fill the passenger area of a small car. They have extremely strong jaws that are designed for pulverizing fully grown conch shells to get at the meat inside. Despite being gentle creatures that present no danger to scuba divers, their incredible strength and size are respected and they are given proper respect. Experienced divers are wary of Loggerhead sea turtles during their mating season. Full of hormones and territorial drive, they are a little more assertive with people and with other turtles. Knowing that their bit could crush or sever a limb, no sensible diver would ever antagonize a large male loggerhead, especially during May and June in the Caribbean. Nito Vasquez, known in the scuba diving world as "Big Sexy" knows this as well as anyone. He was leading a group of the reef in Belize when he came across a rare sight. These two large males encountered each other during breeding season. They were circling each other menacingly, each sizing the other one up. Their body language told Nito a very interesting story about what was happening here. The slightly larger male with the most barnacles maintains a face-on approach to the rival male. This is a dominant behaviour and it means he will bite the challenger if given the chance. The rival male carefully keeps his shell facing the dominant turtle. This is submissive and indicates a desire to avoid a physical conflict. Another interesting thing is that the rival keeps his tail tucked in. Male turtles' genitals are inside the tail and displaying the tail is a sign of dominance and superiority. The larger turtle proudly displays his throughout the encounter. As the challenger leaves the area, the dominant male turns his attention to Nito and comes straight toward him. He turns and gives Nito a close look at his male equipment in what can only be interpreted as a visual display of his dominance. Nito wisely maintains a non threatening position and waits for the turtle to see that he is not a rival male Loggerhead.

Nito, known in the scuba diving world as "Big Sexy" was swimming on the reef in his home in Belize. San Pedro is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean and it has some of the most abundant and beautiful life, above and below the waves. Big Sexy is a world famous scuba dive master who leads his clients on explorations deep below the surface. Famous for his underwater bubblering demonstrations, he is a popular and entertaining dive master. But he is also very well known for his love for the animals of the reef. As if they sense that he is a gentle soul, they seem to interact well with him as he swims along. This small nurse shark was a perfect example. Possibly hoping for a meal, or possibly just curious, he took a serious liking for Big Sexy and followed him closely for almost an hour. At one point, the shark came up over a small coral head and swam up underneath Big Sexy. Slightly startled by the closeness, he jumps slightly but recovers immediately and he can’t help but reach out to give the shark a little pat. Nurse sharks are gentle and completely harmless to humans. Although they possess sharp teeth, and can bite if provoked, they have no desire to hurt people and would never consider them food. Like almost all ocean creatures, when treated respectfully, they pose no danger to scuba divers. Nurse sharks are affectionately called the puppies of the ocean because they will occasionally approach divers and they are curious like dogs. Big Sexy works at Chuck & Robbies Scuba Diving and Instruction in San Pedro. Big Sexy is famous for finding dolphins, sharks, turtles, eels, and anything else that guests would like to see. A dive excursion with Chuck & Robbie's is near impossible to beat!

Scuba diving is an exciting sport that allows the adventurous to journey far beneath the waves and see fascinating things that could never be found above the surface. The animals are beautiful and unusual and the corals are gorgeous beyond description. By day, this underwater world is breath taking and it becomes something very different after the sun goes down. In the darkness, the ocean is a mysterious and wonderful place. The animals that come out of hiding after dark are strange and very different than those to be found in the daylight. Many creatures hunt at night, making the reef a thrilling and exhilarating place. Sharks patrol the depths, crabs wander in the open, eels slither in and out of coral crevices in search of food, and octopus, one of nature's most intelligent hunters can be seen capturing fish that are able to hide from other predators. Turtles drift over the coral, looking for sponges to eat and massive stingrays glide silently on widespread wings. These divers have entered the water and descended into the world of darkness, knowing that they are guests here and that they are at the mercy of the ocean. It's enough to make a person's heart beat a little faster as they shine their light in an effort to see the world around them. Animals appear out of the shadows, their eyes accustomed to the darkness and their senses perfectly adapted to this world. It's thrilling to see them up close enough to touch but intimidating at the same time. Exploring the reef after dark is a wonderful experience for anyone adventurous enough to take the plunge.

