Dive Report for Sunday 12/13/2009

photo Copyright 2009 by Barry Fackler

Perfect conditions above and below the surface on this fine Sunday morning. Despite ginormous surf on some of the other Hawaiian islands, there was hardly a ripple at Honaunau Bay. Visibility was easily 100' and the surface was glassy. Today was not to be a day of major sightings with no dolphins, rays or sharks to be found. Just beautiful conditions and colorful tropical fish frolicking in the water.

photo Copyright 2009 by Barry Fackler

On the first dive I went to 81' and headed south. After a little while , I came up to the reef top and explored inside a small cave where I found this Common Bigeye (aweoweo in Hawaiian). These dark red fish are nocturnal and seek shelter in caves or under ledges during the day. This fish is identical to the Hawaiian Bigeye except its tail fin is convex, where the Hawaiian Bigeye's is concave.

 photo Copyright 2009 by Barry Fackler

On the first dive I also saw a couple of honu. One was sleeping under a ledge but the other one was cruising along just under the surface. This gave me the opportunity to get a couple turtle "belly shots". These are always fun because, when the surface is calm, it looks like the turtle is flying through the air.

photo Copyright 2009 by Barry Fackler

On the second dive I went to 55' where I came across this pack of juvenile Blue Goatfish. Most goatfish probe the bottom with their barbels which they use to locate the invertebrates they feed on. Blue Goatfish, however, prey on small fish and use their barbels to flush prey from crevices in the coral. They usually hunt in small, loose schools like this, often in the company of other predators hoping to seize a fish that the goats flushed out.

photo Copyright 2009 by Barry Fackler

Our little colony of Pyramid Butterflyfish remains intact and as happy as butterflyfish can be!

photo Copyright 2009 by Barry Fackler

There were several schools of young Black Durgon on the reef today as well. The younger individuals have fine blue lines on the body and a green blush to the face. As they mature they become more uniformly black except for the bluish-white lines along the dorsal and anal fins.

Ringtail Wrasses, like this one, usually hover in midwater waiting to strike at potential prey. They have impressive canine teeth that often protrude from the mouth. This one was acting peculiarly, lying on the bottom and tucked in among the coral. When I drew closer to investigate, it rocketed out of its shelter and swam off.

It was a really nice day of diving with the reef providing a good showing of its bright and beautiful residents.