These photos were all taken this afternoon in one block of King Street. These trees line both sides of the street for block after block. Incredible!
3 years ago
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Dazzled by Shower Trees!!
Last Spring Lauri fell in love with the Shower Trees here on O'ahu. They truly were gorgeous, but this year they are spectacular!!!
These photos were all taken this afternoon in one block of King Street. These trees line both sides of the street for block after block. Incredible!
These photos were all taken this afternoon in one block of King Street. These trees line both sides of the street for block after block. Incredible!
June 27, 2009 Dives - Mahi & Black Rock
On Saturday, June 27, 2009, I dove with Mike Trykar and Jo (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 Black Rock, an 80 foot deep dive on a coral reef with an overhang.
Mike and I were in Jo's group, so we were first in the water. There were 12 divers and three "guides", so they paired up all the divers and the three guides each took a group.
Visibility was not stellar today, but it was OK. Mike and I headed down to the wreck and pretty much did our own thing. He stuck fairly close by and pointed out things to see and photograph, which was nice. That way I could just concentrate on them rather than keeping track of a partner that wanted the guided tour from Jo.
The enormous Great Barracuda that hangs out at the Mahi was there on the deck when we descended. I tried to angle over by it and get a photo, but the two I was able to take are both very poor quality. He is huge, though. About 4-1/2 feet long.
I got a good photo of a Hawaiian Dascyllus and a Plump Sea Cucumber (new).
This big old guy was just hanging out of a hole in the side of the wreck. There is an eel of some sort or another there most of the time.
This is a very good specimen of Red Phorbas Sponge.
Some of the other things I photographed:
I also found this Redbarred Hawkfish hanging upside down under a ledge among the Orange Cup Coral.
I ended the dive as I usually do on the Mahi, by slowly ascending up the mast. I caught Old Glory waving in the current as I did so.
I did my safety stop under the boat and then swam up to the ladder and climbed out.
On the second dive, I had two spotters - Jo joined Mike in finding cool things to point out. As soon as we got to the bottom, Jo discovered five Whitetip Reef Sharks under the overhang. They cruised around for a while underneath where it is too dark to get a photo, but then bolted for the open.
These two Hawaiian Dascyllus were hanging out in a large Antler Coral. The red encrusting sponge looked black until the flash fired off on the camera!
Two thirds of the way through the little site tour, Jo urgently motioned me over to a little hole. This Hawaiian Red Lionfish (new), also known as the Hawaiian Turkeyfish, was hanging out in the hole. It is endemic to Hawaii and is the little cousin of the Pacific Lionfish that has been introduced to the Caribbean and is decimating local fish populations there.
I saw this when I first descended, but I thought it was just a mesh doily that was stuck on the reef. When we got back from the little tour of the site, I saw it again and took the photo. I was shocked that it was so red! It turns out that it is a Spanish Dancer Nudibranch eggcase!
This little Decoy Scorpionfish was hiding under a small Cauliflower Coral. He is only about 3 inches long.
Mike found two nudibranchs and point them out to me.
Here are a couple of divers hanging out at the hang-bar during their safety stop.
This was the first dive with my new computer. The old one worked fine except I have not been able to download data for the past 6 dives. It is nice to have it back and functioning well again.
Mike and I were in Jo's group, so we were first in the water. There were 12 divers and three "guides", so they paired up all the divers and the three guides each took a group.
Visibility was not stellar today, but it was OK. Mike and I headed down to the wreck and pretty much did our own thing. He stuck fairly close by and pointed out things to see and photograph, which was nice. That way I could just concentrate on them rather than keeping track of a partner that wanted the guided tour from Jo.
The enormous Great Barracuda that hangs out at the Mahi was there on the deck when we descended. I tried to angle over by it and get a photo, but the two I was able to take are both very poor quality. He is huge, though. About 4-1/2 feet long.
I got a good photo of a Hawaiian Dascyllus and a Plump Sea Cucumber (new).
Hawaiian Dascyllus
Plump Sea Cucumber
This big old guy was just hanging out of a hole in the side of the wreck. There is an eel of some sort or another there most of the time.
Yellowmargin Moray Eel
This is a very good specimen of Red Phorbas Sponge.
Red Phorbas Sponge
Some of the other things I photographed:
School of Bluestripe Snapper
Chocolate Dip Chromis
Hawaiian Gregory
I also found this Redbarred Hawkfish hanging upside down under a ledge among the Orange Cup Coral.
Redbarred Hawkfish & Orange Cup Coral
I ended the dive as I usually do on the Mahi, by slowly ascending up the mast. I caught Old Glory waving in the current as I did so.
I did my safety stop under the boat and then swam up to the ladder and climbed out.
On the second dive, I had two spotters - Jo joined Mike in finding cool things to point out. As soon as we got to the bottom, Jo discovered five Whitetip Reef Sharks under the overhang. They cruised around for a while underneath where it is too dark to get a photo, but then bolted for the open.
Whitetip Reef Shark
These two Hawaiian Dascyllus were hanging out in a large Antler Coral. The red encrusting sponge looked black until the flash fired off on the camera!
Hawaiian Dascyllus
Two thirds of the way through the little site tour, Jo urgently motioned me over to a little hole. This Hawaiian Red Lionfish (new), also known as the Hawaiian Turkeyfish, was hanging out in the hole. It is endemic to Hawaii and is the little cousin of the Pacific Lionfish that has been introduced to the Caribbean and is decimating local fish populations there.
Hawaiian Red Lionfish
I saw this when I first descended, but I thought it was just a mesh doily that was stuck on the reef. When we got back from the little tour of the site, I saw it again and took the photo. I was shocked that it was so red! It turns out that it is a Spanish Dancer Nudibranch eggcase!
Spanish Dancer Nudibranch Eggcase
This little Decoy Scorpionfish was hiding under a small Cauliflower Coral. He is only about 3 inches long.
Decoy Scorpionfish
Mike found two nudibranchs and point them out to me.
Pustulose Phyllidia
Desirable Nudibranch
Here are a couple of divers hanging out at the hang-bar during their safety stop.
Divers at the Hang-bar
This was the first dive with my new computer. The old one worked fine except I have not been able to download data for the past 6 dives. It is nice to have it back and functioning well again.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Helping Grandpa
The boys came over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a sleepover while their mom had some surgery. They had a ball!
The next day, they had a water gun fight in the backyard.
And them helped Grandpa plant some more coriander (cilantro).
And then - they gathered up all the pine cones that had fallen on the front lawn.
We got a couple of buckets full before their parents came and got them!
The next day, they had a water gun fight in the backyard.
And them helped Grandpa plant some more coriander (cilantro).
And then - they gathered up all the pine cones that had fallen on the front lawn.
We got a couple of buckets full before their parents came and got them!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Yard/Garden Update
This is just a quick update on the yard and garden. It has been in for a month and is starting to look a little better.
The herbs are doing well.
The garden is starting to grow, but the peppers and tomatoes are a little slow getting going.
On the other hand, the Growbox peppers are booming. These were planted on the same day as those in the ground. What a difference!
The flowers on the side of the house are pretty as always. Lauri always makes good choices!
The herbs are doing well.
The garden is starting to grow, but the peppers and tomatoes are a little slow getting going.
On the other hand, the Growbox peppers are booming. These were planted on the same day as those in the ground. What a difference!
The flowers on the side of the house are pretty as always. Lauri always makes good choices!
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