2014 - Page 3 of 48 - Island Divers Hawaii

OKARCHEE RETURNS !! 8 december

December 9, 2014/in Dive Reports, Uncategorized/by Larry Hogan

we love return customers, and some of our favorites are Okarchee and Paul, great divers and hilarious characters. when they are on the boat, everyone is sure to be laughing! they are here for Wreck Week, bringing along mark and michelle, matt and david, both working on their AOW. Another great friend and diver, mike t (aka squid head), and big joe were also out for getting wet and wrecked! jamie and henry just happened to show up without realizing it was the debut of double wreck week! Captain Sophie drove us out to the Corsair and we tied up and hopped in. a great dive, good viz and mild current! lots of fish too!! Marketing genius Lauren was also along, making sure i didn’t screw up the first day of Wreck week? 🙂 actually she was diving and doing a promo video with sherry, jenn, and pat. always great to see them!! 2nd jump was the Kahala Barge, and the current picked up, making it a tough job to moor the boat up. fortunately Mark made some great throws to me with the line. getting inside the wreck protected us from the current, and we enjoyed a cool swim thru the picturesque interior of the barge. no big animals today, but we had a blast diving !! thanks to all for safe diving, larry, captain sophie, liz

Corsair 107 feet 100 viz 35 minutes on nitrox

Kahala Barge 90 feet 70 viz 36 minutes

75 degrees

Not so rusty after all…12/08/2014

December 8, 2014/in Dive Reports, Dive Travel, Uncategorized/by Manolo Cabasal

Today on the Sea Hound we joined by a couple of divers who wanted shake off some rust. Finally able to escape their daily routine and get salty, the surface conditions were typical postcard Hawaii: 78 degrees, variable winds, no waves, and not a single cloud in the sky. The dive sites on the agenda: Koko Crater & Angler’s Reef.

*Koko Craters*
39ft – 47min
77 degrees

Entering the water at slack high tide, the visibility was limited to 40 feet with a mild but increasing current. The less than average visibility didn’t keep the from seeing epic creatures! Every turtle in the neighbor came out to play (I personally lost count at 8 DIFFERENT turtles). The turtles weren’t the only ones to come out. Many different schools of fish also came out: Hawaiian Sergeants, yellowfin surgeonfish, damselfish, and triggerfish.

*Angler’s*Reef*
45ft – 45min
77 degrees

At the second dive site, the current had picked up steadily and the visibility stayed the same. This time the neighborhood was dominated by the eels. Everything from giant green morays the width of your leg to the juvenile undulated eel the width of your index finger poked their heads out and even free swam along the bottom. Large schools of moorish idols and trumpet fish accompanied them on the bottom.

A special thanks goes out to the crew of the Sea Hound: Capt. Sophie and Liz.

Cruising 3 tanker 12/7

December 8, 2014/in Dive Reports/by Maxine Markert

Excellent day to be out on the water couldn’t have asked for a better group of diver on this lovely day. We started out our day at the Corsair our only natural wreck in Maunalua Bay and our deepest one as well! After a 20 minute dive we made our way over around Diamond head and tied up at the YO-257 and San Pedro. We were lucky to see some large green sea turtles and double the wrecks! Morgan and Jason had a little fun with the dolphins on their way back to the boat and Larry, Brittany, Pete and myself got to watch them circle us on our safety stop! Once we were back on the boat we were treated by Lauren and Kellan to delectable lunch of sandwiches chips apples and brie. On our way back to Mauanalua bay we got to enjoy a nice long hour interval as we made our way to sea cave. After enter the cave we stumbled upon 3 white tip reef sharks and a monk seal! My group consisted of Matt, Jason, Chris, Ron, Morgan and Jason who all we were super pumped about our 40 minute dive along one of the best reef we have on the Island of Oahu. Larry also had a happy group of divers, Brittany, Mikeal, William, Shirley, Pete and Michael, who all equally were excited about being able to get to such a rare dive site. Thank you all for coming out and enjoying the dives with Larry and myself we look forward to seeing all of you again very soon for some and much later for other. Mahalo!

White tips cuddling!

Brittany with a turtle

San Pedro

Dive Sites: Corsair; 107ft max depth current east mild, 20minutes, temp 76. YO-257; depth 98ft, 30 minute dive, temp 77, current east moderate. Sea Cave; depth 78 ft, time 40 minutes, temp 76, current west moderate.

