The sunset was spectacular from the boat as we were gearing up for the first dive.
Sunset Off Leeward Coast
Chris and I were in Shawn's group, so we were first in the water. There were 6 divers and one "guide", so we all went together.
Chris and I dropped down and immediately came across this enormous White-Spotted Hermit Crab (new). It is in a Trident's Trumpet shell that is at least a foot long. It is one of the largest hermit crabs in the world!
White-Spotted Hermit Crab
I also got this photo of a Rusty Guard Crab (new) hidden down in a cauliflower coral.
Rusty Guard Crab
There always seems to be at least one Frogfish hanging around on the railings of the LCUs. This big old red one was posing for me.
Commerson's Frogfish
There were several Palenose Parrotfish (new) tucked away in little spots sleeping peacefully. The flash probably bothers them, but they did not stir.
female, Palenose Parrotfish
supermale, Palenose Parrotfish
Chris ran out of air way before I did and everyone else was bailing, so ended early and did my safety stop in the dark watching the phosphorescence in the water and then swam up to the ladder and climbed out. I still had 1300 psi of air.
The second dive was my first at this particular site. It is the most shallow site that Ocean Concepts uses. Chris pretty much hung out with me and pointed things out from time to time, but for the most part this was a group dive and as long as we could see other's lights, no one seemed to care.
Right after beginning the dive, I came across this odd looking critter. It is a hermit crab with several sea anemones on its shell. They are symbionts - the crabs always have the anemones and the anemones only live on the hermit crab's shell.
Hermit Crab Anemone & Jeweled Anemone Crab
This little guy was guarding his hole. Not very big, but a little bit of a nasty disposition. This is only the second one I have seen, both at night.
Yellowhead Moray Eel
This little Day Octopus was out scuttling along on the top of the reef. When I stopped, he curled up in a ball.
Day Octopus
Hawaiian Swimming Crab
These are always hiding in coral heads during the day, and getting a photos is very difficult. It is nice to see one out in the open. One of the big advantages of night diving.
Speckled Scorpionfish
The largest nudibranch - about 10 inches long! Usually you can make them dance in the water column, hence the name, by rubbing their stomach, but this one was stubborn. It just would not dance. These are fairly common at night, but I have never seen one during the day.
Spanish Dancer Nudibranch
This big Yellowmargin Moray Eel was tucked back under this overhang with just his head showing.
Yellowmargin Moray Eel
And this Red Reef Lobster (new) was under there with the moray!
Red Reef Lobster
Another new discovery! An Eared Sea Hare (new).
Eared Sea Hare
Chris ran out of air early again, but so did someone else and we rearranged buddy teams. I finally started to get cold and ended my dive with about 700 psi left.
These were both fun dive with quite a few new critters.
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