4 Hot Summer Days!

[VBlueV]

Holy muggy Batman! (hot Kona winds!)
Finally put the 5mm away in favor of a 3mm..
much cooler.. especially above water!

Day 1: me, Lonnie, and Dave H made the long trek down to Hanauma Bay..
'was drippin' before even got in the water =/
btw.. tram doesn't start 'til 8am.
[must think.. cool thoughts.. ice, snow, winter.. yeah.. that's it =]

first dive.. followed the main cable to almost 60fsw.
at the reef-gap.. found the large school of thick-lipped/big-eyed jacks..


then a nice pair of Oval butterflies..

second dive.. kicked out to Palea Point..
Dave H emerging from the giant archway at the mouth of Hanauma Bay..

Day 2: Sharks Cove..
only had time to do a single before a long swing-shift..
so.. all but used up one tank on an extended 95 minute dive.
('couple breaths left in it =)

deep within the cave leading under the road..
lobster i've never seen before.. can anyone I.D.?

near the mouth of the cave..
a trio of tube-worms.. also new to me..

wow.. a pile of marshmallows (Fellows.. really)..

then a Triton Trumpet out for a walk..

Day 3: Tim (kidspot) and Vinh joined me on a YO-YO.
first dive.. used kidspot's scooters to make the "YO-circuit"..
same route the subs take.. from the YO > airplanes > pyramids > San Pedro.
(i've done this course just kicking.. it's a lonnnng ways.. so, thanks Tim!)
Tim cruising below the mooring ball..

scooter run thru the hoop-pyramids..


one of several platform-pyramids..

back at the San Pedro.. where we found 4 large White-Tips in the hold!


second dive.. explored into the engine-room..
Tim had never seen the electric panel..

then, Tim and Vinh.. finished off the scooter batteries..


afternoon.. joined Vinh and his Ski-Club over at Keehi Lagoon..
as if someone flipped a switch.. the wind just stopped at 5pm =)
time for some turns..

excellent way to cap off a great day.. good buds, cold beer, and a glassy sunset!

Day 4: me, Dave H and Dave B (bcyber) and his dad, George, launched out of Hickam Marina..
first dive.. Ewa Pinnacles..
where we saw at least a dozen very fat Yellow Margins..

second dive.. THE Kitchen Sink.. a long wall extending south from the HNL runway.
bcyber found this new flatworm we haven't been able to I.D. (help?)

so exhausted!.. time for some rest.
cheers to all my buds this week!

 

[Black_3000psi]

all very cool pics thanks for sharing.

 

[kidspot]

Thanks for the great dives JJ - I posted my pics of the YO dives and report over here: 5-30-09 Dives "Fun times" and "I don't think I like this" - The Dive Matrix Forums

That circuit dive was a blast ... and I loved the second dive, except the penetration portion :S ug - don't think I'm cut out for enclosed spaces, but JJ was a great buddy and I was glad to get my first taste of wreck penetration ... we'll see if some helium changes my mind next time

Thanks for the good times

Aloha, Tim

 

[smellzlikefish]

VblueV- Sweet pics! I'm pretty sure the lobster was a mole lobster (Palinurellus weineckii). Your tube worms may have been oval cup coral (Cladopsammia eguchii) but I can't be sure. I'm pretty sure your jacks were big eyed ulua (Caranx sexfasciatus) and not thick-lipped. The flatworm has me completely stumped. If it was translucent, I might say Few-Eyed flatworm (Paraplanocera oligoglena). How long did it take to kick through the Atlantis submarine circuit when you went?

 

[VBlueV]

thanks for the I.D. help..
still haven't found any matching pics of the lobster.. maybe it's just a big 18" roach

as for the "tube worms".. you're right.. they're really cup coral..
(i wondered why they didn't hide as quickly when disturbed)
Keoki has 'em on his site as "Verrill's Cup Coral" (the fronds were translucent)

and, right again on the Big Eyed Jacks.. (but they do have big lips too =)

the flatworm was not translucent..
in fact it had a very solid hard disc like structure underneath (almost skeletal)..
the pattern reminded me of a funky sweater from the '60's era..
very well camouflaged.. can't believe bcyber even spotted it..
maybe the ears gave it away.

as for "kicking" the YO-circuit at an easy pace with no current..
about 5 to 7 minutes between each point..
so, just under half-hour kicking..
not including any loiter/photo time at each landmark.
the airplanes and pyramids bottom out at 110fsw..
a multi-level dive would help bottom-time.. maybe transit at 70fsw.

here're a couple of kidspot's photos from the dive matrix..
second airplane.. just wings after the storm last year.. did have a cabin..

my approach to hoop-pyramid..

 

[VBlueV]

again, lonnie is packing out.. here are his shots..

..finally got all of my pics uploaded..

Hanauma & Palea Point: SugarSync Slideshow

Arch at upper reef of Palea Point; Dave Hluska swimming through

Rare Longnose Butterflyfish at Palea Point (more common on Kona Coast of Big Island)

Saddleback Butterflyfish at Palea Point, one of my favorite Hawaiian fish