7 octopus - perfection!

Seven supposedly refers to perfection. So it was perfect that I saw 7 octopuses, but the photos are less than stellar. It's all good though. We are working on a move to Oahu, so I'm storing up the good Kauai experiences.

 The Rock Mover was irritating this poor octopus #1.

And this photo is what I first saw. Deep side.

 #2. Stayed in the den and didn't do much other than breathe.

 #3 was a great hider. The brown part in the left of the den is the octopus.

 #4 I think.

#5 

 #6

 #7

One always wants them to sing and dance, but sometimes, they are just hanging out breathing.

 The male Trunk fish was touching the female, then swam away.

Very happy to see the Big Eye Emperor! I haven't seen one this size ever.

 Cornets meeting.

 A Drupe shell covered in ocean goop.

 Kihikihi (Moorish Idol) and a Christmas wrasse.

 Needlefish

 The Pinktail always runs away. And since it's the deep side, the photo is never close up. But still enjoyable.

 While this photo is a bit fuzzy, I included because it appears that the Stocky Hawkfish was peeking at me.

 A tiny Humu. I smile every time I see these tiny guys.

 Bluefin Trevally

Yellow Tail Coris. I showed the juvenile in my previous post. So pretty.

High tide did not kick my ***!

I debated about going into the deep side today, as it was high tide. But the surf wasn't very big, so after due consideration and a discussion with a very nice lady from Illinois, I decided it was ok. And it was nice, once I got in there. The water did move me around a bit, but not unmanageably. And I was not swept over to the shallow side against my will, so that's all good too.
Two octopuses spotted:

 You can see some bumps on its skin.

 And the eye is at the top of the body, so just below the rock above its den.

And this is what I saw at first. Hard to see, isn't it?

 He'e #2 was hiding in a hole in a rock.

 But at one point, it did show more of itself. But it didn't come out to play.

Did you see the recent PBS show on octopuses?! If not, catch up on DVR, as it's a story about octopuses and how cool they are, as experienced by an Alaskan professor and his daughter! And no, it's not the Pacific octopus featured, but the kind we get over here, the cyanea. Very neat show, with lots of video of the coolest animal on the planet. (It's possible I'm a little bit biased.)

 I recently learned the Hawaiian name for Moorish Idol: Kihikihi! (Say it key-he-key-he). Cool, non?

 I have not yet learned the Hawaiian name for a Cowry shell, however. Doesn't stop them from being pretty.

 Crab hiding inside a hole.

 God's Rays

 Manini group of juveniles...Manini being manini!

Rainbow. Worth popping up for.

 Scorpion Fish. They do blend in very well, I think.

 You can see, following, a bit of the orange on the inside of the side fin.

Bluefin Trevally irritating a Snowflake Moray.

 Juvenile Yellow Tail Coris. I saw the adults today, too, but didn't think to snap a photo. I see them so often.

A nice swim all around. Glad I ventured into the deeper side. 

Very nice swim

As you know, for me, any day including a live octopus is a good day: and I saw 3 today! So I am very happy about today's swim.

 #1 octopus was over in the deeper side. I noticed the rocks outside its den first.

 Octopus #2 was harder to spot. If you look above at the brown stuff in the upside down v of the rocks, that's the octopus! You can see its eye just above and to the left of the red rock at the bottom.

 #3 octopus was in an odd place: underneath a rock. Normally, I see them in a hole in the bottom.

Here you can see the siphon (white) and the eye above and to the left of it in the photo.

 Here's the female Trunk or Box Fish. They always look very tidy.

 And the male.

 I like the following photo because you can see its eye easily. Usually, they are running away!

I am big into clouds and clouds with rainbows are even better! It didn't last long, so I am happy that I popped up at that moment, even if there was a bit of water on the lens.

At the bottom of the rock is a whitemouth moray eel.

 I only see these rarely..I think it's another type of humu. But not sure.

 I am sure this is a sleeping turtle or honu. People were being respectful. Thankful for that.

 This tiny Humu was about 2 inches long. So cute! See how the colors are more muted than in the adult?

I just learned these are Kihikihi aka Moorish Idols.

 This leaf fish was really hiding well. It had stuck itself up under a rocky overhang. I had a heck of a time getting any portion of it on film.

 Needlefish

The tall palm tree and clouds

 Pinktail trigger

 The snoozing seal looked up for a second, then went back to sleep. That's my shadow with the camera raised to my eye.

 I love it when they are freshly molted...they look so soft.

 Another male Trunk fish and a brighteye chromis below.

This urchin had plenty of protective armor. Thanks for reading. Tell your friends.