Suggestions to learn underwater life?

[justleesa]

Yeah, we have them at the shop too, I think they cost about 12 or so bucks....

 

[KrisB]

Two more additions:

1. when something isn't in Hawaii's Fishes (Hoover), it's often in Shore Fishes of Hawai'i (Randall). It's worth having both.

2. as for "take it diving" material, Franko's Maps makes a fish-id card that is waterproof. (http://www.frankosmaps.com/Maui_Fish_Card.htm) -- there's one for each island, too.

HTH,

 

[love2godeep]

Those waterproof cards are a great idea, but they don't list enough fish to be very helpful.

If you can, visit a local aquarium, where you can look at local fish and get a jumpstart on your underwater explorations.

Don't bother with the Fish ID specialty unless you have a really knowledgeable teacher. My dive instructor just handed me a waterproof card and told me to see how many butterfly fish I could find.

Have fun!

 

[justleesa]

They have these new ones that is more like a little flip chart with full color pictures (not drawings). Those are the ones for 12 -/+ Bucks. As for the simple plastic cards I saw they had them at the 99¢ store the other day...

 

[-=>Larry<=-]

My LDS sells a set of fish ID cards that you can take under with you. It's about as big as a deck of cards. I never really paid much attention to them so I don't know if there are different sets for different regions or whatever but I'd think it would be nice to be able to do the ID when you could see the fish, especially if you don't have a camera.

Joe

I saw these at DEMA last year and thought them pretty good - but then I haven't used them????

http://www.fishflips.net/

 

[justleesa]

Larry, you took the words out of my mouth! That's what I was trying to explain. Roger just told me that they have fish in it that we don't have in our waters....na-ja

 

[Torontonian]

Thanks for all the good suggestions.

I was really hoping there would be a good video I can get and view at my leisure. Next would be visiting the zoo or acquarium (but need to drive kids to swimming, soccer, softball, etc.)

I found some web sites that lists thousands of fish, A - Z, which is good for reference but not for beginning learning. The fish ID cards sound like a good idea, so I'll certainly start with the 99c card and look into the others.

Any suggestion for video?

 

[justleesa]

A video that also names the fish....now that's a hard one.
If you just want to see the fish Scuba Drew has a nice DVD
http://www.scubadrewvideo.com/dvdadd.htm

 

[Torontonian]

Found this site from the Hanauma Bay. It is not video, but has good shots of fish from the bay. It'll serve as good intro for me and my friends.

http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/facility/hanaumabay/underwatertour.htm

 

[pacificparadisedivers]

Aloha All-

Here is a good website that has pictures and fish ID tests for a few different locations.

http://www.reef.org/webres/gallery/haw/gallery4.htm

Enjoy-