scuba – A Darker View

Gold Lace Nudibranch

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

Miniature Garden

Minature Garden — A small group of Hydroids (probably Sertularella diaphana) clustered in a cavity in the coral

Nudi Gallery

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

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

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

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

Varicose Nudibranch — A varicose phyllidia nudibranch (Phyllidia varicose) at Kua Bay

White-Margin Nudibranch — A white-margin nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata) at Kua Bay

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

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

White-Margin Nudibranch and Eggs — Several white-margin nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata) apparently mating and laying eggs

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

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

The eggs of a Spanish Dancer nudibranch (Hexabranchus sanguineus) at Three Tables, Oahu

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

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

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

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

Gold Lace Nudibranch — Gold Lace Nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in a small cave at 25′ depth, Puakō

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

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

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

FFellows Nudibranch Egg Mass — 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

Gold Lace Nudibranch — A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in the cave at Pentagon

Reef Fish Gallery

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaiian Red Lionfish — Hawaiian red lionfish (Pterois sphex) on a cave ceiling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leaf Scorpionfish — Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) crouched in finger coral

Trumpetfish Face — A trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) considers the camera

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

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

Eye of the Trumpet — A trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) considers the camera

Redbarred Hawkfish — Redbarred hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus) perched in a reef crevice

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

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

Devil Scorpionfish — A devil scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) at The Hive

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

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

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

Teardrop Butterflyfish — Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus) peeks out from under cover

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

Brick Soldierfish — Brick Soldierfish (Myripristis amaena) in a cave at Puakō

Moray Gallery

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

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

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

Whitemouth — A Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) around 25ft depth

Roommates — A Dwarf Moray (Gymnothorax Melatremus) and Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) sharing a cavity in the reef

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

Dragon Moray — A Dragon Moray (Enchelycore pardalis) in a coral head at 40ft depth, Suck ‘Em Up Cavern, Kona

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

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

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

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

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

Yellowmargin moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)

Dwarf Moray — A dwarf moray (Gymnothorax melatremus) in the cave wall at The Hive at 30′ depth

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

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

Crab Gallery

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

Yellow-spotted Guard Crab — A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in cauliflower coral

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pale Anemone Crab — Pale anemone crab (Dardanus deformis) using a pimpled basket snail shell at 30ft depth, Puakō

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shrimp Gallery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diving Gallery

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

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

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

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

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

Redbarred Hawkfish — Redbarred hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus) perched in a reef crevice

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

Red Reef Lobster — A red reef lobster (Enoplometopus occidentalis) in a cave at The Hive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exploring the Reef — Kirk and Deb explore the reef at Mahukona

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

Pete on the Reef — Pete looking for subjects to photograph on a Kona reef

Dascylus Reef — A Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) hovers over the reef

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

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

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

Rough-Spined Urchin

Rough-Spined Urchin — A rough-spined urchin (Chondrocidaris gigantea) beside the wreck of the naked Lady at 110′

Postcard from the Reef – Cleaning Station

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