Aloha from Maui (image intense)

[Delphinus]

These are of the Olivine Pools:

(These are sort of like tidal pools. Full of juvenile tangs, and chockablock(!!) full of blennies -- zebra blennies and what I'm certain were lawnmower blennies {although I have not yet confirmed whether that species is really found in Hawaiian waters -- so I might be incorrect})








Sunrise on Haleakala crater (had to get up very early to catch this!! Left the condo at 3:50, got to the crater shortly after 5:00 am and the sky was already turning bright!)

(this was the last picture I could take, my battery died shortly after. 10 seconds later, the clouds were rimmed with gold. It was spectacular, you'll just have to take my word for it ... 10 seconds after that, the sun was up and the sky really got light. Moral of the story, always charge your batteries before climbing 10000 feet to catch the sunrise!!)

Sunset at Kamaleole #3:

[Delphinus]

Oh - I forgot to mention. The blennies all looked like they had swallowed marbles (huge extended bellies). I had once wondered if my lawnmower blenny was ill because he was like that -- now I know -- he was just fine. He passed away after 4 years earlier this year. One of the coolest fish for personality I've ever had in one my tanks. I'm not sure what their normal lifespan is but I suspect that it is not as long-lived as other fish.

And the tangs -- fat, fat, fat. As wide as several inches in some cases. Take it from the tang police: you should never ever see a pinched in belly on a tang.

[howdy20012002]

nice pictures Tony
Just out of curiosity, what kind of camera did u use for the underwater ones?
Neal

[Delphinus]

Missed this photo in the upload (also from the Maui Ocean Centre)

[Delphinus]

Thanks for the kind words. I had over 160 pictures on my digital so it's hard to pick and choose which ones. I might upload a few more later if you guys will indulge me, I found some incredible plants (broms, orchids, etc etc etc all the sort of things you wish you could grow here but can't), and I found these three horned chameleons up on the mountain that were just bizarre.

Hi Neal, the camera I use is an Olympus C-5000, 5 megapixel. I've had it about a year and a half so I don't know if it's still available or if it's been replaced yet (digital cameras seem to have a shelf life of about 2 weeks). It was the best blend of budget and macro that I could find, being about half the cost (or maybe even a tad less than half) of a comparable Nikon at the time but has macro capability down to about 2" which I thought would be better for tank shots. As it turns out I seem to do much better on outdoor photos and plants than I do of tank shots, but it's probably due more to my incompetence than due to the camera itself).

[Nate]

Hey Tony,

Yes, I am pretty much 100 % sure that algae blennies are found in Hawaii....

salarias faciatus I believe...

Glad you had a good vacation

[OCDP]

Dang Tony, those pics bring back some memories. I was in Maui last Christmas.

I went to the Maui ocean center as well, that place is pretty rad. They had some cool coral tanks when I was there.

The snorkeling was just as you said, great for fish, not the greatest for corals.. but still good nonetheless.

Ah man, I need to get my butt back there... thanks for the pics, glad you had a great time

[muck]

Love the T'oitles.