Four octopuses, 1 frog fish and 1 star fish

I had heard there would be serious waves, so I was hopeful on my way to the swimming spot that I'd even be able to get in.

But the serious waves they touted on t.v. must have been on Oahu. We had waves, but nothing that kept me out of the water. And glad of it, with the bonanza I found!

 Closer up shots of the frog fish. I am mystified by the holes in their skin...what use could that accomplish?

The eyes are cute, too. And the bump on their head, I think, turns into a lure eventually that they can move to attract prey, like real fishing.

 The following photo is how I first saw it today: cute little guy.

 This fish was definitely hiding.

And 4 octopuses. Yay.

 These are all he'e #1. See the siphon in the preceding photo. And the white tube of the siphon.

 After I swam a bit away, it peeked up at me to check that I was really gone. Sorry, octopus. (The brown part on the right is the two eyes.)

 You can see the sand that accumulates on their skin when the waves bring sand in. Or when they use their siphon to blow sand at inquisitive octo-snoopers.

Now, on to He'e #2:

This octopus didn't appear too upset at my presence, but I was in the deeper part, so perhaps it had no clue that I was there. ha.

Octopus #3:

 This one spread its "skirt" while inside its den. I usually see them doing that when hunting.

Looks peaceful, doesn't it?

He'e 4:

 It started out by peeking at me....

and then got mad when I got closer. Photos should be allowed.

This star fish was attached to the back of some trash. It jumped off and onto the bottom when I picked the trash up. Sorry, star fish, gotta get rid of trash in the ocean...I normally see dark brown ones hiding in crevices.

Above, the

 Christmas Wrasse male. See the female a few pictures below.

 Cornet fish and eel #1 below

 Eel #2

 This little fish has been mystifying me for quite a while! I can't get a good enough photo to really i.d. it, but I'm thinking in the Chromis family. Dark body and yellow tail.

 Here's the female Christmas Wrasse.

 And a male Trunk or Box fish

 Here's another of the mystery fish. I'll let you know.

Needle fish near the surface

 And of course, wonderful clouds.

Rock Mover Wrasse

 A pair of Saddle back Butterfly fish

I am not sure what to call these, but they have a tube that curves around. If I find out, I'll let you know.

 And last in the alphabet is the Yellow Tail Coris. Gorgeous fish that has caught the Rock Mover idea of picking up rocks to turn them over for food....

So quite a nice snorkel, considering that it was raining on me a bit in the beginning. That's ideal for me: after all, I'm wet when in the water, so rain is no prob!

Return of the Frogfish! Oh and an octopus....

Looks like it's standing on its nose almost! You can see its eye a bit in these photos (on the left on the head) I was quite happy to catch a picture of this little guy again, as the King Tides had gone down and I was able to really get out there.....

 Various different poses from my one octo-sighting.:

 A little light makes a big difference!

And then it was brown. Also showing a bit of the siphon.

 Still watching me. I would NEVER hurt or hunt an octopus!!

This octopus is becoming a regular, although I hesitate to name it that, as once I call them a regular, they tend to disappear!

 Two Moorish idols...going the same way, for once!

 Ditto for the Raccoon Butterfly fish

 I haven't seen this before: I don't know if the Saddle Wrasses were chasing the eel or vice versa, but they were mixing it up! At one point the eel had the Saddle's nose in its jaws. A better camera person might have caught it on video, but it happened so fast...

 Abudefduf

Male Box or Trunk Fish

 This Christmas Wrasse wanted no part of standing around for a photo...

 Cirrus clouds. So pretty 

Snakeshead Cowry hiding under a rock

 This Electric Blue crab was dragging its shell all along the top of a rock.

 Bad, bad fisherman! Look at that hook! I was able to get the line and the lure and the hook safely out of the water. Just another reason not to walk on the bottom! Especially barefoot!

 Sad fishing line all over coral head. I was able to get most of it out with the handy/dandy scissors my sweetheart bought for me. Thanks, Alex!

 More of the lure. And hook.

 Juvenile Yellow Tail Coris. (Which has absolutely no yellow until it's older.)

Snowflake Moray scooting along.

 Tiny fish. Colored pretty much like the sand. Maybe an inch long.

My husband had asked if I ever see small trevally. Yup!

 And a nice find: the Turban shell with operculum still in it. I did leave it there. I thought the rainbow colors on the bottom was a nice touch. Note that some of the outward shell has been flaked off by something..

 Another eel. This is the one that was boxing with the Saddle wrasses above.

 Waves underwater. With my dive glove and watch..

A very nice swim, with octopus and frogfish. Always a treat. It was also a treat not to be slammed by big waves.

Sometimes, even if you think you know what you're doing....

So there was a decent rip this morning. I got in ok on the deep side and wasn't swept away, so I proceeded to look for octopuses and other cool creatures. 

The surf was 5 to 7 feet and looked pretty amazing. I decided immediately not to go as far out as I normally do. 

When I was done on the deep side, I looked for the waves and shot over to the Keiki Pond in between.

I looked for and found an octopus:

Obviously, not the best photo, but he was hiding in his den. Just where he should be!

And a Scorpion Fish:

the mouth is to the right of the photo. Slightly agape.

So after I saw some cool things, the current got me! It swept me over the dividing rocks and back into the deeper side. It was really going and my fervent finning had no effect. My bad!

So I looked again for operculum, found a few more and then the waves going the other way swept me back over the rocks into the Keiki pond! And here I thought I had an inkling about how to maneuver. Words to the wise.. No ill effects, but I am reminded to take good care.

Other cool animals:

 Christmas Wrasse

 Cone and Drupe shells

 Hermit Crab: look at the upper right to see its eyes.

 And the mystery fish hiding in the corals. I do think it's a Spotfin Scorp, but could easily be wrong.

 And my new cool Octopus bath mat! Purchased for me by my sweetheart for my un-birthday present. (He says, since my birthday is in December that I should not have to share my birthday with Jesus. So he gives me another birthday in July. Cool, non?)

 Pencil Urchins being accompanied by Brighteye Chromis.

 Picasso Trigger

 And a very nice and very shy Porcupine Puffer! It's hard to tell from this photo, but the skin had a very pristine sheen to it, so I would guess it's not very old.

 Ringtail Surgeon

 Rock Mover Wrasse. It had just picked up the red rock and thrown it around to peek underneath for food items. They are tough!

So a nice swim, even with big waves. I tried to get out to Frogfish territory, without any luck. The waves were too slamming...Be careful out there!!