Big Island Part 8: Not the Typical Snorkeling Adventure

For months I have been reading about South Point and I have found it is known for two things, large pelagic fish (swordfish, tuna, sharks, dolphinfish, jacks, etc) and a nasty current. The current at the point is apparently so strong since ancient times boats have tied to the cliff to avoid been swept away on a non-stop trip to Antarctica. This site was a little spooky, but I had to see what was under the surface. The photos tell the rest of the story.

South Point is the Southern most point in the entire United States and below the cliffs is crystal clear water. The figures below the water are large rocks (van size) about 30-50 feet under water. 

On the top of the cliff is several boat hoist used long ago to lower small boats into the waters below.

Near the boat hoists is this rusty ladder that takes you to the water 40 feet below. It swings in the wind and is made of rebar welded to tube steel. This ladder is usually used by cliff divers who climb back up after jumping to the water below.

Below the ladder is some ropes tied to the cliff and ladder to help anyone who is about to be swept away by the current. 

I threw my camera and fins over my shoulder and climbed down the ladder. The water seemed about 30-40 feet deep at the base of the ladder.

While down there, I did not detect much of a current, but I stayed near the rope just in case. A current pulling you from shore with no chance of rescue is too creepy for me to risk. 
 

Underwater the rope had some interesting life swimming near it. The small fish are baby jacks. They will hopefully grow to be several feet in length. The photo below also has a neat crab on the rope (look carefully).

 Below me was lots of neat fish and large boulders. If you look closely, you can see another ladder. It was kind of a discouraging site.

The hardest part was the climb back up. Here is a photo of the ladder from the water. Some of the ladder seemed a little shady.

This time, I really just wanted to see if I could get down there. With more rope and planning, it would be amazing to dive there. Maybe next time.

Big Island Part 7: Video from Deep Below & Awesome Playground

Yesterday, I found a cool small cave about 160 feet down. Unfortunately, it is difficult to take photos of videos that deep because the camera housing starts failing at around 120 feet due to the pressure pushing several buttons on the camera at once. I figured out a way to squeeze a few more out of the camera housing and took a flashlight down to the cave today. I was able to film some neat Hawaiian Longfinned Anthias. There are two videos and descriptions of what was going on below.

The first video you can see long wire corals as I am approaching the cave as well as several fish. The second video mainly features the anthias. The video is not too awesome as most of the functions on the camera were failing due to pressure.

The video starts at about 120 feet as I am swimming through a boulder field and coral rubble. In this area there is a little current and long wire corals grow. Around 45 seconds, you can see several wire corals. At 1:06, I hit the bottom at 162 feet and start filming the cave with my flashlight. At 1:40 you can see my depth at 162 feet and my dive computer starts warning me that I am too deep. The video ends as I approach the Hawaiian Longfinned Anthias. The male is the large one and females are the smaller ones behind them.

In other news, Shelley and I found the coolest playground. It features multi-level castles, bridges, and even ship. Everything is made of wood and very well done. We love the humpback weathervane. It was raining when I took these pictures, so they are not that great, but the park is massive and wonderful.

Big Island Part 5: Adventures & Loss of Color at Depth

We don't see bigger fish while diving in Hawaii very often. Today this school of four threadfin jacks swam across the reef over to Shelley and I and circled for a few minutes. Each fish was between 3 and 4 feet long and they all seemed very curious about us. The video is the best near the end (the last 30 seconds. I think this fish travel quite a bit each day, but I am keeping their location a secret to protect them from spear fisherman.

Shelley and I took a kayak over to the Captain Cook Monument. The snorkeling near the monument is the best I have seen in Hawaii. The area is protected from fishing/aquarium collecting and is home to some wonderful fish. The monument itself is on British soil.

The tiny white line on the shore to the left of Shelley is the Captain Cook Monument. On the kayak trip over there was splashing in the water and it turned out to be tons of bait fish being hunted by small tuna. Below is the video of the bait fish swimming near the surface

Me on British soil. This monument is close to the spot where the Hawaiians killed Captain Cook. 

Reticulated Butterflyfish

My favorite butterflyfish, Saddleback Butterflyfish, and the first one I have seen since 2005.

On this dive I found my first Male Whitley's Boxfish. This is a rare fish in Hawaii (at least at diving depths) and his belly looks like a face.

After Kayak'ing I went and dove a nearby site and found this research instrument underwater. It turned out to be equipment placed by Duke University to study spinner dolphins. 

I found this neat old chain underwater.

Fantastic schools of mature Yellow Tangs! Only place in the world to see this is the Kona Coast of Hawaii (until the aquarium market harvest them all). 

Of course there are always wonderful sea turtles accompanying you on your dives.

One thing I have always tried to explain to non-divers is what happens to color when you dive, in summary, it disappears. But each color is affected differently. I wired some marker caps together and did an experiment. Click the photo to make it bigger.

Big Island Part 3: The Swells Up but the Island Caught on Fire

Unfortunately for diving, a large South swell has been building since we arrived and by Tuesday afternoon the diving was becoming dangerous. The good news is the beach we overlook is extremely popular with surfers and body boarders. Here are some shots from our balcony.

Here is a photo of our condo's balcony view.

 So the 4th of July fireworks were awesome...

But, they caught the island on fire and closed the road leading to the only good diving right now. 

Bummer. We went on the Kona Brewery Tour instead.

Big Island Part 2: First Dives

Within seconds of dropping below the surface a clear contrast to Maui diving emerged. There are more fish here, more diversity here, and healthier reefs here. The diving is simply better. Within five minutes, I saw more yellow tangs than I did in more than 100 dives on Maui. For example, I have never seen this on a dive this many yellow tangs:

The beautiful reef at this location drops down to at least 85 feet. I dove this site three times today and was impressed every dive. Highlights include finding several Tompsons Butterflyfish (which I have never seen before) and the elusive black morph of the longnosed butterflyfish.

I found this pair of Tompsons Butterflyfish 60 feet below at the end a reef. I have never seen this fish while diving. They are strangely easy to photograph and seem to pose everytime I approached them. 

  

I first became obsessed with the black longnosed butterflyfish when I found one 105 feet down off Molokini in 2008. Today, I found another 69 feet down off the Kona Coast. This fish is rare except possible off the Kona Coasts. I hope to see more of them.

One thing I did not see was any turtles, that was until I climbed out of the water and found one sunning on the beach next to Shelley. 

The flame angelfish is one of the most beautiful of all Hawaiian fish. At the end of a reef (where the reef meets the sand), in 80 feet of water I glimpsed at what I thought might be a more common potter's angelfish. The fish was hiding deep in some finger coral and would only emerge for half a second before hiding again. My second look I immediately recognized the broad black stripes. It was a flame angel. My heart started beating faster as I thought, "I just have a to get a photo of it as proof". Here are the photos I got: 

 First Glimps

The good news about flame angels is apparently they stay in the same location. While underwater, I photographed the surroundings so I could make a map to find these (I think there was a pair) fishes again. With the current swell conditions, I have to wait four days to dive this location again. 

Big Island Part 1: Birds & Condo Tour

After spending our winter break on Maui, Shelley and I decided we wanted more. We planned our summer vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii. I had heard the diving was the best here of all the Hawaiian islands and we felt we really should go somewhere other than Maui.  

We landed and headed to our condo. We arrived and were surprised to find out balcony opens to the ocean and our condo owner is obsessed with early 90's marine life posters, well really early whole condo decor.  With just a spider of daylight left, I grabbed my mask for a quick swim. The surf was rough so I only got a few minutes out there, but the marine life seemed promising.

The only thing close to as cool as fishes is frogs; but birds are a close third. Our first morning here I found neat little yellow birds on the beach below our condo. They hung out with the Java Finches (one of my favorite birds). Here are some photos I snapped of them from fairly far away. I don't know what type of bird the yellow ones are yet, but my first guess is a type of tanager. 

With birds like this around, I decided to make a bird feeder.  If I can bring the birds in closer, perhaps I can get some better photos of them. I have also heard rumors that a flock of wild parrots frequents the are we are staying.

My mom wanted photos of our condo, so here is the tour:

 Our patio/deck is actually where we spend most of the time. We cook breakfast out here and this is where I update the blog.

The complex center is a cool palm garden, pool, and some grills. But what makes our condo so special is that was decorated (we think) by an 8 year old girl who loves dolphins. Check out all these details from the dolphin switch plate covers, to shower curtain rings, to the dolphin table.

This hand-drawn poster of the some couple (perhaps the owners) hangs over the master bed.

This swordfish on the patio is awesome.