The Maui Pink Cap Swimmers were startled when scuba divers came zooming by us at the arch this morning. We've seen divers being pulled behind these propeller thingies before, but this was the first time we've ever seen divers riding them. Looks like fun. Especially on a day like today when the current was ripping.
Click HERE for more photos from Today's swim.
Never say die.
Kiawe tree roots do not run deep. When the trees get too big they fall over, but they keep on growing. Both the old trunk and the new one live on and on.
Is there a life lesson here? Maybe something about giving myself permission to stay in bed all day?
How bizarre. It felt like a ghost town, well pond, at the old snorkel spot called "The Aquarium" this morning. This place always used to be packed with people who kayaked and hiked in - but today I had it entirely to myself. Well, except for a fish or two (thousand).
It must be summer.
Either that or I live on a tropical island out in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Oh...
Fish and Turtles and more Fish were everywhere on my ocean swim this morning. I almost ran into turtles several times, and then it was like swimming in fish soup. How's a fellow supposed to swim?
Summer is finally here! We had warmer water, calm conditions and nice visibility for this morning's ocean swim with the Maui Pink Cap Swimmers. We got to swim with an abundance of Green Sea Turtles and Spotted Eagle Rays, plus all the usual colorful tropical fishies.
Click HERE for lots more photos from today's swim.
I hung in the current with these three Spotted Eagle Rays this morning. The rambunctious small one took a bite out of the big one (see photo below), but was soon forgiven. Fortunately, none of them decided to see how I tasted (I know they would have been disappointed).
Apparently the Universe has granted me an extension on use of my blog name: Dolphin Dude.
How do I know? Definitely not via the messy sorting of entrails. Yuck.
No, I got the message clearly when forty-two Spinner Dolphins surrounded me during my ocean swim this morning. They stuck with me for forty-five minutes and even engaged me in playing the Leaf Game. Fun, fun, fun.
Click HERE for lots more photos from today's encounter.
Is it still a Spotted Eagle Ray, even if it has lost most of its spots?
I got to hang with three of these guys this morning, two with spots and one without. For a while a school of fish was playing Follow The Leader behind one of them.
One reason I like ocean swimming so much is because I get to fly through the water. In the photos it looks like people are flying, and that is because they are! And we don't even need wings. Now if only I could solve the breathing problem...
Click HERE for more photos from this morning's swim.
I watched as this Octopus kept changing colors and patterns this morning. I have seen a surprisingly large variety of fish change patterns and colors in front of my eyes, but nobody does it like an octopus. The two photos above were taken only moments apart. Watch the very brief video I took of this guy below to see it for yourself.
We had more of those fluffy clouds this morning. The clouds to the north towered way up, up into the sky and were far more spectacular than those around my house. They thoughtfully all stayed put and kept their distance so that everyone could thoroughly enjoy the beach.
Visibility was poor at the start of my ocean swim this morning. Fortunately, a group of Spinner Dolphins swam right up to me and escorted me out to clearer water. They kindly left me alone to do my long swim (didn't want to wait for slow me, actually). When I was done and swam back into the murk, they came up to accompany me back in to shore. What a kind, thoughtful thing to do. Thank you, dolphins.
Click HERE for more photos from today's swim.
We don't often get big fluffy billowing clouds here on Maui (or in this case over Lanai) due to "capping inversions" (whatever they are). But when we do, I take notice (and photos).
How do you help someone give birth in the water far from shore? That's what I worried about on our ocean swim this morning since one of our swimmers is due to deliver tomorrow. I used to worry about the same thing back when Cheryl swam with us past her due date. Fortunately, everything stayed inside - today.
Click HERE for more photos from this morning's swim.
Surf's up - again. All week the south shores have been getting pounded, which means visibility underwater has been too poor for safe (shark attack free) swimming. I finally discovered a clear patch of ocean this morning and, oddly enough, it was near a break. After nearly getting run over by surfers, I had to call it quits until the waves calm down. Maybe next week...
Stormy weather is what I often see at first light. But what you see is not necessarily what you get. The hot tropical sun usually burns the early clouds away leaving mostly clear blue skies.
What fun. I've been on photo shoots the past two days, which means attempting to capture the beauty of some rather nice homes. Now comes intensive computer work and a little more personal flexibility (plus no more furniture moving and waiting and waiting and waiting for clouds to move).
I couldn't resist. I had to get into the ocean again today - and I even managed to drag Doug away from his tennis playing for a refreshing dip.
Big surf is forecast to hit south shores from tomorrow through next week, so I am packing in as much quality water time as possible. Besides, I've got some big photo shoots coming up this week.
Happy Independence Day to everyone.
Swimming in the deep blue felt marvelous after being out of action for two weeks. It is great to be back at home in the ocean.
Click HERE for more photos from this morning's swim.
