Jolly Green Giant 9-10-2008

[NudiHuntrs]

We were able to get out of work early and head to Pupukea for a test dive with the new arms I bought for my strobes.

We went straight out from the Firehouse entrance and just started doing our thing, looking in Pukas and under ledges to try and find nudibranchs... Well the eyes of the operation (my wife) got all excited and pointed between some boulders and there it was....... the first Jolly Green Giant Nudibranch we have ever seen!

All these shots were made with a 100mm Macro lens.
BTW, if you have a U/W camera with strobes I highly recommend the STIX floats, they have made my Canon 30D and heavy Ikelite housing a joy to handle in the water.

We hope you enjoy the pix.

Aloha

NH

 

[gkndivebum]

VERY nice! I've only seen one of those, too, and it was years ago, at a dive site called Driftwood
here on the Kona coast. The Holy Grail of Hawaiian Nudibranchs.

 

[justleesa]

Are you sure it's the Jolly Green? Looking at the one in book, the underskirt is green too. Looking again, might it be a juvenile and the colors develop with time?

What ever it is, cool find!!!

 

[NudiHuntrs]

The slug was very tiny, certainly no giant. It looked like it still needed to grow into it's rhinophores. At depth and in natural light, it looked brown and blended in with the surroundings perfectly. The name should really be changed to the Jolly Brown Petite

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

Must have been tiny if you were using a 100mm... Thanks for sharing!

I saw so many itty bitty nudis in Indonesia my 60 just couldn't get a photo of! I hope to get a 105 before my next trip!

Sean

 

[SlicerDicer]

I resurrected this dead thread given here is the full color one, Found it yesterday out at Moku Ho'oniki Rock.

Also should give credit to Lahaina Divers, I would never make it out there if they did not run the boat to see the sharks.

 

[DiveMaven]

Gorgeous!!

 

[NudiHuntrs]

That is a great shot. Thanks for sharing.
Do you have any idea on how big it was?

-NH

 

[SlicerDicer]

I would estimate around 2cm?

Jolly Green Giant Here are some more pictures.