Category Archives: In The Water

The Numbers Game #107

Banana plants thrive in heavy tropical rain. — Bananas in the rain.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 229. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A Scrawled Filefish in the waters off Hawaii — Suspicious Scrawled FIlefish.

Bluefin trevallies catch the light — Suspicious Scrawled FIlefish.

Pacific Day Octopus

This was one of three octopuses I saw together recently. I think this one and one of the others were looking to mate, but my presence was spooking them. So I backed off and they did indeed appear to be going to mate, but none of my photos turned out as I was then too far away!

A Green Turtle says hello

A Hawaiian Green Turtle in the waters off Hawaii

On a recent swim, I’d just seen one turtle swim by, when I turned and saw this turtle approaching. It was quite small, which I like because it means they’re younger and often more curious. The other plus is that their shells are usually in great condition. This one’s certainly was, and the light was such that it positively glowed.

The turtle came quite close, then decided I wasn’t interesting after all and slid away, following the other turtle.

A look back at 2025

A humpback whale and her calf swim in the waters off Lapakahi Historical Park, Hawaii — This Humpback Whale encounter was probably the highlight of the year (here).

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Year in review.’ See more responses here. As usual, I’ve picked a photo from each of the past 12 months and included a link to the original post.

Lenticular clouds over Mauna Kea at sunrise — Sunrise over Mauna Kea (here).

A Monarch Butterfly on a leaf in Hawaii — A Monarch Butterfly on a leaf (here).

A Manta Ray swims by in the waters off Hawaii — A Manta Ray passes by (here).

View of Kilauea Eruption in May 2025 — One of the many episodes of the current eruption at Kilauea (here).

A Japanese White-eye on Octopus Tree flowers in Hawaii — A Japanese White-eye on Octopus Tree flowers (here).

The interior of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi, Hawaii — The interior of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi (here).

A male Sonoran Carpenter bee in Hawaii — A male Sonoran Carpenter Bee (here).

Art and chairs in the waiting room of Hilo Benioff Medical Center in Hawaii — A waiting room at the Hilo Benioff Medical Center (here).

A child jumps into the ocean from a rock tower at Coconut Island, Hilo, Hawaii — Jumping into the ocean at Coconut Island, Hilo (here).

Horses frolicking at Paniolo Adventures on the Big Island, Hawaii — A kerfuffle in the corral at Paniolo Adventures (here).

An indigenous I'iwi honeycreeper in Hawaii — A native I’iwi bird (here).

The Numbers Game #105

A Painted Lady Butterfly feeds on a kiawe flower — A Painter Lady Butterfly feeding on a Kiawe flower.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 227. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Two donkeys in Hawaii — Two donkeys drying out after heavy rain.

Spinner Dolphins in the waters off Hawaii — Two donkeys drying out after heavy rain.

Shadowing

A Peacock Grouper is shadowed by a Pacific Trumpetfish in the waters off Hawaii

A Pacific Trumpetfish shadows a Peacock Grouper. Trumpetfish often mingle with other fish when they’re hunting. They can change color to match their companions. They’re generally gray or brown, but can become yellow or black, and they can display stripes or bars to improve their camouflage.

The Numbers Game #104

Sea Monster — A sea monster lunging up? Actually, a Humpback Whale. The ‘lower jaw’ is a fin!

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 226. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Large Orange Sulphur Butterfly on a hibiscus.

A tug and barge enters Kawaihae Harbor in Hawaii — Large Orange Sulphur Butterfly on a hibiscus.

Pacific Day Octopus and Arc-Eye Hawkfish

I spotted this small Pacific Day Octopus on the move and it quickly headed for a spot to settle down. The place it chose was just below a head of coral, which was occupied by an Arc-Eye Hawkfish. The hawkfish didn’t move, but didn’t look happy with its new neighbor.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii