Scuba Dream Time

We have had a bout with unusually bad weather on Kauai which has resulted in some poor ocean conditions. After two whole weeks out of the water we decided to take the boat out and survey water conditions ourselves. I was hoping for the best but was devestated by what I witnessed. We headed our from Kukui'ula Small Boat Harbor, which is absolutely brown. There is negative visibility in the harbor. Some attribute the poor conditions to the huge housing development near by that has come to a stand still. I don't know whose to blame but I can;t imagine most marine life can live with so much silt in the water. It's a tragedy. We decided to head east toward the Caverns. Stopped and the Caverns and jumped in. Viz was about 20 feet which is poor and that was the best we were to find. So we head further east towards Kipu. We were astonished to find green water and abundant debris in the water. Huge logs and grasses starting to form there own little islands abounded. We d...

Yesterday we had an amazing day for our trip to Ni'ihau. Ocean conditions were perfect for the channel crossing. It was a smooth trip out to Ni'ihau and a unusually smooth ride back from Ni'ihau. Our first dive of the day was at Keyhole. The site gets its name from the shape of the rocks where divers get dropped off. The boat backs into the Keyhole area and drops off divers for a drift dive. Normally the currents are strong and the conditions surging causing the boat to have to make several drops. Yesterday's conditions were so calm that the boat was able to maintain is position long enough to allow all 14 divers to jump off in one pass. We hung on the surface for a minute enjoying the view and allowing divers to regroup. We then descended as one large group to about 40 - 50 feet and head out of the Keyhole cavern. Once we rounded the corner we were present with a very swift current. The current was causing our air bubbles to travel horizontally through the wa...

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 ph...

Today was one of those diving days that just plants a permanent smile on your face. It started just like any other. There was the perk of seeing a Hawaiian monk seal beached on Poipu Beach on the way to Kukuiula Harbor to meet the dive boat. Keep in mind that these are some of the world's most endangered species. There are believed to only be about 1200 to 1300 in the entire world, and only about 25-30 on Kauai. Volunteers go to great lengths to protect the seals when the come on to the beaches to rest. On we proceeded to Seasport Divers' very roomy and comfortable Newton dive boat. On our way to the first dive sight we saw a baby humpback whale just breaching and having a blast. It was remarkably smaller that the gentle giant it will soon grow to become. I am still hoping to see a whale while diving, but until then I am thrilled with seeing them from the surface. Our first dive was a drift dive on Brennecke's Ledge. Shortly after we descended we saw a lionfish (no...