reef – A Darker View

The Wai‘ōpae Tide Pools

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

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

Several white-margin nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata) apparently mating and laying eggs

A transparent nudibranch (Plocamopherus maculatus) in a cave off of Anaemoʻomalu Bay

A varicose phyllidia nudibranch (Phyllidia varicose) at Kua Bay

A sphinx nudibranch (Phyllidiopsis sphingis) in a cave along the Puakō wall

A pair of White-margin Nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata), 25ft depth at O’oma

A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) at 25′ depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave, Kona

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

Pustulose Nudibranch (Phyllidiella pustulosa) on a wall at 25′ depth, Puakō

Snow goddess nudibranch (Ardeadoris poliahu) in a cave at 25ft depth

White-margin Nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata) grazing on colorful sponges, 25ft depth at O’oma

A Fellows Nudibranch (Hiatodoris fellowsi) in a cave at 35ft depth

A blue dragon nudibranch (Pteraeolidia ianthina) on a boulder, 30′ depth, at The Hive

A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) on a wall at 20′ depth, Eel cove, Kona

Fried-Egg nudibranch (Phyllidia varicosa) on the reef at Puako

A danielle’s nudibranch (Thorunna daniellae) in a cave at 25ft depth, Holoholokai

A Fellows Nudibranch (Hiatodoris fellowsi) on a cave roof at about 40ft, Malae Point, Kohala, and egg mass was about 6″ away

Sphinx Nudibranch (Phyllidiopsis sphingis) at 25′ depth, Puakō

A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in a cave at 50ft depth

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 white-margin nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata) at Kua Bay

A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in the cave at Pentagon

Reef Fish Gallery

Tinker’s butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri), photo by Pete Tucker

Flowery Flounder (Bothus mancus) on the reef at O’oma

A bright red painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) at 25′ depth, Puakō

A cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) in an overhang filled with red sponges

A trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) considers the camera

A trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) considers the camera

A longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) in nighttime coloration during a night dive at Puakō

Commerson’s Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) at 25′ depth

A Cheekspot Scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes littoralis) near the shore in 4′ of water, Mahukona

A dragon wrasse, actually a juvenile rockmover wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus) at 40′ depth, Kaloko

A pair of Goldring Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus strigosus) at 35ft depth at Eel Cove

A devil scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) at The Hive

Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) crouched in finger coral

A commerson’s frogfish (Antennarius commerson), photo by Pete Tucker, used with permission

An Arceye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) hides from the photographer deep in a coral head

A racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) in a small cave at Golden Arches

Brick Soldierfish (Myripristis amaena) in a cave at Puakō

Racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) at 25ft depth, Hoover’s Tower

A young trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) hovers in the arms of a large antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi)

A group whitebar surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucopareius) of clean algae and parasites off a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)

A female whitley’s boxfish (Ostracion whitleyi) in the coral at 40′ depth, Kaloko

Twospot Lizardfish (Synodus binotatus) at 30ft depth, Puakō

Orangespine unicornfish (Naso lituratus) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave

Bluestripe squirrelfish (Sargocentron tiere) in a small cave at Pentagon

Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus) peeks out from under cover

Redbarred hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus) perched in a reef crevice

Ornate butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) photographed during a night dive at Puakō

Hawaiian red lionfish (Pterois sphex) on a cave ceiling

Moray Gallery

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 Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa) in the reef at Three Tables, Oahu

Coming face to face with a large Yellowmargin Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus) in a cave

A Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) around 25ft depth

A zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) in the coral at Hoover’s Towers

A banded moray (Echidna polyzona) in the coral at 30′ depth, Pentagon

Yellowmargin moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)

A young Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) in the coral at O’oma

Dwarf moray (Gymnothorax melatremus) 30ft depth at Hoover’s Tower

A large Undulated Moray (gymnothorax undulatus) shows a toothy threat to the camera, 70ft depth at Tanks

A Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) in the reef at Mahukona

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

Tiger snake moray (Scuticaria tigrina) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave

A Stout Moray (Gymnothorax eurostus) in the coral at Dotti’s Reef, 25′ depth.

Crab Gallery

Bloody hermit crab (Dardanus sanguinocarpus) in a cave at 20ft depth

Hawaiian swimming crab (Charybdis hawaiensis) found sheltering in the arms of a cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina) during the day

Convex crab (Carpilius convexus) hiding in coral at 60ft depth

A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in cauliflower coral

Yellow-spotted Guard Crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) at O’oma

A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) shelters in the arms of an antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi)

Bloody hermit crab (Dardanus sanguinocarpus) on a wall at 20ft depth

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

Yellow hairy hermit crab (Aniculus maximus) at Twin Sisters Cave, photo by Pete Tucker

Haig’s hermit crab (calcinus haigae) at 30ft depth, Hoover’s Tower

Laurent’s Hermit Crab, (Calcinus laurentae) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave

A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) shelters in the arms of an cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina)

Yellow-spotted Guard Crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in a large Elkhorn Coral at O’oma

Red swimming crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a reef ledge at Pentagon

A flat rock crab (Percnon planissimum) among boulders in Suck-Em-Up Cave at 25′ depth

Red Swimming Crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a crevice at 40′ depth, Kaloko

A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) shelters in the arms of an antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi)

Laurent’s Hermit Crab, (Calcinus laurentae) at 30ft depth, Kua Bay

A female sea urchin crab (Echinoecus pentagonus) in the anal cavity of a large banded urchin (Echinothrix calamaris)

A pebble crab (Etisus splendidus), photo by Pete Tucker

A flat rock crab (Percnon planissimum) among boulders in a cave at 40′ depth

Shrimp Gallery

A pair of Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) at 40′ depth, O’oma

Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) in a cave at 50ft depth, Kona

Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) on the reef at Puako

A marbled shrimp (Saron marmoratus) between boulders in a cave floor, 40ft depth

Flamebacked Coral Shrimp (Stenopus pyrsonotus) under a boulder at ʻAuʻau Crater

Lottin’s Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus lottini) deep in a califlower coral head (Pocillopora meandrina)

Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) at 40ft depth, Hoover’s Towers

Diving Gallery

Diver Mark Devenot cruising the reef at Hoover’s Towers north of Honokohau

A Fellows Nudibranch (Hiatodoris fellowsi) in a cave at 35ft depth

Racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) at 25ft depth, Hoover’s Tower

Flowery Flounder (Bothus mancus) on the reef at O’oma

A lantern toby (Canthigaster epilampra) hiding in a reef crevice

Red swimming crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a reef ledge at Pentagon

Gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in a cave at 25ft depth at The Pentagon

Snow goddess nudibranch (Ardeadoris poliahu) in a cave at 25ft depth

Pete looking for subjects to photograph on a Kona reef

A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) takes advantage of a cleaning station on the Puakō reef

Redbarred hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus) perched in a reef crevice

Commerson’s Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) at 25′ depth

Pete attempting to photograph garden eels at the base of the reef at Eel Cove

The author, Andrew Cooper, doing the usual… Photographing the reef life. Photo by Pete Tucker

A red reef lobster (Enoplometopus occidentalis) in a cave at The Hive

A longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) in nighttime coloration during a night dive at Puakō

Kirk and Deb explore the reef at Mahukona

Fourspot Butterflyfish (Chaetodon quadrimaculatus) under a coral head at O’oma

A Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) hovers over the reef