Underwater Photography, Lanai, Hawaii

avatar

Here I go, back underwater. It is so calming below the waves. Once I dip below the surface all the noise above is quickly gone, and I start to hear new noises from below. There are distant humpback whales singing their mating songs, parrot fish crunching off pieces of coral, and a constant rice crispy 'snap crackle pop' noise, which is made my thousands of little snapping shrimp living among the corals of the reef.

I always say it is a good day when you get to go in the ocean. Some people won't experience that their entire life. And today was a very good day. There were big schools of fish, tiny nudibranchs and moray eels, and beautiful visibility which is great for photography.

Come along with me on a circumnavigation of the island of Lana'i, and four snorkel spots along the way.

LanaiWildside (17 of 29).jpg
These are pelagic predator fish swooping by the shallow reef looking for a morning snack. A very unusual site.

Haleakala (9 of 42).jpg
A yellow margin moray eel only showing its face. The rest of its 5ft long body is hidden deep in the crevice of rock and coral.

Haleakala (2 of 42).jpg
A green sea turtle slowly glides right over the top of me. I look up just in time to snap this wide angle shot as it passed only feet away from my head.

Haleakala (11 of 42).jpg
This moorish idol seems to be enjoying the day.

Haleakala (12 of 42).jpg
An ornate butterflyfish shines brightly against the black spiny sea urchins moving around the coral.

Haleakala (10 of 42).jpg
Soldierfish hide in the shadows of this underwater cave during the day and come out at night.

Haleakala (6 of 42).jpg
Beautiful red slate pencil urchins.

Haleakala (5 of 42).jpg
I always love photographing turtles. Especially when they are diving down after taking in oxygen at the surface. The surface all looks so ethereal behind them.

Macro (1 of 3).jpg
A trembling nudibranch, which is a kind of sea slug. Almost as small as a fingernail.

LanaiWildside (28 of 29).jpg
Freediving down to the reef and all of its creatures.

Honolua (3 of 9).jpg
So many people wonder what might be hidden down below.

LanaiWildside (1 of 29).jpg
It can be quite beautiful and peaceful down here.

Macro (3 of 3).jpg
With teeny tiny creatures like this dwarf moral eel...about the size of a number 2 pencil.

Honolua (9 of 9).jpg
Or almost as big as a human, like this 300lbs sea turtle.

LanaiWildside (4 of 29).jpg
My buddy on top, Ben, and my other friend below, Kelly.

Honolua (6 of 9).jpg
A school of convict tangs and surgeonfish with a trumpet fish hiding right in the middle. Can you find him?

LanaiWildside (22 of 29).jpg
Kelly freediving down to a cave....80ft down.

LanaiWildside (20 of 29).jpg
And she made it back up!

LanaiWildside (25 of 29).jpg
This cave is a little bit shallower, so I followed for a photo.

You can check out the island of Lana'i here on pinmapple.com

-Dai Mar



0
0
0.000
3 comments
avatar

Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍

Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!

Want to have your post on the map too?

  • Go to Pinmapple
  • Click the get code button
  • Click on the map where your post should be (zoom in if needed)
  • Copy and paste the generated code in your post (Hive only)
  • Congrats, your post is now on the map!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Great shots! I love to see above and below the water at the same time!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hey Castleberry! Great to hear from you again. Thanks for the response. Those split shots (over under water) are tough. I do like the challenge though! It was fun having my friends dive through the frame and act as my underwater models. Now that would be a tough full time job!

0
0
0.000