Virtually everyone knows where to find the Hawaii islands, but many confine their thinking to Oahu, Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, and Maui. The big island of Hawaii is often overlooked as a fine place to visit.
We departed California in November 1994 to the island of Hawaii, mere hours away from California. Our destination was the west coast of the big island, landing at Kona. This was our first diving trip to the Pacific, outside of our California cold water diving, and Sharon's first out of CONUS dive site, after receiving her PADI certification. It also marked her very first night diving experience, ear marked with preforming Manta Ray. Our diving was confined to the northwest of the island, but we did make a day excursion encompassing the entire island. Sights of the volcanos were almost as breath taking as the diving. |
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All our diving was from a small boat, but it did allow us to view the areas north and south of Kona. This was not the exotic diving we have experienced in later years, but definitely a thrill for divers new to warm water. It was also one of our first photo experiences. All we had to capture an image was a disposable camera, with 400 ASA Fuji negative film, in a very inexpensive Ikelite housing. I now wonder how we able to obtain any images at all, but a few did come out. - and we thought they were great at the time.
Our little dive boat |
Needle nose Butterfly fish |
Racoon Butterfly fish |
White Mouth Eel |
The dive guide took us to view turtles on two different dives. They were found at only about thirty feet. A few shots could be obtained without a flash and the accompanying backscatter from the simple camera set up we used. Another interesting, but potential dangerous creature, is the Crown of Thorns. This type of starfish can potentially ruin your entire day. I have confered with an individual who was injected with one of their spines and suffered initial serious pain and a discomfort that has endured for years after being inflicted.
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Sighting a variety of fish, such as an orange-spined tang and trigger fish were exciting for divers new to this environment. However, the real excitement was nightdiving with the Manta Ray. This turned out to be Sharon's very first night dive and my first encounter with these wonderful creatures. I am still held at awe recalling the grace of these large animals and how they preformed that evening. On a couple of occasions, a Manta would come directly at me and sweep by, ever so softly creasing my forehead as it passed by. Wow, talk about a first time encounter, that was a thrill.
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As we motored about in our little dive boat, we chanced to encounter a number of dolphin. Some preformed at a distance, spinning through the air; while other cruised immediately below the bow of the boat. In addition to viewing their grace in the wild, a local hotel also had a number of dolphin preforming for their guests and visitors.
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On our non-diving day, we used our rental to tour the entire island. As big as Hawaii is, that was a feat in itself. The sea coast was absolutely beautiful, the jungle lush with vegetation, but the real lure was viewing the volcanoes.
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By the way, if the water falls look familiar, they should be - at least for those of us who recall watching Jurassic Park.
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We did not have an opportunity to swim a lava tube, but did chance to walk one at the volcanic site.
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