West Side: 2 x Whale Tails and 17 x Eagle Rays!

[VBlueV]

WOW!
maybe once in a lifetime!

me and bcyber (dave) launched his boat out of Wai'anae Harbor this morning..

on our way to the Mahi Shipwreck.. we saw 3 adult whales and 1 calf..
the whales put on a spectacular show.. to include several full-breaches (even the juvi), dorsal fin spin slaps, and the highlight.. twin side-by-side continuous tail slaps!

here's the video..

and here's the slide show.. because.. oh yeah, we went diving too



note the number of eagle rays in the same frame.. 17 !!!

hopefully bcyber will post his too..

 

[ScubaAndDreams]

cool eagle ray shot dude. Didn't want to pull your ginormious boat to the West Side?

 

[VBlueV]

nah.. i haul to the west side all the time.. ('like that ramp)
'just didn't feel like cleaning it for the fifth day in-a-row

plus.. 'didn't want bcyber's boat to collect dust.. ever since i got mine
and with all the whales.. i think an inflatable is safer :11:

 

[lonniehammack]

JJ, you're definitely one of the luckiest divers ever. 17 Eagle Rays! I don't think I've seen more than two together.

 

[kidspot]

Seems like you had another BIG group of Eagle rays last year too didn't you?
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/hawai-i-o-hana/196164-14-x-eagle-rays-during-double-mahi.html

Just HOW do you do it? I've never seen more than 5, and usually only one or two together ...

Is there some special cologne, squid entrails or another secret ingredient that attracts all these creatures to you?

Please share the secret!

Aloha, Tim

 

[VBlueV]

jeez people!
while yes, the 17 eagle rays flying in one formation were waaaay cool..

don't y'all think the twin side-by-side whale-tail slappin' was even more awesome!?
every time a whale-tail would slam onto the water.. 'sounded like a cannon going off!

any whale experts out there know why they were doing this?
were they trying to teach the juvi how to keep all the tourists entertained? what?

 

[rockjock3]

Awesome shots dude. I need to get back in the water. Maybe this upcoming weekend.

 

[ThatsSomeBadHatHarry]

Wow. I just saw the video and that is pretty amazing. Rare chance.

 

[VBlueV]

here's a better slideshow from the West Side..

Sharpcast Slideshow

 

[bcyber]

Ok...it took me a while but here are the pics I took with my new DX-1G Sea and Sea. I thought JJ was getting some good pics of the whales...well...hmmm...I did get to take a few and caught one breach by the baby.

Sharpcast - Image View

Sharpcast - Albums View