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| Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler
stocky hawkfish Cirrhitus pinnulatus
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Friday, March 28, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Whale Watching
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| All Photos Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler
This past weekend, Betty and I decided to play tourist and go on a whale-watching cruise out of Kawaihai. We've been seeing whales from shore all winter long (even while driving) but we wanted a more up-close experience.
We sailed with Ocean Sports on their big catamaran and had a super time. We saw a bunch of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) at close range including mothers with their calves.
We had a wonderful time and felt fortunate to see so many whales this late in the season. They will soon be migrating to their feeding grounds in Alaska.
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Saturday, March 22, 2014
Star With a Spare
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler |
spotted linckia Linckia multifora
This little starfish has an extra ray.
Shy Guy
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler |
zebra moray eel Gymnomuraena zebra
I don't see zebra morays very often and when I do find one, it's face is usually buried in the reef and only a little bit of its body is visible. This individual graced me with a chance to photograph its lovely countenance. This photo is among my first taken using a video strobe as a light source.
The Reliable Model
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler |
whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus
This young shark is a very reliable model for me. For several months now, she can always be found at the same resting spot in the early morning. I know it's always the same individual by the distinctive scar behind the mouth on her right side - a memento from an encounter with a fisherman's hook. Sometimes she shares her resting spot with a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).
VAVA II
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler |
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Scrawled and Scribbled
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler
The scrawled or scribbled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) is another fish with intricate markings. It can color-phase from a light blue cast to the brownish-yellow hue shown here,
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Swiggles and Dots
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler
The eyestripe surgeonfish (Acanthurus dussumieri) have been making much closer approaches during the early dives. If I don't over-expose the shot, an intricate patterning is visible on the body and tail.
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Ctenophore
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler |
Every once in a while, I happen across one of these comb jellies on my early morning dives. Usually, they look pretty beat up and are always hard to photograph with the simple equipment I use. Their bodies have a surprising resistance to compression, despite the squishy-sounding common name.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Dive Site
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler |
This is what I see just before an early morning descent at my favorite dive site, Honaunau Bay. The palm trees in the distance are at Pu'uhonua O' Honaunau National Historical Park. To the left can be seen the gentle slope of Mauna Loa.
Flowery Flounder Face
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| Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler |
Monday, March 10, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Convict Tang at Cleaning Station
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| Photos Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler |
A convict tang (Acanthurus triostegus) visits a cleaning station to have parasites and dead scales removed by a Hawaiian cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) in a classic example of symbiosis.
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