Gold Lace Nudibranch A gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) on a wall at 20′ depth, Eel cove, Kona
Miniature Garden A small group of Hydroids (probably Sertularella diaphana) clustered in a cavity in the coral
Reef Fish Gallery A trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) considers the camera Tinker’s butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri), photo by Pete Tucker Twospot Lizardfish (Synodus binotatus) at 30ft depth, Puakō Hawaiian red lionfish (Pterois sphex) on a cave ceiling Brick Soldierfish (Myripristis amaena) in a cave at Puakō A longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) in nighttime coloration during a night dive at Puakō A group whitebar surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucopareius) of clean algae and parasites off a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) A bright red painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) at 25′ depth, Puakō Ornate butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) photographed during a night dive at Puakō Racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) at 25ft depth, Hoover’s Tower Bluestripe squirrelfish (Sargocentron tiere) in a small cave at Pentagon Redbarred hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus) perched in a reef crevice Flowery Flounder (Bothus mancus) on the reef at O’oma A Cheekspot Scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes littoralis) near the shore in 4′ of water, Mahukona A cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) in an overhang filled with red sponges Orangespine unicornfish (Naso lituratus) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave A young trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) hovers in the arms of a large antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) An Arceye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) hides from the photographer deep in a coral head A female whitley’s boxfish (Ostracion whitleyi) in the coral at 40′ depth, Kaloko Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) crouched in finger coral A pair of Goldring Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus strigosus) at 35ft depth at Eel Cove A racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) in a small cave at Golden Arches Commerson’s Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) at 25′ depth A devil scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) at The Hive Teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus) peeks out from under cover A dragon wrasse, actually a juvenile rockmover wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus) at 40′ depth, Kaloko A trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) considers the camera A commerson’s frogfish (Antennarius commerson), photo by Pete Tucker, used with permission
Moray Gallery A Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) around 25ft depth A dwarf moray (Gymnothorax melatremus) in the cave wall at The Hive at 30′ depth Coming face to face with a large Yellowmargin Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus) in a cave 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 Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) in the reef at Mahukona Yellowmargin moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus) A Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa) in the reef at Three Tables, Oahu A zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) in the coral at Hoover’s Towers A banded moray (Echidna polyzona) in the coral at 30′ depth, Pentagon Tiger snake moray (Scuticaria tigrina) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave Dwarf moray (Gymnothorax melatremus) 30ft depth at Hoover’s Tower A Dwarf Moray (Gymnothorax Melatremus) and Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) sharing a cavity in the reef 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 Dragon Moray (Enchelycore pardalis) in a coral head at 40ft depth, Suck ‘Em Up Cavern, Kona
Crab Gallery A flat rock crab (Percnon planissimum) among boulders in Suck-Em-Up Cave at 25′ depth A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) shelters in the arms of an antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) Yellow-spotted Guard Crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in a large Elkhorn Coral at O’oma Yellow-spotted Guard Crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) at O’oma A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in cauliflower coral A flat rock crab (Percnon planissimum) among boulders in a cave at 40′ depth A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) in cauliflower coral Convex crab (Carpilius convexus) hiding in coral at 60ft depth Laurent’s Hermit Crab, (Calcinus laurentae) at 25ft depth, Suck-Em-Up Cave Haig’s hermit crab (calcinus haigae) at 30ft depth, Hoover’s Tower 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 cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina) Red swimming crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a reef ledge at Pentagon Laurent’s Hermit Crab, (Calcinus laurentae) at 30ft depth, Kua Bay Bloody hermit crab (Dardanus sanguinocarpus) on a wall at 20ft depth Red Swimming Crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a crevice at 40′ depth, Kaloko Bloody hermit crab (Dardanus sanguinocarpus) in a cave at 20ft depth A female sea urchin crab (Echinoecus pentagonus) in the anal cavity of a large banded urchin (Echinothrix calamaris) Pale anemone crab (Dardanus deformis) using a pimpled basket snail shell at 30ft depth, Puakō Yellow hairy hermit crab (Aniculus maximus) at Twin Sisters Cave, photo by Pete Tucker A yellow-spotted guard crab (Trapezia flavopunctata) shelters in the arms of an antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) A pebble crab (Etisus splendidus), photo by Pete Tucker
Shrimp Gallery Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) at 40ft depth, Hoover’s Towers A marbled shrimp (Saron marmoratus) between boulders in a cave floor, 40ft depth Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) in a cave at 50ft depth, Kona Lottin’s Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus lottini) deep in a califlower coral head (Pocillopora meandrina) Flamebacked Coral Shrimp (Stenopus pyrsonotus) under a boulder at ʻAuʻau Crater Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) on the reef at Puako A pair of Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) at 40′ depth, O’oma
Diving Gallery Racoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) at 25ft depth, Hoover’s Tower Pete looking for subjects to photograph on a Kona reef Bluestripe squirrelfish (Sargocentron tiere) in a small cave at Pentagon Snow goddess nudibranch (Ardeadoris poliahu) in a cave at 25ft depth A Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) hovers over the reef Commerson’s Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) at 25′ depth Kirk and Deb explore the reef at Mahukona Red swimming crab (Gonioinfradens paucidentata) in a reef ledge at Pentagon A Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa) in the reef at Three Tables, Oahu Redbarred hawkfish (Cirrhitops fasciatus) perched in a reef crevice Diver Mark Devenot cruising the reef at Hoover’s Towers north of Honokohau A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) takes advantage of a cleaning station on the Puakō reef A group whitebar surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucopareius) of clean algae and parasites off a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) A Whitemouth Moray (Gymnothorax meleagris) in the reef at Mahukona Fourspot Butterflyfish (Chaetodon quadrimaculatus) under a coral head at O’oma A red reef lobster (Enoplometopus occidentalis) in a cave at The Hive Pete attempting to photograph garden eels at the base of the reef at Eel Cove Gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) in a cave at 25ft depth at The Pentagon Flowery Flounder (Bothus mancus) on the reef at O’oma A Fellows Nudibranch (Hiatodoris fellowsi) in a cave at 35ft depth A longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) in nighttime coloration during a night dive at Puakō The author, Andrew Cooper, doing the usual… Photographing the reef life. Photo by Pete Tucker A pair of White-margin Nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata), 25ft depth at O’oma A lantern toby (Canthigaster epilampra) hiding in a reef crevice
Rough-Spined Urchin A rough-spined urchin (Chondrocidaris gigantea) beside the wreck of the naked Lady at 110′
Postcard from the Reef – Cleaning Station A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) takes advantage of a cleaning station on the Puakō reef