Diving with Hunter, Michael, and Heidi

Dive 1: Ukumehame

Michael with a Titan's Trumpet Snail

 With the hope of finding manta rays and the thought that it may be the only time I get to dive with Michael we geared up and swam out from Ukumehame beach park despite some unruly looking water conditions and murky water. Sunset is supposed to be the time to see the mantas so add low light to the list and you've got yourself a very challenging dive. Zero visibility greeted us and stayed with us all the way out to the drop down spot, about half a mile offshore. The viz became 30' or so out here so we did get a chance to see some fun fish amongst the finger coral and a couple of moray eels as well. The mantas seemed shy this time and we didn't have a spotting until the last second, when a big beautiful manta silently swooped into my view. I furiously banged my tank banger and got Heidi and Hunter's attention so they could see it. Unfortunately Michael was already out of air so forced to stay at the surface. Always leave something for next time!

  

Dive 2: Five Graves

Hunter peering into an underwater cave

Five graves is always a great option for a shore dive along Maui's south shore. Turtles utilize the many caves, ledges, and caverns to rest out of sight of would be predators. You can also see nocturnal animals hiding in the caves during the daytime if you have an underwater flashlight.
Hunter and I grabbed some tanks and headed here late one afternoon, racing the setting sun. We both took lights which turned out to be not just useful in searching the caves but necessary as the afternoon dive quickly turned into a night dive after the sun set while we were still under.
Challenging conditions persisted with south winds, reduced visibility, and heavy surge in the shallows. We managed to find some fun critters but this picture of Hunter entering one of the caves summed up the experience for me. It was a great time for me to try out my wide angle lens for cave shots.

Dive 3: Black Rock, Ka'anapali

Finally the conditions are improving. Hunter and I met Michael up at Ka'anapali beach behind the Sheraton to do a Black Rock dive. Again we were racing the sun but this time we had plenty of time. So we went slow, looked for little stuff, and were rewarded with leaf scorpion fish, pipefish, moray eels, and even some turtle fly-bys. The best way to do Black Rock is to put in on the Sheraton side of the rocky cliff, swim out to the point, drop down, and head all the way to airport beach. Then you can send a runner back to the car to come pick everyone else up.

Juvenile Long Nose Butterfly Fish

Lizardfish close-up