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

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

Reef Fish Gallery

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

Moray Gallery

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

Crab Gallery

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

Shrimp Gallery

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

Diving Gallery

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