July First, 2011. Life Changed.

Frenchie Not so Battle-Tested

I shall refrain from the obvious comment about French military prowess.
My dogs can beat up your little French pussycat!

Be Good To Your Ocean

On the same day the Oceans granted me this view of this whale, peacefully hanging out under the boat...
... It also brought this news of 610 Yellow Tangs and other reef fish being dumped in the harbor in Kona.
West Hawaii Today Article about dumped reef fish.
My first reaction was, "Maybe this will shock enough people so momentum will actually get something done." Aquarium fisherman take our beloved yellow tangs with not much more than a $50 commercial license. They will be quick to say that it is a sustainable industry, and this one incident is horrific and rare. I can believe that, but I still think AQ fisherman need to control their own industry to make sure this doesn't happen. And to their credit, they need the power to control their industry: Read down in the article, and you will find these controls to be stuck in bureaucratic and legal limbo.
They need to pay, and there ought to be a law, and how can we let this happen...
And the worst part? Legally they did nothing wrong. There are no laws or rules or industry standards or anything. We can't arrest them, fine them, or probably even rescind their $50 license.
I hope someone makes them pay with flesh, and leaves them in a dumpster. (And it is probably illegal for me to advocate violence!)

Video of Bob During This Instructor Development Course

Oh! I have been very busy working, Diving, and learning how to use Apple iMovie!
I spent the last few weeks staffing (helping out) at a PADI Instructor Development Course, preparing Divemasters to be Scuba Instructors. It is immensely satisfying and challenging work, and it requires crazy powers of Psychology to help teach them.
Course Director Bob is amazing. This video was taken during an underwater skill circuit, where Instructor Candidates are taught to demonstrate Scuba skills in an exaggerated, slow manner to help their students understand.
We joked around alot, and this video is an example of the fun we had.

Tango and Cass

Philippines

Wow! Humpback Whale Breaching!

This beautiful mama humpback was teaching her small baby how to breach today.
Amazing! I am lucky to have gotten these shots. Be assured there were many many shots of water and splashes and lopsided sky!
Humpback whales are here in Hawaii for their winter season of mating and birthing, and we are very lucky to have them.
North Kohala Coast, off of Kawaihae. The Big Island of Hawaii. Today, from the dive boat Kohala Diver.

Gar & Kel

Gar&Kel.JPG
Originally uploaded by KelKnits

Tiger Shark

Yes, that is a really big shark. This is the first time I have seen a Tiger Shark, and he was a big one: Twelve to fifteen feet was the final thought. Divers on the boat spotted what they thought were small, innocent, playful dolphins splashing on the horizon, so we took the boat in for a look. NOT dolphins! As we neared the splashing, we noted that it looked too... side-to-side? for dolphins, and then we saw the fins: Greyish brown, floppy, and a large space between dorsal and tail fin. Too large! We came right up on him and the Captain killed the engines. We gathered at the edge of the boat to see what he was after, because we could see the blood and, well, bits... floating on the surface. The shark nudged the body again and it flipped over to reveal hoofs: He had a goat. We stayed with him for a few minutes as he leisurely chomped away, and with one final swoop on the surface, he flashed his stripes, rolled his eyes back, opened his jaws and took the goat down into the depths.
Huge.
Wide.
Stripey.
Makes me aware I am not at the top of the food chain!

I didn't take this photo: A guest on the boat, Joyce B., took this photo and a few more, which I await via email.

Underwater Dancing

One of my most favorite students, 10 year old Isabella! We like to dance underwater, and while this dance was longer (I spun her a couple times before she spins me) her friend the videographer just captured this much.
This was a recent dive on the Kohala Coast: Potter's Reef, I believe.