January 2015 - Island Divers Hawaii

Scuba Diving on Superbowl Weekend in Oahu 1/31

January 31, 2015/in Dive Reports/by Mark Savel

Today was a beautiful day to be out on the water on the southeast side of Oahu. We had a great group of divers as we motored out to the corsair for the first dive with little wind and no swell. As we got in the water there was little current and great viz. When we got down to the plane there were goatfish and butterflyfish swimming all over the place. We also had a few eels hiding in the wreck as well as some soldierfish. We even saw a large octopus hiding out under one of the wings. It was a great start to the morning but soon we were off to the second dive.

For the second site we drifted Sea Cave and again it was wonderful viz. Inside the cave we found a couple white tip reef sharks as well as a good size yellow hairy hermit crab. Outside the cave were a few turtles swimming about and eels hiding about the reef. We had a nice current as we made our way along the wall with reef fish all about and the sound of whale song faintly heard. Another perfect start to the weekend and beautiful day on the waters of Oahu.

It’s Beautiful Day

January 31, 2015/in Dive Reports/by Sarah Moore

Today was an amazing day out on the water. Clear skies, warm air, and calm seas made for excellent conditions. Visibility was great on our shallow reefs.

This afternoon we headed out to our shallow reef sites with four passenger on board, all diving towards different goals. We had one DSD who had never dove before so we showed him how amazing it is to breathe underwater. We had a diver complete his Open Water Certification today and another diver complete his Advanced.

It was success all around as we got to see lots of turtles and a couple moray eels at our first dive site, Koko Craters. As we surfaced and got on the boat a pod of Bottle-nose dolphins swam right by the boat! We just missed them in the water but getting to see them from the boat was still a treat! After we got our fill of dolphin watching we headed to over to Anglers Reef to do our second dive. We saw lots of beautiful fish and another Moray hanging around the reef. It was a lovely warm sunny day on the water with lots of new certifications being completed.

Crew: Sarah (Instructor), John (Captain)

Dive Conditions: Koko Craters- max depth 38 ft, dive time 33 minutes Anglers Reef- max depth 40 ft, dive time 38 min water temperature: 75 degrees F visibility: 100+ ft

Caution: Spinner Dolphins Crossing! Jan 30th

January 30, 2015/in Dive Reports, Images/by Lauren Smith

Fun Dives this morning on the AM Advanced Charter leaving Hawaii Kai. On the boat today we had a couple newly advanced certified and veteran divers, along with our very own Hawaii Scuba University Divemasters in training! Our first dive of the day was the LCU! At a max depth of 91ft this upside down landing craft was home to several large white tip reef sharks this morning. Scattered around the artificial reef the group explored a field of large concrete blocks hiding eels and lizard fish. After a few laps around the wreck we made our way towards the mooring line to find a small spotted puffer fish hovering at the stern.

Our next dive was a drift through Fantasy Reef. At a make depth of 52 feet we made our entries to soon be meet by a very large Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. Once the group regrouped under the boat we began our drift in the direction of Diamond Head. The current today was mild and gave us the accessibility to stop and check out Imperial Nudibranchs and small a spotted boxfish. After drifting passed a few large swim through we caught up with 3 more Green Sea Turtles, who seems to be acting very friendly towards each other.

After 2 great dives we motored back towards the dive shop, only to be stopped by a large pod of spinner dolphins…not a bad way to end the charter!

Nice diving guys!

W: Bradley (instructor) Sophie (captain)

CONDITIONS: Sunny, 78*F Air, 74*F water, visibility 100+ft

DIVE PROFILES: LCU: 91ft max depth, dive time 32 minutes. Fantasy Reef: Max depth 52ft, dive time 38 minutes.

MARINE LIFE: Imperial Nudibranch, Spotted Boxfish, Lizard Fish, Moray Eel, Spinner Dolphins & Green Sea Turtles!

A BOATFUL OF SMILES 29 jan

January 30, 2015/in Dive Reports/by Larry Hogan

besides a big smile, joel had a great eye for underwater critters, spotting this Tridents’ Trumphet. just back from the land of the aussies, he joined me, sam, matt, and Warren for some fun. warren was working on his AOW, doing Navigation and some Buoyancy work! nice job too! Kokos craters was our first stop, and so many turtles! even for Kokos! also a rock scorpion fish and a few eels. current was mild and viz was very good! 2nd jump was Angler’s ledge, and we had a great time finding Helmet Counch, huge eels, plenty of various reef fish, and a Hawaiin day octopus. thanks to all for safe diving! larry, sophie, ashley (nicole)

