Tag: reef

The Wai‘ōpae Tide Pools

One of the most beautiful places on the island is gone.

Hawaiian Damselfish (Dascyllus albisella)
A Hawaiian Damselfish (Dascyllus albisella) in a pool at Wai‘ōpae
The Wai‘ōpae Tide Pools were a place where anyone could see the wonders of a coral reef. The calm and protected pools full of fish and lush coral. You could see damselfish hovering over a coral head or watch small barracuda hunt just under the surface.

And they were popular, on any given day a couple dozen locals and tourists could be seen exploring the pools. You could swim across one or two, then have to climb across a few feet of old pahoehoe lava to drop into the next. The more adventurous were rewarded with even richer coral in the outermost pools where the ocean waves created more challenging swimming conditions.

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Nudi Gallery

An egg mass from a Fellows Nudibranch (Hiatodoris fellowsi) on a cave roof at about 40ft, Malae Point, Kohala, an adult was about 6″ away
A white-margin nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata) at Kua Bay
A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in the cave at Pentagon
A blue dragon nudibranch (Pteraeolidia ianthina) on a boulder, 30′ depth, at The Hive
A sphinx nudibranch (Phyllidiopsis sphingis) in a cave along the Puakō wall
A danielle’s nudibranch (Thorunna daniellae) in a cave at 25ft depth, Holoholokai
A transparent nudibranch (Plocamopherus maculatus) in a cave off of Anaemoʻomalu Bay
Snow goddess nudibranch (Ardeadoris poliahu) in a cave at 25ft depth
A Fellows Nudibranch (Hiatodoris fellowsi) on a cave roof at about 40ft, Malae Point, Kohala, and egg mass was about 6″ away
A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) at 25′ depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave, Kona
White-margin Nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata) grazing on colorful sponges, 25ft depth at O’oma
The eggs of a Spanish Dancer nudibranch (Hexabranchus sanguineus) at Three Tables, Oahu
Several white-margin nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata) apparently mating and laying eggs
A varicose phyllidia nudibranch (Phyllidia varicose) at Kua Bay
A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in a cave at 50ft depth
A pair of White-margin Nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata), 25ft depth at O’oma
Fried-Egg nudibranch (Phyllidia varicosa) on the reef at Puako
Sphinx Nudibranch (Phyllidiopsis sphingis) at 25′ depth, Puakō
Pustulose Nudibranch (Phyllidiella pustulosa) on a wall at 25′ depth, Puakō
Gold Lace Nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in a small cave at 25′ depth, Puakō
A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) on a wall at 20′ depth, Eel cove, Kona
A Fellows Nudibranch (Hiatodoris fellowsi) in a cave at 35ft depth

Reef Fish Gallery

A female whitley’s boxfish (Ostracion whitleyi) in the coral at 40′ depth, Kaloko
A group whitebar surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucopareius) of clean algae and parasites off a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Flowery Flounder (Bothus mancus) on the reef at O’oma
An Arceye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) hides from the photographer deep in a coral head
A young trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) hovers in the arms of a large antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi)
Orangespine unicornfish (Naso lituratus) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave
A cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) in an overhang filled with red sponges
A bright red painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) at 25′ depth, Puakō
A dragon wrasse, actually a juvenile rockmover wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus) at 40′ depth, Kaloko
Redbarred hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus) perched in a reef crevice
Hawaiian red lionfish (Pterois sphex) on a cave ceiling
Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus) peeks out from under cover
A commerson’s frogfish (Antennarius commerson), photo by Pete Tucker, used with permission
Twospot Lizardfish (Synodus binotatus) at 30ft depth, Puakō
Ornate butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) photographed during a night dive at Puakō
A longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) in nighttime coloration during a night dive at Puakō
A racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) in a small cave at Golden Arches
Bluestripe squirrelfish (Sargocentron tiere) in a small cave at Pentagon
Brick Soldierfish (Myripristis amaena) in a cave at Puakō
Racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) at 25ft depth, Hoover’s Tower
Tinker’s butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri), photo by Pete Tucker
Commerson’s Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) at 25′ depth
A pair of Goldring Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus strigosus) at 35ft depth at Eel Cove
A trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) considers the camera
A trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) considers the camera
A devil scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) at The Hive
A Cheekspot Scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes littoralis) near the shore in 4′ of water, Mahukona
Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) crouched in finger coral

