November 1, 2008 Dives - Mahi & Makaha Caverns

On Saturday, November 1, 2008, I dove with Dave Canwell and Joanna (divemaster) from Ocean Concepts. 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.

I dove with Dave. Jo was the divemaster for our group. We both had cameras. There were 8 divers and two "guides", so they paired up all the divers and the two guides each took a group.

Our group was the first in this time, and Dave and I were the first in the water. Headed down the mooring line when all of our group was in. Being the first dive since the big camera flooding, I had the camera in my hand all the way down and was watching it like a hawk. No problem! I took a little extra time preparing the O-ring Friday night and put a little more silicone on it to make sure.

Devil Scorpionfish

We dropped right down to the bottom at the center of the wreck and immediately spotted a little Whitemouth Moray Eel and a Devil Scorpionfish. Dave shot right in to where the eel was, took a couple of photos and then settled right over it so he could photograph the scorpionfish. I hung back and tried to let the eel come back out, but it didn't. I did get several good photos of the scorpionfish. It started inching forward from where it was until it was right out in the open.

Imperial Nudibranch

Blue Dragon Nudibranch

I swam around the wreck near the bottom behind the group and just did my own thing. I photographed an Imperial Nudibranch, a Yellowmargin Moray Eel, a White-Margin Nudibranch eggcase, a tiny Blue Dragon Nudibranch, a Desirable Nudibranch, and then started up over the deck.

Yellowmargin Moray Eel

Just as I caught up with the group, there was a big White Spotted Eagle Ray off the side of the wreck.

White Spotted Eagle Ray

I began my ascent at the mast. As I was slowly making my way from the mast to the mooring line, thirteen White Spotted Eagle Rays showed up for a slow cruise-by. They were just too far away to get a photo. Did a safety stop and then Dave and I swam over to the boat and got out.

For the second dive, I giant strided in and we again grouped at the bow and then dropped down to the bottom. I took a couple of photos of a Hawaiian Lizardfish. While I was doing that, the group took off on the tour. I started after them, but they had already passed up several interesting things. I stopped and got photos of a Stout Moray eel, a Crown-of-Thorns Star, a Fisher’s Star, and a Blue Dragon Nudibranch eggcase.

Stout Moray Eel

Fisher's Star

I caught up with them at the first swim-through where they were watching a 6-foot Whitetip Reef Shark. I managed one photo as the shark bolted out of the cave and swam away.

Whitetip Reef Shark

Photographed several Red Pencil Urchins, a Marbled Cone and a small Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle that was sleeping.

Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle

I also photographed a Needle-Spined Urchin, a White Didemnid Tunicate, Hawaiian Whitespotted Tobys, another Fisher’s Star, a couple more Blue Dragon Nudibranchs, a Rough-Spined Urchin, an Elegant Coris, a Yellow-Spotted Guard Crab, a Ten-Lined Urchin, a couple of Banded Coral Shrimp, and a Little Whitemouth Moray Eel.

Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby

Blue Dragon Nudibranch

Whitemouth Moray Eel

Ascended with a safety stop just for kicks and swam slowly over to the boat and got out. Used my gloves for the first time today and it was very nice to have them and not worry about getting stung by something.