View Full Version : reef pictures from Maui
jbird69
07/05/2010, 09:13 PM
I just returned from hawaii and thought Id share a few photos from snorkling adventures. The thing that just blew me away was the average size of familiar fish. Naso tangs average 12" in length, yellow tangs average the size of a mans hand with the fingers spread, sailfin tangs are just massive. I saw one individual that was as big or bigger than a basketball. The information I took from the experience was, all the fish we keep in home aquariums are babies. I have never seen captive fish as large as what I saw in the wild.
Heres some pics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02296.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02298.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02320.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02347.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01653.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01690.jpg
If you look closely, theres a second eel on the left...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01855.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02141.jpg
jbird69
07/05/2010, 09:15 PM
continiued...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02147.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02169.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02217.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02281.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01713-1.jpg
I have a couple videos I'll try to post. too.
jc-reef
07/05/2010, 10:03 PM
simply stunning!!! cant wait to see the video.
ruprecht
07/05/2010, 10:05 PM
[QUOTE=jbird69;17332200]continiued...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02217.jpg
Toughest fish to keep alive.
poolkeeper1
07/05/2010, 10:23 PM
Simply Fantastic Photos, And I'm sure glad you shared your Adventure with all of us on RC. It must have been a trip of a lifetime, I know It would have been for me! Thanks for posting it and Kudos on the great shots.
Bill
jbird69
07/05/2010, 10:23 PM
Toughest fish to keep alive.
I wouldnt even try. The ornate butterfly has always topped my list of most beautiful reef fish. This one was a little strange, they typically travel in pairs and are super skittish. Most photos are from the tail end as they dart off. This one was part of a threesome of ornates and was extremely curious with me. Not only did he not flee, he came to me.
jbird69
07/05/2010, 10:29 PM
OK guys, heres the videos. Please forgive me as I am terrible at aiming my camera while diving and swimming.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV02159.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV02159.mp4)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV01938.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV01938.mp4)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV01686.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV01686.mp4)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV01630.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV01630.mp4)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV01535.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV01535.mp4)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV02365.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV02365.mp4)
This was cool. I stumbled on a cleaning station manned by a pair of cleaner wrasses.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV02353.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV02353.mp4)
firereef
07/05/2010, 10:44 PM
Wow!!! Too beautiful!
jbird69
07/05/2010, 11:01 PM
Heres a few more photos.
There was an area we snorkled in the Makena area that was unique in that there was an arc eye hawk fish housed in every single coral head.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02208.jpg
Then I came across this gorilla sized hawk. It was about 8" long and 2 1/2" high.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02187.jpg
There were massive colonies of montipora...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02179.jpg
Heres my "calander shot"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02173.jpg
Zoanthids.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01540.jpg
cpl40475
07/06/2010, 12:29 AM
your "calender shot" is AMAZING. You and friend or loved one (if you travelled with some one) must have had an amazing trip. Thanks for sharing your trip with the rest of us.
Frick-n-Frags
07/06/2010, 06:28 AM
wowie! :)
AngelAddict
07/06/2010, 06:49 AM
Simply gorgeous! Its amazing to see the fish we keep in the wild, also sad too That we cram them in little tanks. Thank very much for sharing!
bkim1286
07/06/2010, 06:50 AM
That's so awesome!
Levito
07/06/2010, 07:16 AM
Wow, amazing shots!
I really regret not buying the underwater case for my camera until after I went to Maui!
jbird69
07/06/2010, 07:56 AM
Thanks everyone for the nice comments!
This was our 4th trip to Maui. We have things figured out well enough now to really settle down and enjoy the island. We found some new favorite beaches that we will be sure to return to next time. The cool thing about Maui is you can go off almost any beach and be in a coral reef looking at our favorite stuff. Even up in Ka'anapali where the beach is lined with hotels, sand beaches and bikinis. People dont realize that all you have to do is get out 100 yards or so and there are pristine reefs.
We saw green sea turtles in every single location we snorkled. I was very surprised as previous trips I dont think I saw 1/2 the turtles as this time.
We have been in the winter when the humpback whales are there and that is a must-see. There are so many that all you have to do is glance at the ocean for a few seconds and youll see a spout, fluke or breach. The coolest thing is when snorkling, you dive down and at about 8' your ears pressure up, and if you grab onto a rock and be still and quiet, you can hear the constant wheez and snort of humpbacks singing!
Toddrtrex
07/06/2010, 09:57 AM
Great shots.
And I know what you are talking about when you mentioned the size of the fish. Last January I was in Puerto Rico and was shocked at the sizes of the Atlantic blue tangs, just huge.
Namnuta
07/06/2010, 10:00 AM
Nice shots. Thanks for sharing.
If your a Diver, look up Lahaina Divers (www.lahainadivers.com) . They are an awesome dive company. There are two brothers who work for them that also run a camera shop on Maui. 1st and 2nd Cathedral off Lanai are some of the best dives i have ever done and also the back wall of Molokini is a must.
b2d2t
07/06/2010, 11:05 AM
Awesome now I want to go to Maui !
anbosu
07/06/2010, 12:39 PM
Great shots.