Staff: Captain Kellan, Crew Lauren, Instructors Larry, Maxine

Nightly Wonders 12/06

December 6, 2014/in Dive Reports/by Maxine Markert

What an excellent night we had! We started out at the Corsair with amazing conditions mild west current and 100+ vis. We were down for 20 minutes Mark and Justin took some funny photos in the cock pit, while Ryan and Ivan were circling the plane. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. On our 40 minute surface interval we watched the moon rise over Koko head and then made our way in to dive Angler’s Ledge. The current switched and picked up going east but we still got to see a Spanish Dancer and lots of parrot fish clamped on to the reef. We did a 40 minute dive with a max depth of 45 ft. I had a great group of divers and I can’t wait to see them all back again shortly thanks for coming out diving with me on such an easy going night!

Staff: Captain Kellan Instructor Maxine

SMILING FACES !! 5 december bro!

December 6, 2014/in Dive Reports/by Larry Hogan

lots of those today as finished up two sweet dives ! sunny blue skies above, and good viz below! not our best visibility, but if you dive in Michigan every week, like big Mike does, then water with 100 foot visibility can be scary good! plus warm!! also out for some fun were Kristi and Jaz, plus Stuart and Alicia! Captain Kendal didn’t hit anything on the way out, and we moored up at Baby Barge, current pretty stiff, but no problem with the excellent line set up we have. we headed down the ledge to check out the shark cave, but none today, but lots of eels, turtles, and beautiful reef fish! 2nd jump was a drift over at Spitting Cave. current was just past slack, so we had a mellow drift along this spectacular wall! more turtles and eels, large shoals of fish, octopus, and great canyons and caves!! thanks to all for safe diving!! larry and Admiral Kendal

Baby Barge 80 feet 100 viz 46 minutes

Spitting cave 50 feet 80 viz 47 minutes

JASON AND THE BROOKANAUTS !! 4 December

December 4, 2014/in Dive Reports/by Larry Hogan

Well, only one Brookanaut, but she was more than enough. DC firefighter Jason was out today with newly certified Brook, and this rookie really turned the corner on her diving, moving well beyond the tentative style of new divers. Captain John was our driver, and we tied up at Koko Craters and jumped in . once we got Brook’s buoyancy nailed, she cruised like a champ, and we all had a blast as we saw turtles, eels, octopus, reef fish, a peacock flounder, and those great statues at kokos! the viz was great and current was mild, skies were blue and the sun was shinning! 2nd jump was Turtle Canyons, and the reef was beautiful as usual as we swam among the shoaling reef fish, finding eels out swimming, octopus hiding, a snarling viper moray, and turtles napping. we were all stoked with another pretty awesome dive! congrats to brook! and thanks to all for safe diving. larry, capn john, ashley

kokos 110 viz 35 deep 46 min.

turtles 90 viz 39 deep 47 min.

Rain or Shine? Keep Calm and Dive On! 12/03/2014

December 3, 2014/in Dive Reports, Dive Travel/by Manolo Cabasal

It was an uncharacteristically cloudy and drizzly morning in Hawaii Kai, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the surface conditions have to be bad. With variable winds and a 1 to 2 foot swell the Sea Hound cruised out of the marina with very little drama. On the way to the first dive site, the LCU, a bright vibrant rainbow greeted the advanced divers and crew. A welcome sign for the morning.

*LCU*
90ft – 34min
75 degrees F

A mild current allowed the divers to free descend casually to the bottom and 70 foot visibility allowed them to see out and around the wreck. Starting the dive swimming under the wreck, the divers spied on a single 5-foot white tip reef shark. The shark made a couple laps around the group before settling back down for a nap. Other creatures spotted were a crown of thorns starfish, frog fish, a school of snapper, and a group of 3 spotted eagle rays flying in formation.

*Fantasy Reef*
54ft – 46min (drift)
75 degrees F

Unfazed by the persistent drizzle, the divers entered the water at Fantasy Reef with slick and smooth precision. Ushered along by a moderate Diamond Head current and 60 foot visibility, the aquanauts explored one of Oahu’s best reefs. During the drift many aquatic celebrities made an appearance for the group. Numerous giant eels, a gang of O.G. turtles, a puffer fish, and an octopus were the note worthy ‘A’ list celebrities.

