World Turtle Day!

Happy World Turtle Day from Honu Hawaiian Diving! 

Make sure you respect these beautiful creatures by not harassing them, and by picking up any trash you find diving!

(Photos by Jarrod Arnold & Sarah Kalfus)

Divided Flatworm

The DIVIDED FLATWORM (scientific name: Pseudoceros c.f. dimidiatus) is a bold, brightly colored flatworm that's active during the day and easily spotted while diving on reefs. 

Recent tests confirmed that this worm, with its non-camouflaged colors, is poisonous, containing tetrodotoxin. This is the same poison found in pufferfish. The "c.f." in the species name indicates that this animal is similar to the original species, but slightly different, and eventually this flatworm will be recognized as distinct. Its scientific name means "divided in half" because of the stripes going down the back. They grow to 2.5 inches. #scuba #dive #scubadive #hhd #honuhawaiiandiving #fishfacts #dividedflatworm #flatworm

Spinner Dolphin

The SPINNER DOLPHIN (called naia) are slender dolphins with a long about. Their backs are dark gray, their sides are light gray, and their bellies are white.  However, this color pattern is only seen around the Hawaiian islands. Spinner dolphins in the Eastern Pacific tend to be more uniformly gray. These dolphins are seen close to shore and are very active. They're always seen leaping, spinning and splashing in the water, and are known to jump as high as 10 feet out of the water. 

Typical of dolphins, they're very social and stay in groups (pods) of 6 to 250 animals. Although they're often seen in shallow waters during the day to rest and play, they feed offshore at night and dive as deep as 800 feet to hunt fish and squid. #scuba #dive #scubadive #honuhawaiiandiving #hhd #fishfacts #dolphins #spinnerdolphins

Photo Credit: HEPCA found on www.wiseoceans.com

Hawaiian Spiky Sea Cucumber

The HAWAIIAN SPIKY SEA CUCUMBER is a large firm sea cucumber that is covered with fleshy spikes that can be up to 1.5" long.  

It is dark reddish brown and tends to be seen out in the open on sand or rubble near reefs, in water 50-150 feet. It's fairly commonly seen while diving, but scientists still don't know much about this sea cucumber. This species is endemic to Hawaii. #scuba #dive #scubadive #hhd #honuhawaiiandiving #fishfacts #seacucumber

Winged Box Jellyfish

The WINGED BOX JELLYFISH is colorless and transparent with elongated bells, only about 3" high and 2" wide. There are 4 tentacles that reach up to 4.5" long that hang from each corner of the bell. When in the water, these jellyfish look like small floating plastic bags and are difficult to see. They move toward the light at night and tend to be found off of southern facing beaches in Oahu, 7-10 days after a full moon, when they move towards shore to spawn. In a single night, hundreds or even thousands can wash up on shore. Most often these jellies are found at the surface, but they can be found midwater too, as far as a mile offshore. 

(Photo Credit: OpenWaterPedia.com)

If you come in contact with their tentacles, it will cause an instantaneous painful burning sensation that is supposedly as painful, or more painful, than a Portuguese Man-of-War. Typically the pain will subside on its own within an hour, but it's possible for the pain to last as long as 8 hours. Because of the intense pain, many victims experience weakness, cramps, and breathing difficulties and should seek medical attention for pain control. #scuba #dive #scubadive #hhd #honuhawaiiandiving #fishfacts #jellyfish #boxjellyfish

Feather Duster Worm

The FEATHER DUSTER WORM has a body enclosed in a leather-like tube and a large fan or crown that looks like a feather duster, hence the name. It uses the crown for respiration and for filtering particles from the water. When the crown is touched or senses a shadow, it immediately retreats inside the tube. 

Because of their feeding habits collecting particles in the water, these worms prefer turbid waters with decent currents. When a particle of food is collected, it moves to the groove in the center of the crown propelled by hairlike cilia. Once particles reach the base of the crown, they are sorted by size. The small particles are eaten, while the larger particles are either discarded or mixed with mucus to extend its tube. #scuba #dive #scubadive #hhd #honuhawaiiandiving #fishfacts #worm #featherdusterworm

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Humpback Whale

The HUMPBACK WHALE (called kohola) is one of the largest whales in the world, reaching 45 feet and weighing 40-45 tons. Their genus name, Megaptera, means "big wings" because of their long pectoral fins, which are 1/3 the length of their bodies. Their lifespan is 30-40 years, and they have regular migration patterns. During fall and early winter, they migrate toward the equator from their cold water feeding grounds in the Arctic and Antarctic. They tend to come to Hawaii (and other tropical islands) to mate and give birth. There is no specific time at which they arrive in the Hawaiian islands, but they tend to arrive alone, or in groups segregated by age, sex and reproductive condition.


