another of life’s firsts. First day of school, first crush, and then today after years of trying to spend more time in the ocean than on land … first shark sighting! It was a white tip reef shark just beyond the groin separating the east and west halves of the MLCD. It swam within 10 to […]
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Weekend in the MLCD
October 3, 2011 
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With such calm surf, Waikīkī was the place to be last weekend. The highlight Saturday was being surrounded by about 15 or more Bluefin Trevally (omilu). The only thing the fish in this school were studying was me. After they circled me about 3 times and left, a barracuda approached. First time in the ocean […]
Continue readingCongratulations, Cassidy!
September 28, 2011 2 Comments
On a day that could have been overshadowed by test anxiety, talk about ciguatera, and macabre surf stories, the shining moment was Cassidy smoking the REEF Level 5 exam with a score of 99.5%. Cassidy is now not only a REEF survey expert, but an expert among experts! Naturally, the first thing to do after taking […]
Continue readinggroovy day in Hawai`i nei
September 26, 2011 1 Comment
Can you believe the clear skies and calm surf of the last few days? Makes for good underwater critter watching. This porcupinefish was out in the open instead of hiding under a ledge. He let me chase him nearly to Makaha (or thereabouts). What appeared to be a large Christmas Wrasse turns out to have […]
Continue readingSap suckers don’t just fly…
March 14, 2011 0 Comments
… they can swim! Or at least this Ringed Sap-sucking Slug can make its way through the ocean. Covered with Lanikai silt, enough markings remain for identification, and its sighting combined the good fortune of being in the right spot to see its barely perceptible movement. Goes to show, it pays to look for sea […]
Continue readingEggs and things.
March 6, 2011 0 Comments
While snorkeling at Kuhio Beach, I saw something on this lobe coral I had never seen before. Recalling a Shortbodied Blenny nearby acting peculiar, I did a little research and, sure enough, the eggs of that species can be bright yellow! I also saw the Twospot Lizardfish on the same coral structure. Its identification can […]
Continue readingeel and goby and puffer, oh my!
February 12, 2011 1 Comment
These were taken today on the Ewa side of the MLCD. The stout moray had interesting red blotches in its mouth. Wonder if it was just pau lunch? Anyone know what the goby is? And the puffer … Whitespotted puffer? No. Green Blotched puffer? No. Big-dark-circles-at-pectoral-fins puffer? No. Stripebelly puffer? Who da thunk?
Continue readingHidden treasure
January 15, 2011 0 Comments
I don’t know how Randall and Hoover get their good shots, but when I’m peering into the cauliflower coral looking for Speckled Scorpionfish hiding there, this is how they look to me. They’re common in the MLCD, so find a coral head and check them out. And here are a few other friends I encountered […]
Continue readingBlue fins aren’t always Bluefin!
January 4, 2011 1 Comment
What appeared at first to be a juvenile Bluefin Trevally (papio) upon closer examination had yellow spots and faint bars.
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Reef Watch Waikīkī 