Kona, Hawaii Trip Report - Jan 19-Feb 2, 2006

[XJae]

We did a manta dive last year, and are gonna leave it at that.

sorry to hear that. it's one of those 50/50 things. maybe you're due.

... Crown of Thorns (which eat coral), ...

i heard if you put them upside down in the sand they drown. :ne_nau:

 

[cuddlefish]

"Dive two was at Rabbi, named by Jerry Garcia"

Jerry Garcia did donate a lot of money to get the mooring system going. However, he was not the one to name the "Rabbi" site. It was named by a rabbi who donated the money for a mooring...I forget his name...maybe "Freehling".

By the way, anyone can donate money for the mooring system. Malama Kai is the foundation. Installation is generally done by Jack's Diving Locker...but the money should be donated to Malama Kai. I can get more info. if anyone wants it.

Keep the updates coming. We are enjoying hearing about your adventures.

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Go for a snorkel down at Two Step if you want photogenic Humu's. Closer to where you are, you can see them and a ton of other fish at Kahalu'u, though it's usually crowded and very shallow. Both spots are guaranteed turtles, humu's, eels, etc, etc.

I really can't wait for May

 

[friscuba]

The North end of Kahalu'u off the restroom (less crowded over there also) is practically a guarantee for Lagoon triggers and Saddleback butterfly fish. When I was working downtown years ago, I had some Aggressor passengers come in and they were chuckling about looking for a specific fish all week and seeing none, then going to Kahalu'u in the afternoon after they came back and seeing 6 or 7 of them. I'm assuming they were talking about one of these two fish.

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

How about Tinkers? Any surefire spots for them?

Or how about Bandit, Flame or Masked Angels? I only saw one Flame Angel ever when diving off Hawaii. Never a Bandit or a Masked.

I have a long list I want to see, but I'll stop now

 

[cuddlefish]

How about Tinkers? Any surefire spots for them?

Or how about Bandit, Flame or Masked Angels? I only saw one Flame Angel ever when diving off Hawaii. Never a Bandit or a Masked.

I have a long list I want to see, but I'll stop now

For Tinkers and Bandits...try the south mooring off of Old Airport (sometimes called Sharkfin Rock). Straight out from the mooring we have seen Tinkers and Bandits on a somewhat regular basis. And for some reason, they seem to hang out shallower than usual here...70 feet or so!

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Is that one of the shore-diveable Airport spots? Thanks!

 

[mer]

sorry to hear that. it's one of those 50/50 things. maybe you're due.

We had a great manta dive last year, so we're not going to do another one, since you are always chasing, but never able to reachieve, that first high.

We got buzzed by a manta yesterday on a day dive at Sand Channel. Pictures and report for Days 7 and 8 to follow tomorrow... out to have fun.

 

[mer]

Day 7

Still some potential for afternoon weather, so we didn’t head south… but seas are calm enough to go a little farther north than normal.

First dive was at Horseshoe (aka Dottie’s). The Dive Tek DMs must be telepathic. With 3 DMs on board each group finds different things. Somehow these guys find a way to communicate with the other groups if they find something really cool. End result… we got to see a lot of really cool stuff today. The highlight of Horseshoe was a conger Eel being cleaned by several clearer shrimp. Then ensued a little conference between DMs Colin and Tim, who is by the way, known for sticking his fingers too close to animals you shouldn’t stick your fingers too close to. The conversation went on like this:
“Friendly?” asks Tim on wetnotes.
“No teeth…”As Tim’s eyes light up. “But plates… hurt” replies Colin, knowing exactly what’s going through Tim’s mind.

Next dive was at Sand Channel, near Garden Eel love where a lot of the Manta night dives are done. Needless to Say we saw lots of neat Stuff… the pictures tell the story best.

Day 7 Pictures
the boat Kaha

People Pics:
Tim Teachin’
Silhouette
Colin searchin’
Star, Tim’s sister, enjoying day off bliss
DM conference #1
DM conference #2

Eels:
Conger Eel with Cleaner Shrimp
Tiger Moray

Fish:
Lizard Fish
Lei Trigger Fish
Another Cute One (surgeonfish?) I haven’t yet look up the name for
Tons of fish on the reef, Soldier fish in the foreground.

Urchins:
Large Pencil Slate Urchin
Banded Urchin
Another Urchin

Octopus Sequence: notice the color and texture changes
Octopus
Octopus
Octopus
Octopus
Octopus

Manta Flyby:
Manta Ray
Manta Ray
Manta Ray
Manta Ray

Other Stuff:
Crown-of-thorns sea star
Crown-of-thorns underside (and no it didn’t “drown&#8221
Sea Cucumber
Amazing Vis and Neat Topography

 

[mer]

Links might be broken, I'll fix them tonight.