Why We Dive
Wow…what a summer!
by Ev Schultz
(No. 7)
MOUSE OVER IMAGES TO ENLARGE!
Recent activities in the ocean reinforce why we dive…
every day is different!
Lingering love still in the water following an active and sexy spring, it was the eels turn at the end of May. On consecutive days, 2 Viper Morays and then 2 Yellow Margin Morays were caught in the act. During courting behaviors of the Yellow Margin Morays, two flirting White Tip Reef Sharks appeared, love bites and all.
Early June provided a few unusual sightings. Deep on the Enenui side of Molokini was a 10-12’ pregnant Sandbar Shark, 3 curious Bottlenose Dolphins hung out with the divers at Hawaiian Reef , and a couple of sightings of Galapagos sharks being cleaned at cleaning stations at Molokini and Slides dive sites. One of the highlights of the month appeared on June 13th… a 30’ Whaleshark hung around all morning. Divers were able to snorkel with the graceful beast on both surface intervals of their 3-tank adventure charter.
July and August were the months for keiki (babies) and multiples. All that courting last Spring paid off as the reefs were home to a variety of newbies. The most striking was a plate sized Spotted Eagle Ray swimming with an adult in early July. On the same day at Pinnacle Point, a “ginormous” (direct quote) Eagle Ray was close by the dive team and quite curious. A few days earlier, 8 Eagle Rays were “spotted”. On Ed’s Adventure-X trip on July 16th in the cave at Red Hill (Pu`u Ola`i), divers saw 2 Monk Seals, 2 White Tip Reef Sharks, Green Sea Turtles, a friendly Trumpetfish, and a naked mermaid (we’re not sure if the beverages were different on that charter than our normal trips). Monk Seals hung around on the rocks for a week.
Early August, a big Manta was hanging out with divers at the Landing Craft, along with 3 Harlequin Shrimp, 3 Leaf Scorpionfish, and a Green Lion Fish. The first week of September, Ed reported a gazillion Frog Fish at Red Hill, Joe was more realistic counting 8. Dave reported seeing more than a dozen Spotted Eagle Rays with 10 in squadron formation several days later.
All that courting going on in the water over the past few months…but there are always a few sad tales of thwarted love. Dave observed a male Honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle) make several attempts at courting a female Honu on July 6th. After his third attempt, the female repositioned herself, took her pectoral fin and slapped the male across the head. It’s never dull on the reefs of Maui!
The only thing missing is you!
Ev Schultz is an integral part of ERDA. She has managed the booking office for over nine years and is constantly being praised by our customers for her warm and friendly manor while dealing with our diver's needs.