John
- John's trip Big Island 2012
2012-09-03 - Pipe Dreams, Kona, HI, United States
28m - 52 min - Dived with Mike from Big Island Divers
First dive off of the Big Island in Hawaii. Interesting pipe sunk off of the coast by a research station. The pipe goes very deep. I went inside down to around 87' and then came back. It is sealed off half way down. The reef's around Kona are spectacular. Easily the most abundant coral I have ever seen. Saw a few eels and took some photos. There was even a manta ray and spotted eagle ray. PJ had trouble clearing his ear below 80'.
2012-09-03 - Spaceship/Pyramid Pinnacle, Kona, HI, United States
19.4m - 57 min - Dived with Mike from Big Island Divers
Very nice drift dive in a location rarely dove. It was named by Jerry Garcia. The spaceship is this very large rock that is below the surface. The drift dive was very relaxing. I saw a huge sea turtle putting down some coral, huge milkfish off in the distance, and some more eels. The coral is fantastic. It was like being on the moon. A very different topography than most.
2012-09-03 - Taco Bell, Kona, HI, United States
21.9m - 67 min - Dived with Mike from Big Island Divers
Interesting dive site. There are many lava tubes that form valleys and canyons underwater. The lava tubes bring fresh water into the ocean that is very cold. It causes a haze when the salt water mixes with the freshwater...pretty cool. Difficult to navigate. We found an interesting flatworm that was black and gold and a bunch more very large moray eels. PJ and I got lost and he proceeded to go the wrong way. I caught up with him and we found the dive master.
2012-09-04 - Garden Eel Cove, kona, United States
22.4m - 51 min - Dived with Jonathan from Big Island Divers
Introduction to the manta ray dive area. Saw the black sand and "fire pit" area where the manta's would be. This was in a protected cove next to the airport. It was very cool. Saw a huge moray eel named Frank. Many fish. Another solid reef dive.
2012-09-04 - Manta Ray Heaven, Kona, HI, United States
10.6m - 50 min - Dived with Jonathan from Big Island Divers
The manta ray dive! Same location as garden eel cove but named different at night. There were so many people and lights that at night the whole underwater was lit up. Eighteen (18) manta rays showed up this night. Plankton is attracted to the lights and the manta rays eat the plankton. So they would barrel roll and swim by the lights to feed. Incredible experience. Although the position I needed to be in was uncomfortable. PJ has good go pro footage. Frank the eel was also hanging out sitting with us.
2012-09-05 - Drift Wood, Kona, HI, United States
21.5m - 61 min - Dived with Vinnie from Big Island Divers
Awesome reef system. It was composed of lava flows so the terrain was very unique. There was a little cavern/swim through that had a couple of lobster. We captured a pincushion star and tried to feed it to a trident trumpet. I took some video but it didn't actually eat it. This was a dive by the Red Hill.
2012-09-05 - Long Lava Tube, Kona, HI, United States
16.4m - 74 min - Dived with Vinnie from Big Island Divers
Awesome dive. Swam through many different lava tubes. Saw many different cowries, dragon nudibranchs, dragon wrasses, and eels. There was a very large puffer fish in the lava tube.
2012-09-05 - Black Water, Kona, HI, United States
16.5m - 59 min - Dived with Mikey from Big Island Divers
The best night dive to date and potentially the best dive to date. This was a black water dive where we left at 2100 and went three (3) miles out into the ocean, tethered ourselves to a boat, and drifted back to shore. It was like being in space. The depth was 5000ft below us and everything was black. I saw all the things that glow in the night. Venus girdle, seahorse, squid, weird glowing jellies. We even heard dolphins. I want/need to do this again.
2012-09-06 - Garden Eel Cove, kona, United States
21.7m - 63 min - Dived with Jonathan from Big Island Divers
Another dive preceding a manta ray dive. This one was nice because we hit the north part of the reef while on the previous dive we hit the south. I saw a very cool "fried-egg" nudibranch (Phyllidia varicosa). There was a shark sighting but I did not see it. On arrival there was a pod of around fifteen (15) Hawaiian spinner dolphins sleeping. Saw some shrimp and more eels.
2012-09-06 - Manta Ray Heaven, Kona, HI, United States
10.1m - 51 min - Dived with Jonathan from Big Island Divers
Another manta ray dive. This does not get old! At first there was only one but many more came. I am not sure the official count but I at least counted twelve (12). PJ and I were more relaxed on this dive so I thought it was more enjoyable. Big bertha showed up and she is huge! She even has a little fish that rides along with her.
2012-09-07 - Black Hole, Kona, HI, United States
29.6m - 54 min - Dived with Janine from Big Island Divers
This was a very deep reef dive. There was some caverns to swim through where I saw and took some photos of two (2) really cool shrimp. This site had more tree like/antler coral than the others. I saw the largest Moray I have to date and got a great picture of it.
2012-09-07 - Predator, Kona, HI, United States
27.6m - 47 min - Dived with Janine from Big Island Divers
The only worthy wreck on the Big Island. It was an old landing craft utility (LCU) that was used for fishing after the war and then sunk for a reef. It was a decent dive. I cleaned up the wreck by picking up a grill brush, glass jar, and tip protector for a spear gun. Then a submarine showed up full of people and I got some video. It was awesome. In the process I lost my camera and it rocketed to the surface. After an extended safety stop we got on the boat and went looking for it. While trolling through the water we saw a pod of dolphins. Right as we were about to give up it was spotted! Poseidon failed again!
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