The reefs in Belize are mysterious and fascinating. They are full of life during the day, with colors and sights to keep a scuba diver wide-eyed in wonder the entire time that they are exploring beneath the waves. There are fish of uncountable varieties, shapes and sizes. The food web is complex and a predator can become prey in the blink of an eye. It's a delicate struggle for survival that can change in an instant. Scuba divers were returning from a deep dive and making their way through the shallower waters on their return to the boat when they saw that a large dogtooth snapper was following them and using their lights to gain advantage over the smaller fish. Surprisingly intelligent, these fish understand that the smaller fish are distracted by divers and their lights, giving them the element of surprise. Almost 1m in length (2.5feet) and weighing more than 12kg (25lbs), this is a big fish. It had ambushed a blue tang and gripped it in its powerful jaws. Knowing that the smaller fish would escape if the snapper tried to adjust its grip, it used a rock on the bottom to smash the blue tang's head, stunning it long enough to turn it and begin swallowing it. Animal behaviour is far more complex than we once thought, and as we begin to understand them more, we realize that many are far more intelligent than we understood them to be. Seeing an animal in its natural habitat is interesting enough, but seeing animals interact in this manner is even more exciting. Scuba diving is an amazing sport that allows people to see things that many can only imagine or read about.

Nito, known in the scuba diving world as "Big Sexy" is a very popular dive master. With a serious side, he is an excellent teacher and leader and he is sought after for his professionalism and skill. But he is loved the world over for his charisma and fun-loving side. At the end of a dive on the reefs of San Pedro, Belize, guests asked him to show them his bubble rings, a skill that he is famous for in the scuba world. Big Sexy put on a show and demonstrated how to create symmetrical rings that drift upwards toward the surface. As if that were not enough, he blew multiple rings in succession, creating a fascinating effect. The reefs of Belize are second to none in terms of beauty and abundance of sea life. Big Sexy and the rest of the crew at Chuck & Robbie's Dive Instruction deliver some of the best diving in the Caribbean. Colorful corals, fascinating animals, and beautifully clear water are a big attraction in Belize. The underwater world is full of unparalleled beauty and wonder. It's even more wonderful with one of the world's best scuba guides.

Nito, known in the scuba diving world as "Big Sexy" was swimming on the reef in his home in Belize. San Pedro is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean and it has some of the most abundant and beautiful life, above and below the waves. Big Sexy is a world famous scuba dive master who leads his clients on explorations deep below the surface. After the diving is done, a stop at a reef that is part of a protected marine conservation area is always a welcome part of the day. While snorkeling here, guests will often see friendly nurse sharks, stingrays, turtles, and thousands of colorful fish. On this particular swim, Big Sexy spotted a very unusual sight. A large manatee swam right through the group, very unconcerned with the swimmers that followed it and watched it excitedly. Big Sexy was as excited as the rest of them. Although he has seen a few manatees from the boat, and an occasional manatee in the water, it's a rare and thrilling sight for even the most seasoned tour guide. Big sexy hammed it up for the camera after the clients had their chance to get their footage and he had his colleague record him swimming along behind this beautiful creature. Big Sexy works at Chuck & Robbies Scuba Diving and Instruction in San Pedro. He's famous for blowing underwater bubble rings, as well as for finding dolphins, sharks, turtles, eels, and anything else that guests would like to see. A dive excursion with Chuck & Robbie's is near impossible to beat!

Dolphins are one of the most beloved and adored animals in the ocean. Their intelligence and playful nature appeal to people of all ages and almost everyone dreams of a close encounter with a dolphin. Inquisitive and curious, they occasionally approach scuba divers close enough to provide a close look for both the people and the pod of dolphins. But few people ever see them in the wild and even less are treated to a prolonged, close up interaction that is completely on the dolphins' terms. These scuba divers in Belize are being led by a very seasoned scuba master, Nito, who is known throughout the worldwide dive community as "Big Sexy". Famous for his charisma and fun loving nature, as much as his serious side, Big Sexy has a talent for delivering memorable scuba diving experiences. Well acquainted with the reefs around his home on San Pedro Island, he can find underwater animals as well as anyone. But this dive topped them all when a pod of dolphins visited the group and spent almost five minutes swimming between and around the divers. They passed closely, rolled, clicked, and squealed, communicating with each other, and seemingly communicating with this group of visitors in their domain. Dolphins are actually massive creatures that dwarf a human when seen close up. Their speed, grace, and incredible beauty are awe inspiring and they perfectly illustrate just how clumsy we are when we enter their domain. The divers' excitement couldn't be contained as we hear them squealing with delight through this magical encounter.

