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Christmas Dive Pictures - 2005

Raccoon Butterflyfish - Kikakapu

This may be the only nocturnal butterflyfish. By day it is yellow orange, at night a dull brown.

Pyramid Butterflyfish

This fish can be found schooling near steep dropoffs, preferring depths of 40 feet or more.

Orangespine Unicornfish - Umauma Lei

This hornless unicornfish has bright orange markings. Commonly seen in shallow water.

Lined Butterfly Fish - Kikakapu

As large as dinner plates, these fish are almost always seen in pairs. They are the largest of the butterflyfish, and they often grow to 12 inches.

Trumpetfish - nunu

These fish propel themselves by fluttering dorsal and anal fins set far back on their bodies. They stalk small fish and suck them into their mouths.

Ornate Butterflyfish - kikakapu

Among the most beautiful of the butterflyfishes, these fish have graceful diagonal orange striping. They feed exclusively on live coral.

Whitemouth Moray Eel - Puhi

The most commonly seen moray in Hawaii. They occasionally hold their mouths wide open in a threat display.

Moorish Idol - kihikihi

These fish frequently swim in pairs. With their perfect blend of form and color and their graceful trailing filaments, they are always a delight to see.

Rare Longnose Butterflyfish - Lau-wiliwili-nukunuku-oi'oi

This fish is rare everywhere except the Kona Coast of the Big Island. Both the Hawaiian and scientific name mean "long-beaked". Don't you love its Hawaiian name?

Yellow Tang - Lau-i-pala

Schools of these golden fish flowing over the reef are a sight unique to Hawaii. They are found elsewhere, but are abundant only in Hawaii.

Bluestripe Snapper - ta'ape

Large schools of these fish are a common sight around wrecks and other popular dive sites, particularly where fishes have been hand fed. They were introduced from the Marquesas in 1958 for commercial reasons, but are sometimes regarded by fishermen as a pest rather than an asset.

Parrotfish - Uhu

These fish have heavy beaklike dental plates which they use to scrape algae from coral or to bite off chunks of living coral. This scraping and crunching is easily heard underwater. It is said that much of the world's coral sand is produced by these fishes.

Threadfin Butterflyfish - kikakapu

These beautifully marked butterflyfish hold home territory in which pairs roam freely. Other species of butterflyfishes are tolerated, but same species are driven away.

Dinner Is Served

A sea urchin cracked open by a diver's knife rings the dinner bell and nearby fish gather to dine.