Hopefully, our pics will be available

[geoand]

Haven't tried to post pics in ages, so I am testing here to see if this works.

These are pics DW took when we were on the Big Island in January.

http://geoand.smugmug.com/TravelAdventures-2/2012-Hawaiian-Tropical-Fish/21858222_qqHvKT


Edited to add that the link worked for me!

A quick short story about DW and snorkeling pics. We discovered that she would be in the water for 2 1/2 hrs before she came in with the camera. Of course, I came in at about one hour and sat on the beach visiting with people on the beach. They asked me about my partner and I explained that she was out taking pics and she would be back in about an hour and 1/2. Questions to me were how did I know that and my response was that after about 550 pics and 3 or 4 short videos, the battery in the camera was dead. She came in the time I said and she was so excited. She said that she would have stayed out longer if the battery had not gone dead. People that hear my explanation started laughing and DW was confused. I explained and we all got to visiting and chatting.

 

[SmithOp]

Great pics and story, thanks for sharing.

I like to take my good sweet time, more fish emerge when you move slow or just float. DW did well and captured a lot of varieties almost as if they were posing.

 

[fillde]

Excellent pictures. We're they taken at a beach. If so,which one.

 

[geoand]

I don't know why I didn't post that info about the beach. It is Kahalu'u Beach Park, Kona. Very each beach to snorkel. Protected waters and great facilities for cleaning up etc. Easy off street parking too!

Thanks for the comments. More pics will be posted. Probably more with Turtles. We snorkeled at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach and saw several turtles in the water as we were snorkeling. Life guard said that the waters were amazingly flat and would be good for snorkeling with the turtles. Of course we both looked at the water and didn't see the "flatness" of it. Turned out he was quite correct. We snorkeled at this beach 3 or 4 times and really enjoyed it. It was quite easy. Turtles were much bigger than what we saw at Kahalu'u beach. Went back about 2 weeks later and wow was it not flat. Didn't try snorkeling but the turtles didn't think it was flat either cuz we saw a group of several sunning themselves. Can't remember the number and I will have to see the photo again.

We snorkeled at 2 step but did not take any pictures. The water is much deeper there and the fish (we really didn't see that many) were much deeper. We both had shorty wetsuits and could not go below the surface. Something all folks should think about in my opinion. There was no way that I could sink, so there was that as a safety factor. The other thing about that is no way could the DW stay in the waters for 2 1/2 hours without the suit. The chill factor would have hit her much sooner. She does not have that extra natural layering that I have. So, I didn't need it for the chill factor if you get my drift.

We also snorkeled at Mahukona Beach Park. Again the waters were deeper so not so good for picture taking for us. We tried there perhaps 4 different times before the waters were calm enough for us to try the snorkeling.

We purchased Big Island Hawaii Snorkeling Guide as an ebook and found it to be a great resource for evaluating beaches and for fish identification.

Our favorite beach is the first beach mentioned for many reasons one of which is that we could snorkel there any time and all the time.

 

[cdn_traveler]

Thank you for posting! My two little ones and I really enjoyed looking at all the fish pictures.
What camera do you use?

 

[artringwald]

Wonderful pictures and I really appreciate the identification of all the fish. The ID cards from Snorkel Bob are almost useless. I'll be sure to look at your pictures before our next trip so I can remember the names.

 

[suzanne]

Beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing. What type of camera was used to take photos with and how deep were you?

Suzanne

 

[geoand]

Thank you for posting! My two little ones and I really enjoyed looking at all the fish pictures.
What camera do you use?


Beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing. What type of camera was used to take photos with and how deep were you?

Suzanne


Wonderful pictures and I really appreciate the identification of all the fish. The ID cards from Snorkel Bob are almost useless. I'll be sure to look at your pictures before our next trip so I can remember the names.

We used the Nikon Coolpix AW100 - digital camera. Took very good photos and very good movie clips. The downside of this camera is that it doesn't stay waterproof long. DW always took photos from the surface because wetsuit would not allow her to go below surface. So, the deepest the camera was in the water was her arms' length. We bought the camera at Costco at home. Used it for several dives, leaked, took it to Costco in Kona, got it replaced, it froze on the first picture she took, took it back to Costco and got it replaced and it worked fine. The last snorkeling trip, she discovered water in the battery section and decided to bring it back to Costco at home.

Also wanted to point out that if that ebook is purchased, the folks who authored it also provide a web service where they will identify any fish you take via a photo you send to them. We sent 1 photo thru the web site at about 10:30 last Sunday night and got the fish identification about 20 minutes later.

Want to add this url to the Big Island Snorkeling Guide http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/big-island-snorkeling.html
The cost is $22.95 and I think it is money well spent.

 

[daventrina]

Use the buddy system – never swim alone

We discovered that she would be in the water for 2 1/2 hrs before she came in with the camera. Of course, I came in at about one hour and sat on the beach visiting with people on the beach. They asked me about my partner and I explained that she was out taking pics and she would be back in about an hour and 1/2. Questions to me were how did I know that and my response was that after about 550 pics and 3 or 4 short videos, the battery in the camera was dead.

Thought about it and thought about it ... but have to ask.
No offense, but
If you're on the beach visiting with people ... Where is DW's dive buddy? :ignore:

Sad, but about 50 people drown in Hawaii EVERY year...

Ocean safety 101:

Use the buddy system – never swim alone & know your limits.

 

[geoand]

Thought about it and thought about it ... but have to ask.
No offense, but
If you're on the beach visiting with people ... Where is DW's dive buddy? :ignore:

Maybe what they meant was .. How do you know that DW is coming back
About 50 people drown in Hawaii EVERY year...

Ocean safety 101:

Use the buddy system – never swim alone & know your limits.

Agree with you 100%. There was another couple with us and only one of them snorkeled. He and I alternated our time in the water so that DW always had a buddy. He and I never told the 2 wives our plan of action.

The problem will come up next year when it is just the two of us. However, I know that I will suffer????? and stay out in the water with her.

 

[daventrina]

Agree with you 100%. There was another couple with us and only one of them snorkeled. He and I alternated our time in the water so that DW always had a buddy.

That's great and a good example...

He and I never told the 2 wives our plan of action.

May I suggest that folks use a bit more formal dive plan be considered. One of the important lessons in skin/SCUBA diving is to "plan your dive and dive your plan". Questions like where do we get in, where do we get out, what id something goes wrong...

The problem will come up next year when it is just the two of us. However, I know that I will suffer????? and stay out in the water with her.

Or maybe negotiate two shorter dives instead of one long one

My skin's dry. Can't wait to take fish pictures in October...