Diving Kona

When I got up in the morning, my scratchy throat and watery eyes told me right away that our captain had parked in the vog. For the folks from LA, it was probably reminiscent of home. Many remarked that it made for a nice ambiance after the volcano. I almost didn't go on the dive which would have been a mistake. The dive sites were just outside the vog and I ended up breathing easier and having a lot of fun!

The first dive was a location known as the "golden" arches. These are two tan underwater arches. Now I like diving and I like caves, but it took some fortitude to dive in a cave full of urchins and other pointy things. While everyone else went through the arch, I went over it and got to watch a panicked eel scramble to find a new hole. Apparently, he/she didn't appreciate the sudden visitors and it made a good show. The rest of the divers also riled up the crustaceans and they were clicking away like chattering squirrels. There were lots of fish as always, and I managed to get myself through the second arch.

The second dive, was at a place the dive master called "The Big Arch." This was a very large arch and lava tube network and he made sure to note that we were to follow him. The lava tube ended in a bend and there was an urchin at just the wrong spot. It took some creativity to make the turn. I briefly touched the ceiling while trying to avoid getting a belly full of spines. This was a shallower dive and, in addition to the clicking, I got to hear the "Pig fish" (Humuhumu... ah you know which one) grunting at us. There were several more eels along the way and a couple of flat fish which I took pictures of but will probably disappear because they blend so well with the bottom.

Got back to the ship and took a nap.