Dive 39 : Backside Molokini, Hawaii
Dive No. 39 of 236Date Aug 17, 1999
Bottom Time
To Date22:03
This Dive0:38
Cumulative Time22:41
Location Backside Molokini, Hawaii
Time IN 7:52Time OUT 8:33
SI
0:00
PG
PG
84'
DEPTH
0:03
15ft STOP
0:38
Air Temp 82F
Water Temp 78F
Visibility 150'
Buddy Lily
Dive Chart
Notes
This time we dove the backside of Molokini, which is basically a wall dive. This was recommended by many people on the Internet. If you've never done a wall dive, it's interesting, but I've done plenty in Cozumel. But, there were still a few cool things to see on this one. The terrain was pretty uneven, but the wall itself appeared to be pretty much straight down except for some ledges.

The first cool thing we saw was a Sculptured Slipper Lobster. The divemaster pulled it out of its hole and flipped it over to show us the legs. There was also a Frogfish trying to hide among bright red coral. It's coloring was off slightly, so it wasn't that difficult to spot, plus our divemaster told us ahead of time to look for it there.

There was also an overhang that doesn't get any sunlight that has a cool looking non-photosynthetic coral. Nearby we saw a neat Black/Blue Nudibranch that was dislodged from the overhang by our bubbles.

Near the end with saw a couple other types of Nudibranch and a shrimp hiding in a chimney-like cave that was similar to a Cleaner Shrimp but was much larger and had large flowing antennae.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture.

Here's our divemaster Pauline, and the deep blue sea behind her. I love wall dives!
Viewed: 112 times.

The first sight of the Sculptured Slipper Lobster.
Viewed: 139 times.

Another diver is touching the front legs of the Lobster.
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We saw a lot in Cozumel, but this Wire Coral seems to be pretty rare in Hawaii.
Viewed: 69 times.

Oh look, yet another Eel.
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I keep seeing these, but I can't figure out what kind of fish it is. From this angle it's hard to tell if it's an Angelfish or Butterflyfish.
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This Commerson's Frogfish tried, but didn't quite blend in with his surroundings.
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Here's the Nudibranch that was dislodged by our bubbles. I'm not sure what kind it is.
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This is the Orange Cup Coral that lives under ledges. It is one of the few Corals that don't require sunlight. The current was strong today so many of the polyps are open to feed.
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Not sure, but these might be Christmas Tree Worms, or some other type of worm.
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I spotted this one and took a picture. I later found out it was a Fried Egg Nudibranch. I can't see how they came up with that name.
Viewed: 96 times.

Way up in this chimney among the Soldierfish and Milletseed Butterflyfish you can see the large Shrimp.
Viewed: 101 times.

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Backside Molokini, Hawaii
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