Diving

Ocean, weather, and surf conditions were much better than last year at the same time. I was able to get in several North and South shore dives during our time on Kauai.
Spotted eagle ray at Tunnels. Compared to last year at the same time, North Shore conditions were fab. May 16, 2016 9:37 AM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
1 Spotted eagle ray at Tunnels. Compared to last year at the same time, North Shore conditions were fab.
Cavern swimthrough at Tunnels May 16, 2016 11:51 AM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
2 Cavern swimthrough at Tunnels
Honu resting on top of the turtle cleaning station at Tunnels May 16, 2016 11:54 AM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
3 Honu resting on top of the turtle cleaning station at Tunnels
May 16, 2016 11:59 AM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
4
An egg sac laid by the Spanish Dancer nudibranch May 16, 2016 12:12 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
5 An egg sac laid by the Spanish Dancer nudibranch
Tunnels topography May 16, 2016 12:17 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
6 Tunnels topography
View from one cavern into another, sunlit from above May 16, 2016 12:26 PM : Denoise, Diving, Enhanced : Reivan Zeleznik
7 View from one cavern into another, sunlit from above
Thursday I headed south for some shore diving at Koloa Landing. Immediately upon entry was this green sea turtle resting and taking a nap. May 19, 2016 2:11 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
8 Thursday I headed south for some shore diving at Koloa Landing. Immediately upon entry was this green sea turtle resting and taking a nap.
Whitemouth Moray May 19, 2016 2:19 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
9 Whitemouth Moray
You may just be able to make out the profile of this Shortsnout Scorpionfish May 19, 2016 2:22 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
10 You may just be able to make out the profile of this Shortsnout Scorpionfish
Crown of Thorns star at Koloa Landing May 19, 2016 2:42 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
11 Crown of Thorns star at Koloa Landing
Stout Moray May 19, 2016 2:50 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
12 Stout Moray
Stout Moray's come in a wide variety of color combinations May 19, 2016 2:51 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
13 Stout Moray's come in a wide variety of color combinations
School of Yellowfin Goatfish May 19, 2016 3:01 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
14 School of Yellowfin Goatfish
This Lizardfish was pretty good sized May 19, 2016 4:07 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
15 This Lizardfish was pretty good sized
Turtle heading for the surface at Koloa Landing May 19, 2016 4:08 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
16 Turtle heading for the surface at Koloa Landing
I love the eyes of this female Marbled Shrimp found clambering at twilight over a head of cauliflower coral. The females sport bristles on their body and front legs that earns them the nickname Fuller Brush Shrimp. May 19, 2016 4:21 PM : Diving, Instagram : Reivan Zeleznik
17 I love the eyes of this female Marbled Shrimp found clambering at twilight over a head of cauliflower coral. The females sport bristles on their body and front legs that earns them the nickname Fuller Brush Shrimp.
Hermit crab on a different head of antler coral May 19, 2016 4:26 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
18 Hermit crab on a different head of antler coral
Purple Velvet Stars used to only be found at significant depths, but they are becoming more common on the shallower reefs of Hawaii May 19, 2016 4:29 PM : Diving, Instagram : Reivan Zeleznik
19 Purple Velvet Stars used to only be found at significant depths, but they are becoming more common on the shallower reefs of Hawaii
Large Blackside Hawkfish May 19, 2016 4:36 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
20 Large Blackside Hawkfish
First time I've seen a black sea cucumber holding out a welcome  sign May 19, 2016 4:39 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
21 First time I've seen a black sea cucumber holding out a welcome sign
My first time seeing a Strawberry Nudibranch, wish I had gotten a better shot of it May 19, 2016 4:43 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
22 My first time seeing a Strawberry Nudibranch, wish I had gotten a better shot of it
Hermit Crab May 19, 2016 4:45 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
23 Hermit Crab
Whitemouth Moray May 19, 2016 4:48 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
24 Whitemouth Moray
The following week it was back to Tunnels on the North shore where I caught this small school of Bluestripe Snapper May 23, 2016 12:03 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
25 The following week it was back to Tunnels on the North shore where I caught this small school of Bluestripe Snapper
The turtle cleaning station on top of Tunnels outer reef. Tangs or Surgeonfish are picking the algae off the shell. May 23, 2016 12:06 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
