Dive Inside Molokini Crater

Maui County, Hawaii

September 22, 2003 - First Day of Autumn

Photos appear in order experienced in dive.
Click on a thumbnail below to view the larger photo.

(1) View of the eastern (Enenue) end of Molokini, with the island of Maui in the background. The island of Molokini is merely 1/4 mile long, the tip of an extinct volcanic crater. The northern end of the crater has been eroded by the sea, making an amazing fish bowl of the interior.	(2) Closer to our dive location, the Western end of Molokini, with the island of Kaho'olawe (also part of Maui County) in the background.	(3) The Arc-eye Hawkish Paracirrhites arcatus is comical to watch. He rests on Cauliflower or Antler Coral until you approach quite closely, then moves quickly to another perch, seeming confident in his camouflage, although his contrast is obvious to the human eye.	(4) As I hoped, I encounter some species diving not seen on my many snorkels in Hawaii. The Gilded Triggerfish Xanthichthys auromarginatus swims in midwater at 30 feet and deeper, feeding on plankton. This male Humuhumu's fins are edged in golden yellow, but yellows have disappeared at this depth.

(5) With a flash, my camera captures the color of the Hawaiian Squirrelfish Sargocentron xantherythrum, which rests under ledges or caves by day, like other Squirrelfishes. The large eyes are helpful for moving about at night.	(6) Another fish preferring water over 30 feet deep is the Pencil Wrasse Pseudojuloides cerasinus. Terminal males are blue and green, with lengthwise stripes of brighter blue and yellow. This individual exemplifies the initial or Pink Pencil Wrasse phase.	(7) At depth, the bright tail fin of the Pinktail Triggerfish Melichthys vidua is muted, as well as the bright yellow of its pectoral fin. Still, the beautiful contrasts of this solitary fish catch the eye as it swims between me and fellow divers.	(8 - E) A small school of Hawaiian Domino Damselfish Dascyllus albisella is sighted, characteristically close coral.

(9) Preferring steep inclines and depths over 40 feet, the Pyramid Butterflyfish Hemitaurichthys polylepis is not frequently seen by snorkelers, and feeds on plankton.	(10) The Pearly Soldierfish Myripristus kuntee displays its distinct shoulder bar. Soldierfish and Squirrelfish belong to the order Beryciformes, which have more primitive anatomy than the order Perciformes. They are the only representatives of Beryciformes common to the coral reef.	(11) Living coral take many forms, as displayed by this Mushroom or Razor Coral Fungia scutaria demonstrates. Immature corals are attached to the bottom by a stem until about an inch in size, resembling mushrooms. Hawaiian Corals - Click here for a cool web page describing the various families of Hawaiian coral.	(12) The Blacktail Snapper Lutjanus fulvus was introduced to Hawaii from Moorea, French Polynesia in 1956, but has not become as common as the Bluestripe Snapper, another introduced species.

(13 - E) Darting from one hiding place to another, Potter's Angelfish Centropyge potteri darts quickly, playing hide-and-seek with the photographer. Found only in Hawaii.	(14) Better adapted to calmer water, Antler Coral Pocillopora eydouxi is generally found below the surge zone, and therefor not seen by snorkelers as commonly as its cousin the Cauliflower Coral.	(15) The Whitemouth Moray Gymnothorax meleagris, one of the 40 species of eels in Hawaii, opens its mouth rhythmically to pump water over its gills. Moray eels with teeth feed on small or wounded fish, exiting their holes to forage at night. The Morays lack scales and paired fins.	(16) This photo taken with flash shows more color that #15. Around the eel, one sees at least 3 species of coral - including Brown Lobe Coral Porites evermanni, Ringed Rice Coral Montipora patula, and False Brain Coral Pavona varians under and to left of the Whitemouth Moray.

(17) First shark sighted! Gray Reef Sharks Carcharhinus amblyrynchos (up to 8 feet) are rarely encountered in Hawaii, except around Molokini. Threat posture includes humped back and pectoral fins down. Retreat is appropriate if this is displayed. They may be agressive to intruders of their territory.	(18) My encounter was brief - this second and photo was taken 14 seconds after the first, and he disappeared soon afterward. The black margin on the back edge of the tail fin distinguishes the Gray Reef Shark.	(19) Several hours later, we enjoy the sunset on the beach near Wailea.	(20) This was a good day, one to remember.

Note on underwater photography

On this first day of boat diving, I found the water to be so clear that an abundance of light was being transmitted to depth, resulting in the camera flash often not occurring automatically. As a result, even macro photos often show little color. On subsequent days, I changed the camera setting to automatically filter more blue light than I do when snorkeling, and to slightly underexpose the photo and flash automatically. These default setting seemed more appropriate, and resulted in more color and less overexposure. As a cold water diver with 15 to 20 feet of visibility regarded as good, I wasn't prepared for the possibility of overexposure in such clear water conditions.

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