While around the islands, they eat virtually nothing, surviving off the blubber they stored during summer months. However, newborn calves receive approximately 130 gallons of milk from their mother daily. Calves tend to stay with their mothers for a year, and by their second migration trip in the summer to cooler waters, they typically go off on their own. Around the islands, these whales are seen by whale watchers frequently and occasionally are seen by lucky divers, in water as shallow as 40 feet. They're often seen spouting, breaching, and slapping their pectoral fins. Often times while in the water, you're able to hear their songs, which vary by pods. Their songs usually last 6-18 minutes, but when they leave the islands, their singing gradually decreases and ceases completely by the time they reach Alaska.

One of the most common behaviors noted of humpback whales is their spouting on the surface. They typically dive for 10-20 minutes, and upon surfacing, they must empty their lungs, and do so in just under one second. Their air that is expelled travels at 300 mph and produces a spray, or spout, 20 feet into the air. After several breaths, the whale is able to dive again. 

The other behavior noted on the surface is breaching, when the whale propels itself completely, or almost completely, out of the water. Nobody knows the true reason behind breaching but biologists believe it's for communication and social reasons. However, biologists believe head slapping is a more aggressive behavior, frequently done when large makes are in close proximity. 

SHORTNOSE MANTIS SHRIMP

The SHORTNOSE MANTIS SHRIMP (called aloalo) is a smasher mantis shrimp that burrows in rocky habitats around 80-100 feet.  They’re typically very active in the day and can be spotted peeking out of its burrow hole, or scampering about on a scavenger hunt.  

They’re bright orange and white with a horizontal band going through their eyes, as well as a dark and light spot above and below their eyes.  They tend to be a curious shrimp and don’t normally shy away from divers unlike other mantis shrimp.  

See if you can spot one...

Yellowbellied Sea Snake

The YELLOWBELLIED SEA SNAKE is the most widespread snake in the world, found on the east coast of Africa all the way to the west coast of America. It lives its whole life in the open ocean and rarely gets close to the shore. 

This snake is purplish/black on too and completely bright yellow on its underside. It has a flattened tail for propulsion in the water, and is either banded or spotted in the same colors as its body. They range from 2-4 feet in length.

There have only been 20 sightings in Hawaii, so it's a very special treat if you're able to find one. Make sure you get photo proof! #scuba #diving #scubadiving #honuhawaiiandiving #oahu #hawaii #itsahonuworld #fishfacts #seasnake

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Cheekspot Scorpionfish

The CHEEKSPOT SCORPIONFISH is a very rare scorpionfish that, when seen, can be spotted anywhere from the shoreline to 100' deep, and is most commonly found around the northwestern Hawaiian islands. There are some species displayed in the Bishop Museum here on Oahu, and they were found around 80'.

 It is a mottled brown color, often with a bright red iris around its black pupil. There is also a prominent dark oval patch near its gills, hence its name.  

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Hawaiian Fantail Filefish

The HAWAIIAN FANTAIL FILEFISH (called o'ili 'uwi 'uwi) is a yellowish white fish covered in dark spots. The fanlike tail is bright orange with a black margin. Their mouth, throat and underside have blue markings, and their dorsal spine is bright yellow. These fish are normally seen in pairs, but they become territorial when other fish come close, and raise their dorsal fins and flutter their bright tail. 

This species varies in abundance from year to year, and are most commonly found near the bottom feeding on algae and small invertebrates when abundance is low. During abundant years, they're often found in open water feeding on plankton, but their coloring becomes pale, and that has shown to be indicative that there will be a mass death imminent, where thousands wash up on shore. In ancient Hawaii, this was said to predict an upcoming death of a chief. 

Their dried bodies were used for boat fuel, however fisherman hated these mass deaths because game fish hunt on the easy meal and become disinterested in the fishermen's bait. When removed from the water, these fish instantly make a small noise, hence the Hawaiian name, which translates to "squeal".

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