Diving Feb 7-26, 2019

The road past Hanalei was still closed from the past April's floods, so all diving was again on the south shore. However, visibility was terrific at Koloa Landing and offshore, and I finally exercised my macro lens a bit.
First day of diving this trip back to Kauai and the water at Koloa Landing was incredibly clear, maybe 50-60ft viz. Lots of Whitemouth Morays to be seen. First day of diving this trip, the water at Koloa Landing was incredibly clear. Lots of Whitemouth Morays to be seen.
1 First day of diving this trip, the water at Koloa Landing was incredibly clear. Lots of Whitemouth Morays to be seen.
Whitemouth morays galore! Whitemouth morays galore!
2 Whitemouth morays galore!
Excited to find what I am pretty sure is a Red-Spotted Nudibranch which are fairly uncommon at recreational scuba depths of 100ft or less I am pretty sure this is a Red-Spotted Nudibranch which is fairly uncommon at recreational scuba depths of 100ft or less
3 I am pretty sure this is a Red-Spotted Nudibranch which is fairly uncommon at recreational scuba depths of 100ft or less
Honu nap time Honu nap time
4 Honu nap time
Late afternoon and overcast, so there was some cephalopod action to be seen. This guy gave us a show. It's pretty unusual to see an octopus out in the daytime, but this guy gave us a show
5 It's pretty unusual to see an octopus out in the daytime, but this guy gave us a show
I am constantly amazed at how rapidly and thoroughly an octopus can change their coloration to match their surroundings. He barely inked us as he lifted off the coral head and instantly turned blue-gray to match the water. He swam fairly slowly (for an octopus), giving me plenty of chances to get a few good photos. He barely inked us as he swam fairly slowly (for an octopus) away, giving me plenty of chances to get a few good photos.
6 He barely inked us as he swam fairly slowly (for an octopus) away, giving me plenty of chances to get a few good photos.
Redspotted Sandperch Redspotted Sandperch
7 Redspotted Sandperch
Upside down Banded Coral Shrimpies Upside down Banded Coral Shrimpies
8 Upside down Banded Coral Shrimpies
This Marbled Shrimp and its companion were scampering across the shell of a napping turle. Yes, that is the back of a turtle it is walking on. This Marbled Shrimp and its companion were scampering across the shell of a napping turle. Yes, that is the back of a turtle it is walking on.
9 This Marbled Shrimp and its companion were scampering across the shell of a napping turle. Yes, that is the back of a turtle it is walking on.
I had barely gotten my head underwater on my second afternoon back at Koloa Landing when this yuuge Fried Egg Nudibranch was staring me in the face. It was nearly 3 inches across and the only ones I've seen before are typically 1/2
10 I had barely gotten my head underwater on yesterday's dive back at Koloa Landing when this yuuge Fried Egg Nudibranch was staring me in the face. It was nearly 3 inches across and the only ones I've seen before are typically 1/2" or so.
My wife came up with the title for this one: Joe sez
11 Mr. Honu sez "Wazzup!"
Second day back at Koloa Landing and the octopus were still out and about during the daytime. I think it was the relatively cloudy and gloomy conditions which may have confused them into thinking it was twilight? I think it was the cloudy and gloomy conditions yesterday afternoon that resulted in lots of octopus sightings which are normally only out and about at night
12 I think it was the cloudy and gloomy conditions yesterday afternoon that resulted in lots of octopus sightings which are normally only out and about at night
This Leaf Scorpionfish was a nice find towards the end of the dive This Leaf Scorpionfish was a nice find towards the end of the dive
13 This Leaf Scorpionfish was a nice find towards the end of the dive
Huge bait ball of chubs or jacks, it was hard to tell which as they swarmed around me Huge bait ball of chubs or jacks, it was hard to tell which as they swarmed around me
14 Huge bait ball of chubs or jacks, it was hard to tell which as they swarmed around me
KauaiDiving2019-096 Second dive of the afternoon and Joe the Turtle was still napping in the exact same spot as an hour earlier
15 Second dive of the afternoon and Joe the Turtle was still napping in the exact same spot as an hour earlier
There be Dragon Morays! There be Dragon Morays!
16 There be Dragon Morays!
Small Clearfin Lizardfish kicking up a sand storm Small Clearfin Lizardfish kicking up a sand storm
17 Small Clearfin Lizardfish kicking up a sand storm
Yet another Marbled Shrimp scampering about during late afternoon Yet another Marbled Shrimp scampering about during late afternoon
18 Yet another Marbled Shrimp scampering about during late afternoon
KauaiDiving2019-127 Fuschia Flatworm scurrying about
19 Fuschia Flatworm scurrying about
Visibility was pretty poor this day, so we went to a dive site I had never been to before just outside the Kukuiula boat harbor called Jenny's Valley. Unfortunately, I had my wideangle wet lens on, so this was the best pic I could get of this Divided or Tiger Flatworm. Tiger or Divided Flatwworm
20 Tiger or Divided Flatwworm