Diving the Kona Coast: March 2012

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Octopus Love on St. Patrick's Day

This Saint Patrick's Day I arrived bright and early (well, just early) at Two Step for a little diving. The water is still spectacularly cold at around 73 deg. F. The conditions, otherwise, were pretty good. Toward the end of my first dive, I happened upon a large, handsome octopus and settled in to get some shots.

Like most octopi, this one displayed a combination of shyness and curiosity. Sometimes hunkering down in the coral to hide and other times "standing up" on the reef to get a good look at me.

I followed the creature as it jetted from one coral head to another and morphed through a range of colors and textures.

After several minutes of this, He settled on a patch of coral and assumed an upright posture. To my surprise a smaller octo rose up a short distance beyond him. For a short time they remained stationary, just pulsating on top of the coral. Then, slowly, they oozed toward each other, tentacles reaching out. I was able to get a photo just as the male extended his hectocotylus arm under the female's mantle to inseminate her.

And then, just like that, it was over, each octopus jetting off in different directions. A brief flurry of 16 arms hopefully resulting in a new generation of cephalopods. Happy St. Patrick's Day, young lovers!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Last Weekend's Dolphin Encounter at Honaunau

Thought I'd post a few pics of the spinner dolphin activity at Honaunau last Saturday. Probably 50 cetaceans with at least 5 juveniles. One mom had two small calves with her. Maybe she was tending one for another mom or maybe a rare instance of twins.

I took this photo just before descent. The heiau, the palms, the blue sky and puffy white clouds all looked so perfect. Of course, there is the prerequisite water drop on the housing lens!

Down at depth, a lot of dolphin activity with elements of the pod coming moderately close but not super close. Lots of clicks and squeals with the pod still wide awake and energized.

This subgroup came right by me as they surfaced for air.

This was my one close encounter of the dive. Even though the dolphins stayed too far away, I remained uncharacteristically optimistic and used my strobe unit. This female seemed intrigued by the flash and came nearer to check it out. I got this wonderful "blowhole shot" without the benefit of flash as,of course, it was still recycling.

Nevertheless, a better day of diving than a lot of folks get and another little adventure to treasure.