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Thanks, with that keyword I see some prior discussion of fibropapilloma. Very sad!

I noticed while doing some shallow freediving around Black Rock on Maui this morning that a couple of the turtles I ran across had growths or something on their faces (and, in the case of one turtle, at the base of one forward flipper). This looked like billowy light-colored tissue, at least...

We're coming to Maui this Thursday (April 2) and will be staying a week on Napili Bay. The weather forecast looks like what by L.A. standards would be fairly windy -- getting close to what here would prompt small-craft warnings. Is this just fairly typical early April weather? Any caveats...

Thanks, Doug, I think someone passed on some favorable comments about Woody's op but they couldn't remember his name -- we'll check it out. Re intro dives, I've been certified 10 years and dive year-round in L.A. However, my wife and son can't be dragged near a tank :shocked2: (wife says...

Thanks. We enjoyed a trip on Trilogy the last time we were on Maui, but I hadn't run across the Pacific Whale Foundation yet. I just figured out the code word for RIBs there. Apparently operators call them "ocean rafts." I guess that sounds more adventuresome ...

Yes, I was thinking of just bringing an empty belt from home and buying some weights there. Freediving in swim trunks I use about 4 pounds, in a 3/2 full wetsuit maybe 3 or 4 pounds more. I'd enjoy getting out and diving with you, but as you say it's a drive and I think we'll mostly be between...

My wife and son are non-divers, but avid and experienced snorkelers. On vacations we like to mix shore-based snorkeling with one or two snorkel-oriented outings by boat. Our past experience in Hawaii included a couple of nice day trips on two different ops on the Big Island that took groups...

Thanks -- it looks close, and they list weight belts among rental gear on their website.

The FAQ postings in the reference section here give some really great information on Hawaii, operators, etc. I do have a question, though, with a slight wrinkle. Next week I'll be going to Maui and staying a week on Napili Bay. I'll be bringing freediving gear (long fins etc) with the hopes...

Hi Gary, it looks to me like it's probably the same species as this flatfish I ran across a few years ago at Indian Rock at Catalina: Someone at the time ventured the opinion that it was a speckled sanddab, Citharichthys stigmaeus. However, I believe that species is supposed to be...

Yes, I'd seen pictures of Idotea resecata and thought that was it. I'd say case closed. Thanks again for the help!

That's close! It resembles even more this picture of the isopod Idotea: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sci/OSAP/projects/plankton/zooplankton/images/isopoda/idotea.jpg I'm happy to think of it as "Idotea or similar," unless anyone has other information on what kelp-hugging isopod might be...

Hi all, last night we did a couple of dives off Palos Verdes, California. The kelp was quite heavy, which made getting back to the boat challenging. In fact after we were all onboard, there were a fair amount of kelp pieces scattered around the deck. When I was cleaning up the boat, I...

Hey Ken, Lots of great pictures, but I was particularly taken by the one of Claudette on the ascent with the boat in the background. A really cool and different shot! Cheers, Frank

Well, I have to confess that the dive is now a couple of weeks ago, and I have to rely on my creaky memory and what's shown in the photo. I'll take a wild guess and say that the star's main body was about six inches across between tips of nearly-opposing normal-sized arms. So the extra-long...

That looks as though it would almost certainly be it. Your help is awesome as always, Leslie!

On several dives last week in Kona, Hawaii, I saw these little things sticking out all over the reef. They're in the realm of a half an inch long (maybe 3/4" max). Any idea what they are? The owner of the boat I was diving with said he sees them all the time, but couldn't put his finger on...

What's going on with this sea star (shot last week in about 60 ft of water off Kona, Hawaii)? Is this a regeneration thing?

Thanks, Leslie -- that looks about as I remembered them. (I had a wide-angle lens on my camera at the time, so pictures were a no-can-do.) If anyone has thoughts about the speck-like things that both these worms and the manta rays find palate-pleasing, I'd be very interested.