Category Archives: In The Water

Manta Ray moment

I spotted this Manta Ray coming towards me about the same time it spotted me. I thought it might come and check me out, but it clearly decided against that, dove down and then scooted away. It was the first manta I’d seen for a long time so, regardless of its response, I was very happy to see it.

The Numbers Game #101

It’s the time of year when big northwest swells start to hit the islands. This one is from a few years back.

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 223. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A cigar wrasse swims among a shoal of convict tang. — A Cigar Wrasse not blending in with some Convict Tangs.

A Cigar Wrasse not blending in with some Convict Tangs.

Textured

Shadows on a staircase in Hawaii — A staircase with smooth painted surfaces and rough nonskid steps.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Textures.’ See more responses here.

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Shadows. See more responses here.

A red leaf floating in water in Hawaii — Tree bark.

Sand underwater in Hawaii — Sand on the ocean floor.

White coral words on a black sand beach in Hawaii — Sand on the ocean floor.

The Numbers Game #100

Small planes at Upolu Airport, Hawaii — A fly-in at Upolu AIrport

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 222. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Shadows. See more responses here.

A female blackstripe coris in the waters off Hawaii — A Blackstripe Coris.

A spotted pufferfish in the waters off the Big Island of Hawaii — A Blackstripe Coris.

The flower of a milo tree in Hawaii — A Milo flower

Bright and beautiful

A Carpenter bee male at Lapakahi in Hawaii — A male Sonoran Carpenter Bee enjoys the sunshine.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful.’ See more responses here.

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Shadows. See more responses here.

Reef fish at Two Step in Hawaii — Reef fish at Two Step.

A Bromeliad in Hawaii — Reef fish at Two Step.

A Crowned Jellyfish in the waters off Hawaii — A Crowned Jellyfish catches the light.

A Rcl Sharon king 'Volcano Queen' orchid at the Hilo Orchid Show in Hawaii — A Crowned Jellyfish catches the light.

Showdown at Viper Rock

Giant Porcupinefishes in the waters off Hawaii

When I go snorkeling, I often go by a place known as Viper Rock. It got this name because in this rock is a small cave that was often occupied by a large Viper Moray Eel. I haven’t seen the eel in a long time, but the cave often has other occupants.

On a recent swim, a Giant Porcupinefish had claimed the spot and it rebuffed the approach of a smaller Giant Porcupinefish several times (top photo).

Next day when I got there, there were two Giant Porcupinefishes outside the entrance to the cave. Several times they swam towards the cave, then came back towards me (middle photos). It was only when I shifted my position a bit that I could see, inside the cave, the shape of a large lobster (bottom photo). It’s just to the left of the top porcupinefish, in the shadowy cave. Clearly the two fish did not relish the prospect of trying to evict the lobster!

Giant Porcupinefishes and lobster in the waters off Hawaii

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Shadows. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #99

A grasshopper on a windshield in Hawaii — A grasshopper on a windshield.

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 221. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Shadows. See more responses here.