Since we've got used to winter conditions in Kona - cold water, swell, surge, current, chop - it was very nice to suddenly have a simulated summer day underwater, except that it was still cold. Morning glass reflected the partly sunny sky as we made way on Honu One (Kona Honu Divers) toward north Pine Trees to have a look at Dotties.
Sure enough, Dotties was rocking. No current, no surge, and critters galore. Dotties is special becvause it is home to some very rare Protopalythoa soft corals, hardly ever found in Kona.
The next coolest things that we saw on our way out toward the abyss were a Flamebsck Coral Shrimp, haning upside down just like it says they do in Hoovers book, and a nice fat Devil Scorpion. I couldn't get him to spread his pecs. Further out I fell behind only to see Laura gesturing with the pipefish sign. Apparently there were a lot of them out but when I got there only one brave one was peeking out from under the ledge.
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| Flameback Coral shrimp |
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Devil Scorpion |
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| Pipefish |
At Turtle Heaven there was an actual turtle! A Hawksbill! He kept trying to run away from me so I only got a side view shot. Laura was more successful with frontal views. One of the highlights of this dive was the Frogfish right under the mooring. I got him in a yawn!
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| Barred filefish |
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| Blackside Hawkfish |
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| Frogfish yawn |
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| Hawksbill gturtle |
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| Helmet shell and lunch |
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| Moorish Idol front view |
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| Ornate Butte4rfly |
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| Raccoon Butterfly |
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| Red Blackside hawkfish |
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| Spotted boxfish |
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| Varicose Phyllidia |
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| Yellow Margin eel |
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