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

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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Crocodile Needlefish

The CROCODILE NEEDLEFISH (called 'aha) is a large needlefish with a stout beak and forked tail that can grow to more than 3 feet in length. 

It tends to hover directly below the surface, and it cleaned by the Hawaiian cleaner wrasse. 

When it becomes frightened, it's able to jump completely out of the water, and has been known to accidentally harm divers or fishermen with its sharp beak. 

Flagtail Tilefish

The FLAGTAIL TILEFISH (called maka'a) is often seen in pairs, swimming by rippling their anal and dorsal fins.  Because they're able to swim so efficiently and quickly, predators have a hard time catching them.  They're most commonly seen on leeward sides of the islands in sand and rubble, often close to their burrow which they build with their mouths.  They are bluish-white in color and have two black stripes on their tail fins.  

They must be approached slowly with subtle movements or they will quickly dive head first into their burrows.

Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle

The HAWAIIAN GREEN SEA TURTLE, called honu, and the inspiration for Honu Hawaiian Diving, is the most widespread turtle species in Hawaii. Adult turtles feed on algae and sea grass, generally grazing close to shore in mornings and late afternoons.  When they're not feeding, they often are seen sleeping.  While awake, turtles must surface every few minutes to breathe, but while sleeping, they can stay underwater for two hours.  These turtles are creatures of habit and tend to lay in same spots on wrecks and on coral ledges, so much so that they begin to make impressions in the coral and alter its appearance.  

Cleaning stations are a favorite place for turtles to frequent as well, where surgeonfish, tangs and sometimes saddle wrasses eat algae off their shells.  Hawaiian green sea turtles are the only green turtles who will bask openly in sun on shores of beaches. They do this to conserve energy and avoid predation by sharks, particularly tiger sharks. 

These turtles reach maturity around age 25, when males grow a long heavy tail.  After mating offshore, female turtles crawl onto a beach at night to dig a hole in order to deposit their 100-200 eggs.  Although they don't reproduce every year, in years that they do, they can nest up to five times in one season.  Baby turtles hatch after a two-month gestation, crawl to the sea, and remain there for 4-6 years feeding on jellyfish and other surface-dwelling animals. 

Green sea turtles are protected under Hawaii State Law (passed in 1974) and have been listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act since 1978.  It is illegal to harm, harass or touch the turtles in any way.  If a turtle is swimming toward you and you can't get out of the way, you're expected to keep still and not reach out to touch them in any way.  They were named green sea turtles, not just because of the algae on their shells, but because cooks noted their fat was green when they used to be slaughtered to make turtle soup, which was considered a delicacy at the time.  These animals can reach 4ft, weigh up to 400 pounds, and live past 80 years old. 

Come dive with Honu Hawaiian Diving and experience these beautiful creatures.  We offer intro dives for people with no experience to try out this underwater world.  We also offer PADI classes to certify people tailored to fit your schedule whether you’re vacationing here or call Oahu home.  In addition, we offer dives, both shallow & deep, to visit various reefs and wrecks around the island for every experience level! #scuba #diving #scubadiving #honuhawaiiandiving #oahu #hawaii #itsahonuworld #honu

Longspine Porcupinefish

The LONGSPINE PORCUPINEFISH (called kokala; 'o'opu okala), also referred to as the Spiny Balloonfish, is light brown with several large dark irregular spots and bars as well as many tiny dark blotches.  It's covered with long, backward-pointing spines along the side and back, erecting only when fish inflates.  It has short barbels under the chin and clear fins with few or no spots.  These fish are primarily nocturnal, but can be seen hovering virtually motionless during the day under ledges or in sheltered areas.  They've been known to frequent the same resting spot for months at a time. 

Pinktail Triggerfish

The PINKTAIL TRIGGERFISH (called humuhumu hi'u kole), also called the Pinktail Durgon, is dark brown with a white tail, often with a pink tinge.  The dorsal and anal fins are cleanish-white and lined in black, and the pectoral fins are yellow.  They primarily feed on algae or plankton, but occasionally eat octopus, crustaceans and other fish.  Although typically skittish and quick to hide female pinktails will become bold when guarding their eggs, with their dorsal spine erect.  Females protecting their eggs will even attempt to bite a diver that gets too close.

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