26 The turtle cleaning station on top of Tunnels outer reef. Tangs or Surgeonfish are picking the algae off the shell.
Goldrim Flatworm May 23, 2016 12:14 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
27 Goldrim Flatworm
Yellow Margin Moray at Tunnels May 23, 2016 12:17 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
28 Yellow Margin Moray at Tunnels
Lei Triggerfish, named for the two vertical bands that can change color from yellow (here) to dark brown depending on the fish's emotional state May 23, 2016 12:40 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
29 Lei Triggerfish, named for the two vertical bands that can change color from yellow (here) to dark brown depending on the fish's emotional state
Last dives of the trip were again at Koloa Landing with Jess. Conditions were even better, I had Jess all to myself as the primo spotter, and there were more critters per square foot than ever. Right off the bat was this large octopus tucked inside the reef, one of four we saw during the afternoon! May 24, 2016 2:29 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
30 Last dives of the trip were again at Koloa Landing with Jess. Conditions were even better, I had Jess all to myself as the primo spotter, and there were more critters per square foot than ever. Right off the bat was this large octopus tucked inside the reef, one of four we saw during the afternoon!
Porcupinefish May 24, 2016 2:31 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
31 Porcupinefish
The longer I stayed in front of this Whitemouth Moray taking photos, the closer it got, seeing its reflection in my camera port. It was only when I started editing on my computer that I noticed what I think are two very tiny babies poking up from the sand underneath momma's belly. May 24, 2016 2:40 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
32 The longer I stayed in front of this Whitemouth Moray taking photos, the closer it got, seeing its reflection in my camera port. It was only when I started editing on my computer that I noticed what I think are two very tiny babies poking up from the sand underneath momma's belly.
This Gold Lace Nudibranch was just floating in the water column at about 40ft. Every time I moved the camera to get a different shot, my motion pushed him out of my viewfinder. I finally managed to get a pretty decent photo by staying as still as I could. May 24, 2016 2:44 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
33 This Gold Lace Nudibranch was just floating in the water column at about 40ft. Every time I moved the camera to get a different shot, my motion pushed him out of my viewfinder. I finally managed to get a pretty decent photo by staying as still as I could.
I seemed to be beating Jess at spotting the several Scorpionfish on this dive, this one another Shortsnout May 24, 2016 2:47 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
34 I seemed to be beating Jess at spotting the several Scorpionfish on this dive, this one another Shortsnout
School of Convict Tang at Koloa Landing May 24, 2016 2:52 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
35 School of Convict Tang at Koloa Landing
Threadfin Butterflyfish May 24, 2016 2:54 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
36 Threadfin Butterflyfish
This Lined Fireworm was on the move May 24, 2016 2:57 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
37 This Lined Fireworm was on the move
Whitemouth Moray May 24, 2016 3:06 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
38 Whitemouth Moray
Devil Scorpionfish giving the evil eye May 24, 2016 3:13 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
39 Devil Scorpionfish giving the evil eye
May 24, 2016 3:13 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
40
Whitemouth Morays galore! May 24, 2016 3:20 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
41 Whitemouth Morays galore!
Yellow Margin Moray May 24, 2016 4:02 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
42 Yellow Margin Moray
Yet another Whitemouth Moray shows how it gets its name May 24, 2016 4:15 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
43 Yet another Whitemouth Moray shows how it gets its name
Panther Flounder on the sandy bottom at Koloa Landing, looks similar to the Peacock Flounder we see in the Caribbean May 24, 2016 4:32 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
44 Panther Flounder on the sandy bottom at Koloa Landing, looks similar to the Peacock Flounder we see in the Caribbean
May 24, 2016 4:38 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
45
Froggie went a courting... My day was fulfilled when Jess spotted this Commerson's or Giant Frogfish perched on a rock. It must have been close to 2ft in size, maybe larger. May 24, 2016 4:42 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
46 Froggie went a courting... My day was fulfilled when Jess spotted this Commerson's or Giant Frogfish perched on a rock. It must have been close to 2ft in size, maybe larger.
Ugly, but cute in its own weird way.... May 24, 2016 4:42 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
47 Ugly, but cute in its own weird way....
Yet another Scorpionfish near the end of the dive May 24, 2016 4:43 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
48 Yet another Scorpionfish near the end of the dive
And my final dive in Kauai is almost over when we spot this Octopus at Koloa Landing May 24, 2016 4:52 PM : Diving : Reivan Zeleznik
49 And my final dive in Kauai is almost over when we spot this Octopus at Koloa Landing