kokos 38 ft 40 min 100 viz

anglers 48 ft 42 min 120 viz

TREVOR HAD A CORSAIR TATOO!! 28 jan

January 30, 2015/in Dive Reports/by Larry Hogan

So guess where he wanted to dive? no, not Koko Craters! a few divers mentioned the Landing Craft Utility wreck, but once we saw Trevor’s Corsair tattoo, everyone concurred, and corsair it was! beautiful day, flat and no wind! so a quick trip out with the multi-talented captain Sophie and into the blue we descended. mild current on the surface, but it got very strong at the bottom! unusual !! still a great dive, albeit short, with the garden eels, schools of fish, and the impressive fuselage of the plane, all the while hearing whales singing. some great breaches and tail wags during our surface interval also! pretty close to us, a nice added bonus! 2nd jump was a drift of Sea Cave, a perennial favorite on the wall outside Hanauma Bay. great conditions for that today, mild current and no surge, so we took our time exploring, finding several sharks inside, as well as a school of juvenile needle nose barracuda, and a hairy-legged hermit crab! on the wall outside we drifted by turtles, eels, and large schools of reef fish! thanks to all for safe diving! larry, sophie

Corsair 107 ft 25 min

Sea Cave 50 ft 44 min

TIRE REEF !! Jan 25

January 27, 2015/in Dive Reports/by Larry Hogan

Not a usual destination for us, Tire reef lies between Big Barge and the LCU, so we occasionally pass over it while drifting the barges (depending on current direction). the barge drifts are always an adventure and leave everyone smiling, as we cruise along the connecting ledges and over the concrete block piles, spotting sharks, turtles, octopus, and listening to the whales nearby. what’s not to smile about!! be sure to check out the photo of the gigantic tire – not sure what it’s from! our first dive was at LCU, and we saw white-tip sharks and spotted eagle rays, as well as large schools of shoaling fish. current was ripping! our 3rd and final dive was another great dive on Fantasy reef – such a great dive spot – so much live and such interesting topography! we all loved this dive – current was mild as we zigzagged back and forth, spotting huge turtles, lots of various eels, banded coral shrimp, and lots of fish amidst the swim-thrus and coral heads. great dives, and lots of big smiles heading in. thanks to all for safe diving – larry, joe

lcu 90 ft 100 viz 35 min.

barge drift 70 ft 120 viz 40 min.

fantasy reef 50 ft 120 viz 44 min.

check out the size of this tire! the small ones in a row above it are regular auto tires!

Sunny Dives! Jan 26

January 26, 2015/in Dive Reports/by Lauren Smith

Today was fun in the sun at Island Divers! With new students and certified divers we prepared for our 2 tank afternoon shallow reef dives. Our first spot was a shop favorite at Koko Crater! After briefing the students we all made giant strides into Maunalua Bay. Our first dive was cool, calm and clear. With a max depth of 39 feet, students practice mask clearing skills and regulator recovery in the sand. We then all embark on a tour around the dive site to visit our local Green Sea Turtle heroes and Moray Eels.

The next dive was a rolling reef we like to call Turtle Canyons. After a relaxed surface interval divers began to prep for our next shallow reef dive. Down below we enjoyed finding snowflake eels, needle fish and nudibranchs! With only a few skills left we where back on the surface looking through fish books logging dives!

W: Bradley (instructor) Sophie (captain)

CONDITIONS: Sunny, Mid 70′s , 75*F water, visibility 60+ft

DIVE PROFILES: Koko Crater: 39ft max depth, dive time 37 minutes. Turtle Canyons: Max depth 40ft, dive time 42 minutes.

MARINE LIFE: Nudibranchs, Moray Eels, File Fish & Green Sea Turtles!

Shark Fest at LCU… Jan 26

January 26, 2015/in Uncategorized/by David Sanchez

A blustery Monday morning out in Maunaloa Bay didn’t deter a group of determined divers heading out to explore the wrecks and walls of the area…

Adam, Bill, Jason, Dale, Jessica, Joe, Ken, Pierre, and Ross joined Larry (the bunny ear maker) and I out on the Sea Hound. There was a slight chop on the water as we made our way to our first site…LCU. Great visibility and a moderate current were the conditions of the day as our divers made their way down the lines and under the ship…

3 White Tip Sharks swam slowly under the site, while others glided effortlessly around the cement blocks…

while around the perimeter flew a formation of spotted eagle rays…

Soon it was time to ascend back up the lines and ready ourselves for our next destination… a drift of Spitting Caves.

While the current was absent here there was excellent visibility still to be had… and lots to see…

A Yellow Margin Moray Eel poked its head out from under a coral ledge…

and multiple turtles buzzed by the group headed to parts unknown.

