Diving May 15-24, 2018

North Shore diving was out of the question this trip because the road past Hanalei was still shutdown from the massive flood damage and landslides a month earlier.
Large schools of Bluestripe Snapper, or ta'ape in Hawaiian, at the Turtle Bluffs dive site Tons of Bluestripe Snapper, or ta'ape in Hawaiian, at the Turtle Bluffs dive site
1 Tons of Bluestripe Snapper, or ta'ape in Hawaiian, at the Turtle Bluffs dive site
TurtleBluffs-005 And more schools of bluestripe snapper...
2 And more schools of bluestripe snapper...
White Tip Reef Shark hanging out under one of the many ledges at Turtle Bluffs White Tip Reef Shark hanging out under one of the many ledges at Turtle Bluffs
3 White Tip Reef Shark hanging out under one of the many ledges at Turtle Bluffs
ThreeFingers-004 Raccoon Butterflyfish
4 Raccoon Butterflyfish
ThreeFingers-005 A Threadfin and Raccoon Butterflyfish at Three Fingers
5 A Threadfin and Raccoon Butterflyfish at Three Fingers
A menagerie of Milletseed, Bluestriped, Threadfin, and Raccoon Butterflyfish feeding on egg mats, most likely those of Sergeant Majors A menagerie of Milletseed, Bluestriped, Threadfin, and Raccoon Butterflyfish feeding on egg mats, most likely those of Sergeant Majors
6 A menagerie of Milletseed, Bluestriped, Threadfin, and Raccoon Butterflyfish feeding on egg mats, most likely those of Sergeant Majors
ThreeFingers-024 Things were looking up for this Scorpionfish at the Three Fingers dive site
7 Things were looking up for this Scorpionfish at the Three Fingers dive site
It looks brown when alive, but this is a cluster of black coral. Typically found only at extreme depths, Brennecke's Ledge dive site is one of the few places where it abounds at recreational depths of less than 100 feet. Black Coral is fragile and very slow growing. This cluster is probably 150 years old or more. It looks brown when alive, but this is a cluster of black coral. Typically found only at extreme depths, Brennecke's Ledge dive site is one of the few places...
8 It looks brown when alive, but this is a cluster of black coral. Typically found only at extreme depths, Brennecke's Ledge dive site is one of the few places…
It's a two-for-one sale - a Whitemouth and an Undulated Moray at Sheraton Caverns It's a two-for-one sale - a Whitemouth and an Undulated Moray at Sheraton Caverns
9 It's a two-for-one sale - a Whitemouth and an Undulated Moray at Sheraton Caverns
Red Cushion Star at Sheraton Caverns Red Cushion Star at Sheraton Caverns
10 Red Cushion Star at Sheraton Caverns
Dragon Morays are rare along the inhabited Hawaiian islands, but the chances of encountering one are higher in Kauai than the other islands Dragon Morays are rare along the inhabited Hawaiian islands, but the chances of encountering one are higher in Kauai than the other islands
11 Dragon Morays are rare along the inhabited Hawaiian islands, but the chances of encountering one are higher in Kauai than the other islands
I didn't even notice until I reviewed the photos of this Whitemouth Moray on my computer that a Blue Dragon Nudibranch had photobombed the shot! It's sitting right there on the rock in front of the eel's neck. I didn't even notice until I reviewed the photos of this Whitemouth Moray on my computer that a Blue Dragon Nudibranch had photobombed the shot! It's sitting...
12 I didn't even notice until I reviewed the photos of this Whitemouth Moray on my computer that a Blue Dragon Nudibranch had photobombed the shot! It's sitting…
Snowflake Moray at the Koloa Landing dive site Snowflake Moray at Koloa Landing dive site
13 Snowflake Moray at Koloa Landing dive site
KoloaLanding-064 We found this small Leaf Scorpionfish at the very end of the dive
14 We found this small Leaf Scorpionfish at the very end of the dive
More Whitemouth Morays at Koloa Landing Three days later and back again at Koloa Landing to visit with more Whitemouth Morays
15 Three days later and back again at Koloa Landing to visit with more Whitemouth Morays
Different day, same Dragon Moray from the previous dives. His markings were identical and the stubby left horn was shorter than his right. Sure enough, we ran into the same Dragon Moray from the previous dives. His markings were identical and the stubby left horn was shorter than his right.
16 Sure enough, we ran into the same Dragon Moray from the previous dives. His markings were identical and the stubby left horn was shorter than his right.
KoloaLanding-086 Honu resting on the mucky bottom of Koloa Landing
17 Honu resting on the mucky bottom of Koloa Landing
KoloaLanding-094 Banded Coral Shrimp strutting her stuff
18 Banded Coral Shrimp strutting her stuff
Large Trumpetfish at the start of the dive at Harbor Ledges Large Trumpetfish at the start of the dive at Harbor Ledges
19 Large Trumpetfish at the start of the dive at Harbor Ledges
Fried Egg Nudibranch Fried Egg Nudibranch
20 Fried Egg Nudibranch