Ni'ihau diving around Lehua Rock was spectacular. Ocean conditions were blessed by the gods. It was flat calm on the surface, visibility was easily 100ft, and the creatures greeted us. Thanks to having another bubble watcher on board, Julie, I was able to do two drift dives. Julie is working on becoming an instructor through KCC.
Julie did the first dive of the day at Keyhole. I did the second dive which was at Ledges. The dive was a wall dive which really added to the sensation that we were flying. Deep blue waters surrounded us and from is vast and deep blueness emerged a very large white tip shark to check us out. He did a few rounds as he checked us out. He got fairly close but not as close as another encounter we were soon to have. As we proceeded along the wall we witnessed a number of magnificent spotted eagle rays just coast by. They came single file and seem to be riding the water's thermocline as they searched for feeding grounds. As one passed and the photographers snapped away there was another waiting in the wings to come and surprise us just as we thought the show was over. It was repeat encores by spotted eagle rays. We proceeded up the wall and leveled off on a ledge at around 30 feet in depth. Being so shallow allowed the sun's rays to better penetrate and make all the colors just POP. We proceeded along enjoying the sites and off gassing before making out 3-minute safety stop at 15 feet. Just as the remaining divers were finishing their safety stop a monk seal just swam up and almost in to Mary Ann, a customer from West Palm Beach, FL. It took us all by surprise. So much for ending the dive. We all went back down again to enjoy the seal. He just swam along slowly for us and them decided to take a nice long rest on the bottom next to a rock out cropping. He allowed us all to get very close. It was AMAZING. I spent at least 4 minutes laying on the bottom right next to him. I could have just reached out and touched him, but I didn't. I never realized that they have long nail like formations on their flippers. Once back on the boat we learned that that particular fellow is named Oscar, so named by our divemasters. We all came very close to breathing a tank dry.
After such an amazing dive we were all ready for much deserved lunch break. We moored up and served lunch. Everyone just relaxed and some took the opportunity to go snorkeling in the shallows near the shore of Lehua Rock. After about a good hour surface interval and lunch break we proceeded to do our third and last dive of the day at the Arches. The Dragon Wrasse were abundant and a challenging subject for the photographers.
Everyone had a great time and I am very lucky to be able to repeat the experience again next week. One of our captains has referred to diving Ni'ihau like diving in Kauai but in HD (high definition). Remember if visiting Kauai between May to September, Ni'ihau is the a must do trip.
Julie did the first dive of the day at Keyhole. I did the second dive which was at Ledges. The dive was a wall dive which really added to the sensation that we were flying. Deep blue waters surrounded us and from is vast and deep blueness emerged a very large white tip shark to check us out. He did a few rounds as he checked us out. He got fairly close but not as close as another encounter we were soon to have. As we proceeded along the wall we witnessed a number of magnificent spotted eagle rays just coast by. They came single file and seem to be riding the water's thermocline as they searched for feeding grounds. As one passed and the photographers snapped away there was another waiting in the wings to come and surprise us just as we thought the show was over. It was repeat encores by spotted eagle rays. We proceeded up the wall and leveled off on a ledge at around 30 feet in depth. Being so shallow allowed the sun's rays to better penetrate and make all the colors just POP. We proceeded along enjoying the sites and off gassing before making out 3-minute safety stop at 15 feet. Just as the remaining divers were finishing their safety stop a monk seal just swam up and almost in to Mary Ann, a customer from West Palm Beach, FL. It took us all by surprise. So much for ending the dive. We all went back down again to enjoy the seal. He just swam along slowly for us and them decided to take a nice long rest on the bottom next to a rock out cropping. He allowed us all to get very close. It was AMAZING. I spent at least 4 minutes laying on the bottom right next to him. I could have just reached out and touched him, but I didn't. I never realized that they have long nail like formations on their flippers. Once back on the boat we learned that that particular fellow is named Oscar, so named by our divemasters. We all came very close to breathing a tank dry.
After such an amazing dive we were all ready for much deserved lunch break. We moored up and served lunch. Everyone just relaxed and some took the opportunity to go snorkeling in the shallows near the shore of Lehua Rock. After about a good hour surface interval and lunch break we proceeded to do our third and last dive of the day at the Arches. The Dragon Wrasse were abundant and a challenging subject for the photographers.
Everyone had a great time and I am very lucky to be able to repeat the experience again next week. One of our captains has referred to diving Ni'ihau like diving in Kauai but in HD (high definition). Remember if visiting Kauai between May to September, Ni'ihau is the a must do trip.
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