June 14, 2008 Dives - Mahi & Makaha Caverns

On Saturday, June 14, 2008, I dove with John (divemaster) from Ocean Concepts, and Dale Cephers. We did two dives, the Mahi, a 95 foot deep dive on a ship that was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef and Makaha Caverns, a 50 foot deep dive on a shallow coral reef with lava tubes and swim throughs.

Dove with Dale Cephers in John's group. I was the only one in our group with a camera. There were 14 divers and two "guides", so they paired up all the divers and the two guides each took a group. Our group was the second in once again, and Dale and I were the last of our group to giant stride in. Headed down the mooring line to the wreck. We just kind-of followed the group around the wreck near the bottom. As I got down, there was a sea snake ducking under some wreckage near the wreck, but I could not get a look at it. After swimming around the wreck at depth, we swam on up to the deck level at about 70-75 feet and hung out there.

I took a few photos of various fish and urchins and things and then we noticed four spotted eagle rays flying in formation off the port side. I got a couple of good shots of them as well.

I was much more conscious of my air usage and breathing and went through the tank of air at a much slower pace. In fact I was one of the last to have to leave and ascend.

Headed back up the line at the end of the dive and did a safety stop.

For the second dive, Dale and I giant strided in and dropped down to the bottom. John led the group on a "tour" of the caverns. Went through several swim throughs and little slot valleys. Took lots of photos. Saw two Whitetip Reef Sharks, but only managed one photo. It was resting in the first cavern and we all spread out at the entrance while John shown a light on it. It got agitated and began swimming in a figure eight pattern coming closer and closer until it bolted over our heads and swam away.

After the tour, we all split up into buddy groups. Dale and I swam out along a little wall and got more photos.

Got photos of some Threadfin Butterflyfish, lots of Humuhumu-nukunuku-apua'a, a Rough-Spined Urchin, and a Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star.

Dale was a little low on air again so we ended the dive even though I had plenty of air left. On both dives today, I did a better job of air-management. Ascended without a safety stop again since I was still just a little underweighted even with 16 pounds and hauled out.