This is another one of these photo diaries meant to provide a brief respite from Tea Party insanity and Meta Madness and as a reminder that we share this planet with a wide variety of amazing critters. These photos with a couple of exceptions were taken this past weekend. I hope you enjoy your visit here.
He'eia
Windward Oahu.
Spotted Eagle Ray
A "flock" of these beautiful creatures usually meets you when you dive at this particular site, an old mine sweeper intentionally sunk as a artificial reef.
Having a little digital fun with the image here. I have to say that I really love the control and creative possibilies facilitated by digital photography and processing. I know some who still insist on the absolute minimum of processing and more power to them. I enjoy playing around and seeing what works for me and what doesn't.
Spotted Eagle Ray
It is often a valid option to convert these files to black and white if the subject isn't close enough for the stobes to light because they are basically monotone blue anyway.
The Cave
On Saturday I had the opportunity to dive a site that I rarely get too. Moku Manu (Bird Island or actually Island Bird) off the Kaneohe Marine Base. We didn't see a lot of life but the walls and huge caves are quite dramatic.
Hawaiian Lizardfish
Green Turtle
This is a very large old male.
You can identify him as a male by the long tail. Female green turtle tails barely clear the shell.
Sea Star Shrimp
These tiny shrimp live on the surface of cushion starfish.
Yellowmargin Moray
Frequent visitors to these diaries will know that I was concerned about this moray that I call Gramps because the last time I saw "him" he was trailing fishing line from his mouth, obviously having swallowed a fish hook. I was happy to see Gramps in his usual place at the port aft rail on the wreck looking no worse for wear.
Gramps
I named him that for his very rounded lips that sometimes reminds me of a toothless old man. I actually have no idea what sex it is, it does have plenty of large sharp teeth and it might not be that old as it isn't really that large.
Gramps on July 3rd trailing monofilament. This was the last time I saw him and this is my fourth dive at this spot since then without seeing him. One of my dive buddies got a photo that looked like him last time but I had to see for myself.
Sunshine From Forty Feet
Yellowmargin Moray
I call this one the Lurker. It is always in this same spot, an old U shaped vent pipe coming out of the deck.
Brown Noddy
This wasn't underwater. I bet you figured that out on your own.
Raccoon Butterflyfish
You almost always see these large butterflyfish in pairs.
Day Octopus
I always love seeing these amazing cephalopods.
Orange Cup Coral
Hairy Hermit Crab
These large yellow hermit crabs are quite striking.
Cattle Egret
These birds have been more frequent visitors to the lawn in front of my condo recently.
Feel free to treat this as a community photo diary and please be good humans. If you have a problem with this diary I refer you, as always, to the Complaint Department:
Aloha
Makapu'u