Tag: fish

Postcard from the Reef – Devil Scorpionfish

I didn’t spot it this time either. It was Mark who was pointing at the coral. I looked, looked again… Oh! There is something there. The camouflage these fish utilize is impressive, even from quite close they blend amazingly well with the coral and algae. I wonder how many times I have drifted past one of these fish without seeing it.

As Olivier and I got closer to take a few photos, the fish began to walk away. Yes, I said walk. The fish would walk several feet on its pectoral fins then try to sit still and hide again. A truly weird thing, watching a fish walk across the reef.

Devil Scorpionfish
Devil Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) on the reef at O'oma

Postcard from the Reef – Bigeye

Common Bigeye (Heteropriacanthus cruentatus)
Common Bigeye (Heteropriacanthus cruentatus) in a cave on the Kohala Coast
Shine a dive light into any small cave along a Hawaiian coast and you will see a swirl of red fish… Soldierfish, squirrelfish and bigeyes. They are all some shade of red and all possess large eyes for foraging in the night. During the day these fish shelter in caves, crevices and overhangs. There are a couple dozen species, identifying each is a bit of a challenge…