A big THANK YOU to all our divers for a beautiful, safe and fun day of diving…ALOHA!

LCU/ 80ft/ 74*/ 90ft vis/ 20 min

Spitting Caves/ 40ft/ 75*/ 80ft vis/ 40min

Dave- Lead

Larry- Support

Sophie/ Capt

Liz/ Crew

Schools of Sargent Fish. Jan 24

January 24, 2015/in Dive Reports/by Lauren Smith

This afternoon at Island Divers we had several students and certified divers getting ready for our 2 tank shallow reef dive. After briefing Open Water skills with our students, everyone prepared their dive gear as the boat launched into the Bay. Once we tied up to Koko Crater our instructors split up groups into students and certified divers. Down below students grouped up into the sand to start demonstrating their new learned skills, while the certified divers began their underwater tour. After skills where finished all of our divers had the chance to visit big green sea turtles and schools of Hawaiian Sargent fish. Towards the end of the dive we headed back to the stone Buddhas and up the mooring towards the surface.

Our next dive was conducted at Turtle Canyons. Below the water was calm and clear with slightly any current. Once we reach the bottom our Open Water Students began conducting Underwater Navigation skills. Soon we were finished with demonstrations and back to searching for eels and octopus. A few spotted morays where seen pocking out of wholes, with a day octopus hiding in the cracks. After swimming along the shallow reefs we began to head back towards the boat and onto the deck. Open Water Dives one and two completed for our new students, everyone excited for their final dives and new certifications!

Great work today, and awesome dives!

W: Bradley (instructor) Larry (instructor) Joe (captain)

CONDITIONS: Sunny, Mid 70′s , 75*F water, visibility 60+ft

DIVE PROFILES: Koko Crater: 39ft max depth, dive time 37 minutes. Turtle Canyons: Max depth 40ft, dive time 42 minutes.

MARINE LIFE: Moray Eels, File Fish, Bird Wrasse & Green Sea Turtles!

Kings, Queens and Crown of Thorns! Jan 23

January 23, 2015/in Dive Reports, Uncategorized/by Lauren Smith

Divers ready, gear set and the Sea Fox launched into partly cloudy weather with a boat for full of advanced divers! Small waves with pockets full of sunshine during the twenty minute ride out to our first wreck to Baby Barge. On the boat today we had several Dive Masters in training and advanced divers looking to have fun! Once the boat was tied off our divers entered the water in stride, giant strides that is! Once the divers where in the water we began our descent down to the wreck. Bellow the water was cool, calm and crystal clear with 80+ visibility. With light current we made our way down to a max depth of 79ft to explore the broken barge and uncover lobsters and scorpion fish with our touches. After a peak around the sunken wreck our divers made the way down to a ledge that lead to lave tubes and caves that have been known to hide white tip reef sharks. Unfortunately the sharks where not around, but luckily for us several large sea turtles seemed to have taken their place!

We soon turned around after reaching 20 minutes into our dive and headed back to the sunken wreck for one more quick look around before making our slow assent and safety stop towards the surfacing and onto the boat. On the surface divers relaxed and enjoyed the sun while we motored around seeing whale spouts in the distance! Before we knew it divers where feeling a little do dry and ready to jump back into the water for another bubble. Once we reached our next destination divers where already geared up and ready to jump! With Capt. Joe over the dive site our divers got inline for the jump… divers ready!? DIVE DIVE DIVE! One after another we entered the water and regrouped below the boat to begin drifting Fantasy Reef!

Under the water we began searching for creatures hiding in the cracks. Our Dive Master in training had a keen eye for spotting Moray Eels and schools of Squirrel fish hiding in the shadows. A Hawaiian Lion Fish was found floating closely next to a large Crown of Thorns. A few types of nudibranchs were inching their way across the sea floor while the group drifted steady westward towards Diamond Head. Below the bottom the visibility was awesome! Turtles surfacing with the sound the dolphins in the distance, reaching 35 minutes divers where heading into the blue to begin a safety stop before heading back to the surface.

On the top the Captain and Crew prepared the boat for departure while our divers relaxed and shared pictures as the Sea Fox motored back into harbor just in time for lunch!

Another great dive on diving in Hawaii with great divers!

W: Bradley (instructor) Joe (captain)

CONDITIONS: Partly Cloudy, Mid 70′s , 74*F water, visibility 60+ft

DIVE PROFILES: Baby Barge: 79ft max depth, dive time 38 minutes. Fantasy Reef: Max depth 53ft, dive time 39 minutes.

MARINE LIFE: Nudibranchs, Moray Eels, Scorpion Fish, Hawaiian Lion Fish, Crown of Thorns & Green Sea Turtles!