A special thanks to the crew of the Sea Hound: Capt. Kellan, & Danny (crew)

Night Dive Ninjas 12-02-2014

December 3, 2014/in Dive Reports, Dive Travel, Uncategorized/by Manolo Cabasal

It was another picturesque sunset in Hawaii Kai aboard the Sea Fox. On this evening’s night dive we were joined by 4 divers and 10 snorkelers, all hailing from different parts of North America. With light variable winds and a moderate swell, the boat was regular rocking dance party. The dive sites for the night’s agenda: Fantasy Reef & Turtle Canyons.

*Fantasy Reef*
52ft – 30min (drift)
77 degrees F

With the sun fading into the horizon, the divers entered the water paratrooper style one right after another. Descending quickly into the abyss, they were quickly pushed along by a strong Diamond Head current. It didn’t take long for a menagerie nocturnal aquatic creatures to come out. Porcupine fish, spiney starfish, a massive 7-11 crab, and giant moray eels made their appearances as the group drifted by.

*Turtle Canyons*
36ft – 43min
75 degrees F

For this dive, a unique request came from the divers: A black out dive. After cracking a few glow sicks the, the night dive ninjas entered the water under the light of an uninhibited half-moon. Orientating themselves to the reef, the lights went off and never came back on. Surrounded by glittery bio-luminescence, the divers flailed and frolicked with glee. It’s really easy to keep track of divers when you look back behind you and see 5 trails of glitter and glow sticks lighting up the darkness. Aside from the glittering night dive ninjas, harlequin shrimp were spotted on a large coral before the dive went dark.

A special thanks goes out to the crew of the Sea Fox: Capt. Joe, Capt. Kellan, Max, Ash, & Hollis.

Deep, Dark and Wrecked

December 3, 2014/in Uncategorized/by Lauren Smith

Tuesday morning was a great day for diving on the Sea Fox. We had a boat of Advanced and experienced divers from across the U.S, Europe and our own backyard of Hawaii Kai. The guest on the boat have not only been diving with us today, but the whole week! So we took a vote on where to descend on our first dive. The group was looking for something deep and sunken, so Capt. Joe pointed the bow into the right direction. The wreck we picked this particular morning was the Kahala Barge, a 250 yard vessel resting at 90 feet, upright and fully intact. This wreck has a fun penetration point in the pilothouse, which made for great photos. After a slow ascent and and safety stop, the group hopped back on the boat for hot chocolate and cookies while we motored off to our next destination. Once the group was all warmed up and equipment with new tanks we began to suit up for our next dive. For our second dive of the day we chose a fun and relaxed Drift Dive through Spitting Caves. This descent was a negative one as, and it couldn’t of been better! With no air in our BCD’s the group went one after another and entered the water heading down below the surface where we all re-grouped and carried on. This dive was visibility was awesome, and the current was fast. We stuck together as a team and caught a few great creatures cruising past. Several big sea turtles swam again the current effortlessly, while eels and octopus hid between the crack. Several large nunu trumpet fish were hanging out and a cute juvenile cow fish was spotted and captured on film!

Diving with a group and happy an experienced divers is always a fun time. We all came back salty and smiling with 2 more dives to add to the log book!

W: Bradley (instructor) Joe (captain) CONDITIONS: Windy/Sunny, High 70’s , 78*F water, visibility 60+ft DIVE PROFILES: Kahala Barge: 90ft max depth, 31min dive time Spitting Caves: 48ft max depth, 44min dive time MARINE LIFE: spotted moray eel, green sea turtle, octopus, nunu trumpet fish, cow fish

Three for Scuba!

December 1, 2014/in Uncategorized/by David Sanchez

What a relaxing, sunny, awesome day of diving! Westley, Matt, and I (YEP that’s it) took out the Fox along with Capt Kendall for an Advanced Open Water Day One/ first time Corsair adventure. Calm seas and no current was found at the Corsair as we followed the descent line down to the plane. Reef fish of differing varieties swam amongst the scattered plane pieces, a large Moray Eel peeked out of the fuselage, and Garden Eels swayed back and fourth in the distance…

After short surface interval it was on to Anglers for a leisurely Drift Dive. Great conditions, good visibility, and many sea creatures cruised the wall of Anglers… Millet seed Butterfly’s, Moorish Idols, Hawaiian Squirrels, a large group of Puffer fish, and Eels of differing varieties…

A great day was had by all divers. Thank you to Westley and Matt for a safe, fun, relaxing day out on the boat…

Corsair 107 ft/ Vis 60 ft

Anglers Reef 43 ft/ 65 ft Vis

Dave Sanchez – Lead

Kendal – Capt