Noah's Ark at the Dog Beach (and other good news)

    Finally we have some good news to deliver.  Yesterday Sandra and I took a swim on the Ironman side of the pier.  It was the first day in a couple weeks that the water could be described as truly clear.  And we

Stripe Belly Puffer Kailua Kona Pier Feb. 2013

enjoyed an intimate encounter with a Stripe Belly Puffer.  This fish enjoys an unusual and endearing appearance, sort of like the slobbering English Bulldogs that resided in the skateboard shop back in Salem.  In the January 14 blog, I bemoaned its disappearance from Kahalu'u.  We encountered this fellow going out and then, on the return from the half mile buoy, we saw him being cleaned in front of the palace.  This was just a single fish, but that's a start.

     Today we took a little trip with two of our favorite Canadians, Jon and Verna Slater.   About a week ago the four of us engaged in a life threatening swim at Kona Makai.  It looked calm as we walked down to the beach, started to pick up as we made our entry, and by the time we got out our peaceful little fish pond was like a washing machine.  And I ain't talkin' 'bout no gentle cycle, either.  Luckily,

A Pair of Gold Rim Surgeonfish, Honokohau Feb. 2013

 nobody had to go to the hospital... or the undertaker's.  In my defense, once we made it on to the beach, there was a lot of group pressure to make that entry.  All I have to say is, "Caveat Natator, homes".

    But I digress.  the little cove hard by the Honokohau marina was peaceful and the four of us made an uneventful swim out to the reef.   The water was cool and clear.  Almost immediately we spotted a pair of Gold Rim Surgeonfish in the boulders near the shore. Its not uncommon to see single individuals of this handsome fish, but it is unusual to see a pair.  I was lucky enough to see a hybrid Gold Rim / Achilles Tang a couple days ago on the outer banks of Paul Allen's Reef.  In my opinion, its far more common to see this hybrid than a matched pair of Gold Rims.  Maybe a batch of Gold Rims is in the offing.

Milletseed Butterfly, Kailua Kona Pier  August 2012

     While Jon talked to the guide on the dive boat, Sandra and I moved to deeper water where we spotted a pair of Milletseed Butterflyfish.  Clouds of this beautiful fish were once an every day sight at Kahalu'u.   Now we see an occasional single fish at the pier or out in K Bay.  I hope you will forgive the picture of the cute immature we nabbed at the pier six months ago.  The pair we saw today were swimming in 40 feet of  water.  I got a couple pictures of the pair, but they are nowhere near as pretty as this portrait.  Its been four years at least since I have seen a matched pair of Milletseeds.  Long ago, we assumed that the schools of Milletseeds were reproducing right in K Bay.  Is it possible that they were breeding in deep water?  Recently, as we have seen only single individuals, we have begun to treat them as waifs... single fish hatching from eggs that travel a long distance from their spot of fertilization.  Do we have a breeding pair?  Are these two fish the Adam and Eve of Milletseeds?  I certainly hope so.

Heller's Barracuda, Honokohau, Feb 2013

    Heading back toward the entrance, I located the school of Heller's Barracuda.  with a variety of auditory and visual inducements, I was able to get the other members of our little expedition on to this school of uncommon fish.  Sandra and I were able to herd them into shallower water and were rewarded with a good photo opportunity.  

   Back safe on the beach, we enjoyed the enthusiastic romp of a German Shorthair and a Collie with one brown and one blue eye.  Viva the Dog Beach.

jeff

For completeness sake, here is a picture of a hybrid Achilles Tang / Gold Rim Surgeon swimming with a regulation Achilles Tang.  This photo was taken in clear,still water at city of Refuge in November of 2011.The one I saw on the PAR was dodging in the surf, right over the shallow reef.  I was all the way out, perhaps 400 yards from the pier. Suffice it to say,the

Gold Rim / Achilles Tang Hybrid,  City of Refuge Nov. 2011

situation was not ideal for photography or, for that matter, the survival of the photographer.  this luscious photo should give you good basis for comparing against the two normal gold rims that show signs of producing schools of these lovely surgeonfishes.

Our friend and snorkeling companion and all around good sport, Verna Slater, is an above water photographer.  She has kindly provided these pictures of the Humpback Whale breaching at sunset off Alii Villas.  I'm not sure how she missed the splash!