June 30th, 2009

Today we went to Pawai Bay and Turtle Pinnacle. It was the first time we've been to Pawai Bay since the three week long south swell we've had. Viz was off the hook. I was struck by how bright it seemed underwater, and later realized it was because of all of the overturned rocks and broken coral from the waves. There was a lot of white. However, the fish didn't seem to mind. It is still one of our fishy-est sites. Lots of eels too, many out and about... overturned homes? White Mouth, Tiger, Undulated and white Stout Moray Eels. One White Mouth was swimming around and biting rocks! strange. We also found two Bicolor Nudibranchs, a rarely seen Nudibranch with a lame name. They are beautiful! Other highlights: Red Stripe Pipefish, Divided Flatworm, Banded Coral Shrimp, Peacock Flounder, a Red Spot Nudibranch ON a Sea Cucumber! Also a school of gorgeous juvenile Oval Chromis. They look like they have a neon yellow light inside of them.