Moray Gallery

Dwarf moray (Gymnothorax melatremus) 30ft depth at Hoover’s Tower
A dwarf moray (Gymnothorax melatremus) in the cave wall at The Hive at 30′ depth
A Stout Moray (Gymnothorax eurostus) in the coral at Dotti’s Reef, 25′ depth.
A large Undulated Moray (gymnothorax undulatus) shows a toothy threat to the camera, 70ft depth at Tanks
A Dragon Moray (Enchelycore pardalis) in a coral head at 40ft depth, Suck ‘Em Up Cavern, Kona
Yellowmargin moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
Coming face to face with a large Yellowmargin Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus) in a cave
A Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) around 25ft depth
A Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa) in the reef at Three Tables, Oahu
A Dwarf Moray (Gymnothorax Melatremus) and Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) sharing a cavity in the reef
A large Undulated Moray (gymnothorax undulatus) shows a toothy threat to the camera, 70ft depth at Tanks
A young Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) in the coral at O’oma
A Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) in the reef at Mahukona
Tiger snake moray (Scuticaria tigrina) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave
A banded moray (Echidna polyzona) in the coral at 30′ depth, Pentagon
A zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) in the coral at Hoover’s Towers

Crab Gallery

A flat rock crab (Percnon planissimum) among boulders in a cave at 40′ depth
Yellow hairy hermit crab (Aniculus maximus) at Twin Sisters Cave, photo by Pete Tucker
A female sea urchin crab (Echinoecus pentagonus) in the anal cavity of a large banded urchin (Echinothrix calamaris)
A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in cauliflower coral
Laurent’s Hermit Crab, (Calcinus laurentae) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave
Bloody hermit crab (Dardanus sanguinocarpus) in a cave at 20ft depth
A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in cauliflower coral
Convex crab (Carpilius convexus) hiding in coral at 60ft depth
Hawaiian swimming crab (Charybdis hawaiensis) found sheltering in the arms of a cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina) during the day
A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) shelters in the arms of an antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi)
Red swimming crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a reef ledge at Pentagon
Haig’s hermit crab (calcinus haigae) at 30ft depth, Hoover’s Tower
A flat rock crab (Percnon planissimum) among boulders in Suck-Em-Up Cave at 25′ depth
Yellow-spotted Guard Crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) at O’oma
Bloody hermit crab (Dardanus sanguinocarpus) on a wall at 20ft depth
Yellow-spotted Guard Crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in a large Elkhorn Coral at O’oma
A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) shelters in the arms of an antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi)
A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) shelters in the arms of an cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina)
A pebble crab (Etisus splendidus), photo by Pete Tucker
Laurent’s Hermit Crab, (Calcinus laurentae) at 30ft depth, Kua Bay
Red Swimming Crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a crevice at 40′ depth, Kaloko
Pale anemone crab (Dardanus deformis) using a pimpled basket snail shell at 30ft depth, Puakō

Shrimp Gallery

A marbled shrimp (Saron marmoratus) between boulders in a cave floor, 40ft depth
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) on the reef at Puako
Flamebacked Coral Shrimp (Stenopus pyrsonotus) under a boulder at ʻAuʻau Crater
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) at 40ft depth, Hoover’s Towers
A pair of Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) at 40′ depth, O’oma
Lottin’s Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus lottini) deep in a califlower coral head (Pocillopora meandrina)
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) in a cave at 50ft depth, Kona

Diving Gallery

Snow goddess nudibranch (Ardeadoris poliahu) in a cave at 25ft depth
Racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) at 25ft depth, Hoover’s Tower
Diver Mark Devenot cruising the reef at Hoover’s Towers north of Honokohau
The author, Andrew Cooper, doing the usual… Photographing the reef life. Photo by Pete Tucker
Commerson’s Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) at 25′ depth
A Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) hovers over the reef
A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) takes advantage of a cleaning station on the Puakō reef
A lantern toby (Canthigaster epilampra) hiding in a reef crevice
A group whitebar surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucopareius) of clean algae and parasites off a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in a cave at 25ft depth at The Pentagon
A Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) in the reef at Mahukona
Flowery Flounder (Bothus mancus) on the reef at O’oma
A pair of White-margin Nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata), 25ft depth at O’oma
Bluestripe squirrelfish (Sargocentron tiere) in a small cave at Pentagon
A Fellows Nudibranch (Hiatodoris fellowsi) in a cave at 35ft depth
Pete looking for subjects to photograph on a Kona reef
Fourspot Butterflyfish (Chaetodon quadrimaculatus) under a coral head at O’oma
A longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) in nighttime coloration during a night dive at Puakō
Kirk and Deb explore the reef at Mahukona
A Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa) in the reef at Three Tables, Oahu
Redbarred hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus) perched in a reef crevice
Pete attempting to photograph garden eels at the base of the reef at Eel Cove
A red reef lobster (Enoplometopus occidentalis) in a cave at The Hive
Red swimming crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a reef ledge at Pentagon