When you want to see the stars, find someplace dark
Photos from the wet
A pretty urchin found in a cave. Apparently this is the rule for these urchins, found under rock and rubble when small, larger individuals found in caves or deep crevices with an active aversion to light. Most urchins move pretty slowly, the motion barely perceptible. This echinoderm was moving, tube feet furiously propelling it along the cave roof as it tried to avoid our lights.
Regular readers should be getting tired of seeing photos of these guys. More than a few of them have been posted here. But here I go again… I just could not help myself… He is so cute!!
That rock just moved, I am sure of it! Did it? Olivier was gesturing emphatically at a pile of coral rubble. I looked… I looked again, there must be something there. There was…
the Kona Coast is riddled with caves, old lava tubes, wave carved openings in ancient sea cliffs, or simple small openings in the coral. The caves are high on many diver’s priority lists when exploring the reef. In these caves you find many species that hide during the light of day, lobsters and night active fish. The larger caves offer a sheltered environment, safe from the pounding winter surf. The walls are covered with colorful sponges and the nudibranchs that feed on them.
If there is a cave, you will probably note my fins disappearing into it.
These sea cucumbers are well known to divers and can be found in the local guide books. There is no scientific name, the species has never been properly described. An odd state of affairs for a relatively common critter. As for the name? I could come up with a few other common names that seem to describe the appearance. However, naming a species after a pile of doo-doo is not generally acceptable.
Usually these little guys stay deep in the branches of the Cauliflower or Antler Coral, but on a rare occasion you find one in enough of an opening to actually photograph…
You do not see these fish everywhere, just a few specific spots. But when you do see them, they are hovering in large schools. Exposed sites with large drop-offs are the usual places to find Pyramid Butterflyfish…
Supposedly common, I have been poking about in caves for over four years without seeing these attractive lobsters. In this cave were several of them. I caught this guy in a corner, he wanted to get past me, but could not get past the light. Good thing for him it isn’t lobster season.
Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands the Gold Lace Nudibranch is common, very common. I find these critters nearly every time I poke my head into a cave along the Kohala coast. I was thrilled when I found my first one, but now? Still a pretty animal and worth an exposure or two.
