• Trunk Bay Beach, considered one of the 10 best beaches in the world is home to the underwater trail.

    Virgin Islands

    National Park Virgin Islands

French Grunts

a school of French Grunts swimming in front of soft coral
STATION #1: The school of fish in the foreground looking at you are French Grunts (Haemulon flavolineatum).  The name "Grunt" comes from the kind of sound these fish make.  Try and imagine you can hear them underwater!

You can see a kind of "soft coral" called a sea plume in the background, and the small, black-and-white-striped fish behind them are Sargeant Majors (Abudefduf saxatilis.)
Caroline Rogers
 
Hope you enjoyed seeing all these French Grunts! Swim onto station #2.

Did You Know?

Spiny Sea Urchin in clear waters on a shallow reef.

The Spiny Sea Urchin has long spines that can readily penetrate the skin on the slightest touch, causing severe pain and possibly allergic reactions. Because the barbs cannot be completely removed, soaking affected areas in vinegar can speed up the in-body dissolving time, typically 3-4 weeks.