And I know what you are talking about when you mentioned the size of the fish. Last January I was in Puerto Rico and was shocked at the sizes of the Atlantic blue tangs, just huge.
Agreed, those things get massive!
NYCBOB
07/06/2010, 01:19 PM
nice shots. i think by law, collectors r only allowed to take juvi fish, and leave the adult fish to breed.
stevejrnc
07/06/2010, 01:36 PM
those pics sure are nice bet it looks at lot better in person
AquaWave523
07/06/2010, 01:38 PM
So gorgeous!
jbird69
07/06/2010, 02:29 PM
nice shots. i think by law, collectors r only allowed to take juvi fish, and leave the adult fish to breed.
This is probably true.
Tho I have never seen any tangs, hawkfish, butterflyfish, etc. anywhere near as big in tanks as I saw in the wild (aside from huge public aquariums). Which also says something about stunted growth rates in aquariums. I have seen a few fish that people have claimed to be 8-10 years old in their tank. They are still much smaller than the fish in the wild.
firereef
07/06/2010, 02:42 PM
More, more!!! We want more!!!!!! Lol
saleen2881
07/06/2010, 03:13 PM
is it possible to catch a fish??
mak3mydae
07/06/2010, 03:28 PM
Man, last time i went to Maui, i didnt see any corals. I did see a few fish though. It was near a place called "Blackhawk" i believe.
jbird69
07/06/2010, 04:40 PM
OK, Heres more.
Its so dificult to take quality underwater photos especially with a P&S camera in a marine housing.... I took over 1000 pictures in Maui. About 1/3 are underwater.
The previously posted pictures are the best ones IMO but heres some decent ones...
Check out this little cutie. A baby Naso...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02333.jpg
There arent super rich colored corals like you might see in indonesia or the philipines...or our tanks ;)...but there were a few that stood out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02344-3.jpg
This coral was purple. The camera couldnt pick it up. I dove down to shoot some macros of this coral and I was surprised by a spotted moray that popped out while I was inches from it. (see the spotted moray pic in the first bunch of pics)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02146.jpg
A goatfish at the service station :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02366.jpg
Beautiful pair of Ornate Butterflies
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01425.jpg
A pair of sailfins...crummy photo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01612.jpg
Yellow tang, grazing the reef.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01636.jpg
The peacock grouper is one of my favorite. Pretty illusive. A real treat to get a good photo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01650.jpg
to be continued...
jbird69
07/06/2010, 04:41 PM
Yellow tangs and longnose butterflies. Also known as lauwiliwili nukunuku 'oi'oi (Im not kidding)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01666.jpg
Moorish Idol and Cole Tang.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01692.jpg
Moorish Idol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01695-1.jpg
Yellow tang searching the reef.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01705-1.jpg
reef fish potpouri
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01864.jpg
This is a picture of the Giant sailfin tang I saw. This fish had to be at least 3 lbs!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01880.jpg
yet another MI
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01882.jpg
These Giant bluefin trevally came thru and destroyed a school of small silver fish right before my eyes. Thes guys were in the 40lb class!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01894.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01933.jpg
to be continued...
dan223
07/06/2010, 04:45 PM
Thanks for sharing. Your a lucky boy to get to go hang there! Was this all snorkeling or did you do some scuba too?
jbird69
07/06/2010, 04:52 PM
Check out this monster tang. Dinner plate size.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01911.jpg
Nasos
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC01925.jpg
Large coral head.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02185.jpg
Milletseed butterfly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02204.jpg
Unicorn tangs and other fish.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02297.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02303.jpg
The state fish...humuhumunukunukuapua'a :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02316.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02319.jpg
Beautiful adult male unicorn.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02327.jpg
Thanks for looking!!!
jbird69
07/06/2010, 04:57 PM
Thanks for sharing. Your a lucky boy to get to go hang there! Was this all snorkeling or did you do some scuba too?
Thank you!
It was all snorkling. Most photos were shot down between 10 and 35' deep. I love to free dive but 35' is about my limit.
jbird69
07/06/2010, 05:47 PM
Man, last time i went to Maui, i didnt see any corals. I did see a few fish though. It was near a place called "Blackhawk" i believe.
Could it have been Blackrock?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV02414.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV02414.mp4)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/th_MOV02418.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/?action=view¤t=MOV02418.mp4)
You have to swim out around the point to get into lots of corals. Several of the pics I posted are in this area.
harv1324
07/06/2010, 06:05 PM
Truly amazing, thanks for posting. The fish look huge in your photos, can only imagine what they look like in person.
firereef
07/06/2010, 06:05 PM
Dayum. You are the man. I need to plan a trip to Hawaii again.
M3Shark
07/06/2010, 06:19 PM
These photos are amazing. that tang is HUGE! and the Ornate Butterflies are so beautiful.
jbird69
07/06/2010, 06:53 PM
Thanks guys.
