Just a follow up dive report. The two dives with BID were great. First dive at about 4:30 pm saw a few eels, harlequin(sp?) shrimp, etc., but the best was the turtle that came to us. I've seen plenty of turtles, but not one that swam our way before. We were quite aware that we were not to approach turtles. As we were nearing the end of the dive, this one guy, not too large, maybe two feet across in total, swam right into our bubbles. I stayed still, and he swam about a foot or so over my head. Stayed still for a moment in the bubble stream, then did the same thing with the other divers nearby. Maybe he liked the Jacuzi feeling?
Second dive was the manta dive. Even before the start of the "official" part of the dive, the mantas were circling the boat, looping and generally enjoying the plankton feast. We had to be really careful getting in the water so we didn't land on one. I was one of the first few divers in the water, so the mantas decided to hang by my light while the other divers entered. I again stayed still, just hovering while the mantas cruised all over. Got bumped several times by some of the big guys. Once we were all on the bottom, the show really started. We counted 9, all different sizes.
Funny part - the DM would occasionally swim up from behind and check our gauges. Once I felt a tug on my SPG hose, which I assumed to be Luke the DM. Turned out is was a zebra morray (or some kind of similar eel) swimming between my hose and the rest of me. Scared the you know what out of me. The same eel decided to visit most of the divers in the group. The DM was laughing through his reg as he sees that eel there all the time and it never does anything hostile. Funny now, but I jumped about three feet sideways when I saw the thing.
Only suggestion for BID is that they could bring a little more food, maybe some fruit. The half sandwiches were ok for dinner, but a little stingy, I thought. The rest of the operation was top notch, great people and a nice boat. Rental gear was also well maintained and high quality stuff. I almost never rent gear, but since I was only diving one day, I didn't want to lug my stuff all over the island.
Great fun, I would say the manta dive is a "don't miss" dive if anyone goes to the Big Island.
Mike
Oh, yeah... said visitor was hanging out in the light crate so our DM/guide had to shoo him out before retrieving it. 
