Return of the Frogfish

Actually, since I couldn't get out far enough last time, it's really me returning. I'm pretty sure the frogfish was there all along...

 Here is the little fish....not sure if it's a female or male. Also not sure how to know that!

 And it appears upside down again. Really, it was me that was upside down. But still able to take a photo, apparently.

 I am so curious about those holes in its skin....any ideas on what they would accomplish?

I also spotted two octopuses:

 In the preceding one, I wouldn't be surprised if you can't see it. It was peeking at me! You can just see its eye in the vertical center and to the right of horizontal center. It's brown with white stripes radiating out from the eye.

 I have seen this one before and was a bit worried...people were walking all over near its den. Perhaps that's why it stays hidden. They are smart animals...

 More peeking:

Always thankful to spot octopuses. And here's today's Leaf fish:

 It was being thrown about by the water.

It looks like just any other rock, but it's really a box crab. Look in the center of the photo and for the line that is its mouth. 

 Drupe shell and goop.

 Trevally and goat fish, hunting together.

 Indo Pacific Damsel

 A tiny Lizard fish for Alex!

 And the male Box or Trunk fish

 Saddle Wrasse. I see these fish all the time and rarely take their photo! Some people are so octo-centric.

These white shells were still closed, with both sides present, so I assumed they were being used by the original animal, and I didn't pick 'em up.

And today's trash and shells. Three sets of fishing line. I'm happier when I have the lead still attached, as that gives me somewhere to put the hook (they usually have some kind of attaching circle and I use that.) Kind of a pain, though: the line always gets fouled in the zipper of my dive bag. But better that than leaving them on the ocean floor. Note also the cone shells: i do wonder who can crunch through that tough shell?

Thanks to God for creating all the wonderful animals. And operculum, of which I found quite a few. I now have over 11,000 of them. Yeah, I agree: crazy!

And thanks for reading this post. 

big waves and funky water

Not surprisingly, we had some wind and waves. I am thankful that so far, it seems Hurricane Hector is passing us by. Hopefully without any damage to any of the Hawaiian islands.

So the water clarity was not great. I was just thankful to swim, even on the deep side, with no ill effects. Unfortunately, the octopuses apparently had all left town, being super careful about the hurricane.....

 Even I, who took the photo, had a hard time spotting the object of the first photo: it's a blenny! Find the red rock at the top, and look down. You'll see the little guy. S/he just sat there in its hole, so I was able to get a quick shot of her/him.

 Another Box Crab. Now that I know to look for them, I'm seeing more of them. But they do have to move in order to draw my attention. They look just like a rock if they are still. This one is in the center of the photo, with the two boxy arms to the left of center. 

 Loads of Brighteye Chromis. I smile when I see them. And, by the way, the octopus has not returned to the spot where the Brighteye was challenging it a couple of weeks ago! Apparently, the much larger octopus is afraid of the tiny fish.

 This eel might be a Dragon Moray. The first I've seen. Let me know what you think.

 The horrible fishing line and weight/hook. It took me ten minutes or so to get all that line wound around and taken out. I really hate those things! They are really deadly. Not only are they an eyesore, but that line, out in the water, can still catch animals, which would suffocate.

 Tiny Humu

 Small Lizard

 Nice shells.

And the urchin, with its anal sac in the middle. These are so pretty, yet so venomous. 

Go that way if you want to see fish!

As I neared the end of the Sunday dive, a cute little boy swam up to me, tapped me and said "Go that way if you want to see fish!" How adorable. Of course, I'd been seeing fish all along, so it wasn't surprising. But he was so excited.  So I thanked him.  If I told him I was trying to see octopuses, he probably would have followed me, hoping.  Anyway, it was cute.  And I didn't see octopuses anyway.  Two days, no he'e! But as I told God, I enjoy the swim anyway.  I am always a bit disappointed when I don't see octopuses, but I am thankful for the swim.  I did see some cool stuff, so it wasn't like there were no neat things to spot.

Hiding eel.  He's the brown part, inside the hole, wrapped around the rock. No wonder I didn't see any octopuses!!!

Money Cowry. It is SO tempting to pick 'em up! I don't think I have any of these at home.  But I didn't.  I do try to be good.

This is why lots of folks don't see Leaf Fish.  The big rock, at the bottom. You can see it, kinda light green...leaning one "paw" on the rock. They are good at disguise.

Christmas Wrasse.  Just occurred to me that it is brightly colored, but as far as I know, not poisonous.  So I guess that "bright colors" means "leave me alone" isn't always the case.

A friend, in town from North Carolina, said these Rock Mover Wrasse fish look like they have makeup on. HAHAHA. 

I think this is a yellow phase of the Orange Shoulder Surgeon Fish. Correct me if I'm wrong!

This Spanish Dancer might be about to crawl off a cliff. I don't know how their eyesight is, but I hope it doesn't get poked.

 Trunk Fish. Alex and I really love these..

As we do the Lizard fish.

 This neat 4 spot butterfly was about 2 inches long. Awesomely cute!

Can you see the scorpion fish? It has its right fin on the red rock. They, like the Leaf Fish, are really good hiders.

As is this box crab! I would NEVER have spotted it if it hadn't moved.  It's the middle "rock"..you can see the slightly opened mouth. And 2 eyes just below the mouth in this photo.

Cowry near a drupe.  I don't think either would eat the other..i hope.

 This is the same Cowry that I found yesterday.  In the same general area.

This large Cone shell was in the rocks between the big pond and the little pond.  I spotted it just as I was pulled over into the big pond! So this is the best photo I got, as I couldn't find it again when I fought the current and went back over...nice big cone and definitely filled with the real animal. You can see it near the bottom of the shell, inside.

Today's trash and shell and operculum haul.  Thankfully, I didn't see any yucky trash (paper, old shoes, dental bridge...yes I have found one of those. No lie!)

So no octopuses were spotted, but I have heard that since we have so many seals, turtles and of course, that lifeguard that hunts 'em, I'm not surprised.  Perhaps God will show me some next week. Thanks for the safety, God!

And speaking of God, please pray for my friend with cancer, when you can take a moment. She is having hospice care at home now.