I just realized its not very obvious that some of the pictures I posted are actually videos. Put your cursor on the pics and you can click and see the video :)
phil519
07/06/2010, 06:57 PM
Could it have been Blackrock?
You have to swim out around the point to get into lots of corals. Several of the pics I posted are in this area.
+1.
Blackrock. It's right by the Maui Sheraton on the tip top of K'anapali (spelling).
Amazing pics - what kind of camera if you don't mind me asking?
jbird69
07/06/2010, 07:05 PM
Hi Phil.
I used a sony DSC-P150 in a custom marine housing.
phil519
07/06/2010, 07:10 PM
amazing how you were able to dive from the rocks with the camera like that. Where were the folks jumping from? How high was that?
also - the people there are just so amazing -that's the one thing i loved about the islands - where else do you have a desire to learn that that state fish has a name almost as long as supercalifraglisticexpialidoscious (yes i had to look that up).
are the dole/pineapple plantations harvesting now? everytime we followed an empty truck all you could smell in the car was fresh pinneapples...i miss it.
ruprecht
07/06/2010, 07:16 PM
nice shots. i think by law, collectors r only allowed to take juvi fish, and leave the adult fish to breed.
Anyone can get an aquarium collector's permit in Hawaii. You can even use small mesh nylon fence nets for capturing. There is a daily limit for fish, I don't recall one for invertebrates, and you can't take rock with stuff growing on it. You are allowed about 1 gallon of sediment/rock/coral a day as long as it is free of growth.
is it possible to catch a fish??
Did it for many years!
jbird69
07/06/2010, 07:29 PM
Anyone can get an aquarium collector's permit in Hawaii. You can even use small mesh nylon fence nets for capturing. There is a daily limit for fish, I don't recall one for invertebrates, and you can't take rock with stuff growing on it. You are allowed about 1 gallon of sediment/rock/coral a day as long as it is free of growth.
The problem begins in trying to transport them back to the states. I had a long email conversation with the director of the Hawaii Tropical Fish Association http://hawaiitropicalsaltwateraquariumfish.com/index.html before I went. The hoops I wouldve had to jump thru to bring a single organism home was not woth it. All of his answers to my questions were short and concise. Most contained words such as "no", "you can not" "it is prohibited", "penalty of law", "Take a flying leap..." :)
This included personally bringing something home and/or shipping it.
James605
07/06/2010, 07:30 PM
Man it would be nice to live there and have a bunch of tanks...and FREE FISH!!!
jbird69
07/06/2010, 07:32 PM
amazing how you were able to dive from the rocks with the camera like that. Where were the folks jumping from? How high was that?
also - the people there are just so amazing -that's the one thing i loved about the islands - where else do you have a desire to learn that that state fish has a name almost as long as supercalifraglisticexpialidoscious (yes i had to look that up).
are the dole/pineapple plantations harvesting now? everytime we followed an empty truck all you could smell in the car was fresh pinneapples...i miss it.
Oh No! Its Maui Gold season! We ate so much pineapple we thought we would start leaking citrus. Maui gold Pineapples are one of the 7 wonders of the world :) HOW CAN SOMETHING STRAIGHT OFF THE VINE TASTE SO GOOD?!!
FishNutty
07/06/2010, 07:36 PM
amazing! love the turtle pic and the moorish idol pic :D
phil519
07/06/2010, 08:11 PM
Oh No! Its Maui Gold season! We ate so much pineapple we thought we would start leaking citrus. Maui gold Pineapples are one of the 7 wonders of the world :) HOW CAN SOMETHING STRAIGHT OFF THE VINE TASTE SO GOOD?!!
HAHA. I didn't immerse myself enough in the culture to get the "maui gold" info. yes the stuff was amazingly good. I just thought it was funny how sweet it smelled when those truck loads of pinneapples were on the road.
really amazing shots with the sony. Back when I went I had the crappy disposable thing - i couldn't take any pics worth a darn. My pics were worse then that video taken by the turtle in the carribean (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100616/od_afp/usanimalturtleoffbeat). :spin2:
Mahalo!
Great pics, just as I remember it. Last year I dove the Black Rock area around Ka'anapali Beach.
The thing that also stood out the most for me was the size of the adult fish we see regularly in our hobby. After leaving Maui I am convinced that Vlamingis, Nasos, and Sailfins are better off being left in the oceans.
usefulidiot213
07/09/2010, 12:17 PM
Brings me back. I went to last year in August, and all I want to do is go back. I think I spent more time in the ocean then on land. We also took a boat out to the crater. It's incredible to see how large those fish are in the wild. I have a 4" Salfin at home, and he is a 1/4 of the size of the salfins swimming around out there. Truly amazing place.
Sugar Magnolia
07/09/2010, 12:50 PM
Truly stunning! What a wonderful opportunity for you! Thanks so much for sharing.
jbird69
07/28/2010, 08:08 AM
Thought Id bump this for those who missed it :)
RVANANO
07/28/2010, 08:13 AM
Amazing shots!!! I bet that was flippin awesome!!!
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