This large dog toothed snapper took a serious liking to the scuba diver with the camera

This giant Loggerhead sea turtle was patrolling the reef in Belize after sunset, looking for conch shells to eat. Scuba divers in the same area were also drifting over the reef and they were surprised and excited to meet up with this gentle giant. Loggerheads can weigh up to 440kg (1,000lbs) and their heads are large enough to eat a full grown conch. Their powerful jaws can crush the thick shells to let them get at the meat inside. But, despite their incredibly powerful bite, they are no threat to humans. The loggerheads are capable of swimming quickly away from danger with just a few quick flaps from their giant flippers. They have thick, armour shells and only large sharks pose a threat to them once they are fully grown. An animal this large is an intimidating sight, especially after dark, but these are seasoned scuba divers and they are well aware that the sea turtles will not harm them. This one swims straight for the divers and curiously checks them out before making his way along the reef. Humans are clumsy in comparison to these graceful beasts and the turtle instinctively knows that they cannot keep up as he puts some distance between them. Approaching animals respectively, or letting them approach on their own terms can provide memorable and breath taking encounters like this one. A brief interaction such as this is an unforgettable experience.

This scuba very surprised to have a close encounter with a ten foot Caribbean Reef Shark as he came over a coral reef in Belize. He has his eye on a large nurse shark, a very harmless and docile animal that will often follow scuba divers out of curiosity. But unexpectedly, coming over the sea fans revealed the shape of a large reef shark, which is a completely different animal. Although reef sharks are generally no threat to humans, they are physiologically different, with mouths that are more suited for biting and inflicting serious harm, if the chose to do so. The scuba diver recording these animals is Nito, known in the scuba diving world as "Big Sexy" and he is a seasoned veteran of the underwater world. He is fully aware that humans are guests in this underwater domain, but he knows that a respectful approach will allow him a close look at this shark without encouraging a hostile reaction. All the same, being so close to a powerful and formidable beast is an exhilarating experience and Big Sexy's wide eyes show that his adrenaline was flowing the whole time. Sharks have a reputation as being cold-blooded killers of the deep, but they are rarely a threat to people. One of the top predators, they play a vital role in the health of the ocean's ecosystems and the entire balance would be upset if we were to lose these beautiful creatures.

This very young loggerhead seat turtle fearlessly approaches a swimmer in a marine sanctuary. So cool!

Loggerhead sea turtles are extremely rare and few scuba divers ever get a close look at one underwater. They are massive animals, capable of reaching weights of nearly 450kg (1,000lbs). A full grown loggerhead has an enormous head that would dwarf even a saint Bernard dog. These scuba divers in Belize were drifting along over the coral and sea fans, enjoying the beautiful colours and sights when they spotted a very large turtle coming straight for them. Respectfully, they drifted towards the turtle and it swam straight for them, obviously curious enough to check them out. The turtle is big enough that he doesn't fear anything except a fully grown shark. Carrying an armoured shell for protection and being capable of inflicting a crushing wound with his enormous jaws, the turtle knows he does not have to worry about these humans. Surprisingly swift in the water, the turtle can easily outswim a clumsy scuba diver with ease. But turtles don't usually have much reason to approach people either, and this encounter was a rare treat for this group. Loggerheads can be bolder during mating season and they will occasionally investigate scuba divers and then swim on their way, This one seems to want to meet everyone in the group, especially the one with the camera. At the end, he even seems to give the diver a big wink. When this dive was over, the group met on the surface and excitedly talked about this massive visitor. This is a dive that none of them will ever forget.

This huge moray eel was spending the day at the edge of his lair under a coral head.