Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
I had the day off on Thursday and thought I'd get in a couple dives. I was disappointed to get to the beach and find high surf. It would have been possible to get in and out safely, but visibility was sure to be poor. I just went home and did some chores.
I got to Honaunau Bay bright and early today to find epic diving conditions - smooth, flat seas and clear skies. I talked with some of the paddlers who told me that a Hawaiian Monk Seal had been seen here earlier in the week.
I got into the water a little before seven today. That's early even by my standards, but the ladies in my life were going to the spa later on and that means grandpa duty for me!
I got into the water a little before seven today. That's early even by my standards, but the ladies in my life were going to the spa later on and that means grandpa duty for me!
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
It was even early for big ol' Peacock Groupers, lots of whom were just laying on the reef waiting for the sun to come all the way up.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
Down a little deeper I happened upon this male Threespot Chromis displaying his spawning colors. Normally these are are dark grey/black with three white spots near the base of the tail. The little fish in the background is a Chocolate Dip Chromis.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
I have very few photos of the fish above. It's a Potter's Angelfish and has a beautiful combination of orange and blue markings. It is a shy beauty, however, and usually darts into the coral when I approach. This is the best shot I've gotten of one since I started shooting digital. I guess this guy was still a little sleepy too!
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
It was a great morning to see big moray eels. This Whitemouth Moray was out free-swimming and I kept an eye on it until it settled down on the reef. Morays often appear to be baring their teeth in a threat display but are actually just using their muscles to pump water over their gills.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
Just a little further down the reef was this big Yellowmargin Moray. These are usually pretty docile as are most morays. However, a couple years back I found one of these that was absolutely huge. I took a couple friends down to the rock where it lived but couldn't find the eel right away. I shone my flashlight under the rock and found him tucked way back in. I signaled my friends to come take a look. I was astonished to see one of them reach her hand directly towards the eel's face! Before I could process what was going on it was all over. The eel bit down on the web space of her hand so hard I could hear a distinct "pop". Dive over. The eel let go and disappeared further under the rock. It was then that I saw the big Marlinspike Auger shell my friend was reaching for. From her angle, she never even saw the moray. It took a few stitches at Kona Hospital ER to close it up. A fun fact is that many moray eels have a third and sometimes a fourth row of teeth on the roofs of their mouths. These are known as vomerine teeth and aid in holding prey in the mouth.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
The cleaning stations were busy this morning and I got a photo of this Ornate Butterflyfish being groomed.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
Tucked under an overhang, this Tiger Cowrie gleams like a polished jewel. I'm always amazed how nature decorates marine snails and slugs with beautiful colors and patterns. Their terrestrial counterparts are seldom as attractive.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
I love to find an octopus. Whenever I see a goatfish swimming excitedly near what appears to be a moving rock, I know I'll get some photo ops with my favorite mollusc. This was a little one, but quickly adapted to my presence and let me follow him around the reef.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
I watched this octo for around 15 minutes before my air supply began to run low. Octopus are not at all uncommon in Hawai'i but they're also not really easy to find. Seeing one always makes me feel a little privileged.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
The last thing I photographed on my first dive was this Mushroom Coral. This is a really interesting coral in that it is not attached to the bottom. The colony you see in the photo can be (but shouldn't be) picked up like a stone or shell. Most hard coral colonies are mound-like and attached firmly to the substrate.
My second dive was a pretty one but not as eventful as the dawn patrol. Sometimes when you're not seeing things that are big or uncommon, you just have to kick back and enjoy the little, everyday things that are always there in front of your face mask. Like..
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
... a Fourspot Butterflyfish
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
... an Agile Chromis
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
... or a Threadfin Butterflyfish.
Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler
I also found an overhang in shallow water that was crawling with Reticulated and Humpback Cowries. Here a Humpback hangs from the ceiling Spiderman-style.
When I came up from my dive, my daughter was at the Two-Step waiting to help me with my camera. My wife and grandson were at one of the tidepools with Jacques earnestly scooping the water with a dipnet in his own version of "fishing". Then the ladies took off for the spa and we boys were left on our own. My day was just beginning.
I dunno Barry... low vis sounds better than chores to me!
ReplyDeleteAloha Andy, Wow, somebody actually looks at this!!! Really, Thursday was pretty fugly down @ Honaunau and there were other things I really shoulda been doing so chores won out that day. Betty says she saw you and Angela and Grayer down at Kona Commons on Friday. Probably see you in the shop real soon!
ReplyDelete