Biggest Reef EVER

[allan]

Okay, perhaps that's a bit overstated, and perhaps this should be in the lounge. Mods, feel free to move as appropriate.

My son, his friend, and I stepped out into the little cove out back this morning around 6:30. Although I couldn't get them into the water I waded out quite a bit to see what was out there.

OMG (yes, little girl moment), I couldn't believe that what I had thought was live rock was tables and tables of tables of coral tables. I even spied zoas. What I thought were algae (and there is a bit of that here and there) were more corals. I am putting up some pics with Eriks camera, but they are fish eyed.

Oh oh oh, and before I forget. I found a bunch of what looks like cucumbers, and one about the size of my foot. I picked one out to show my son and it spewed a white tentacle that stuck to my finger with some strength. If I can get all the pics loaded you can see them.

Okay, gotta go. I'll post more later for you mainlanders. :)

[Mr Cob]

where you at homie? That's awesome...so jealous! Put some palys in your pocket for me : )

[Mr Cob]

Those zoas/palys look like Purple Puddles....

http://zoaid.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=9562&g2_serialNumber=2 (http://zoaid.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=9560&g2_imageViewsIndex=1)
http://zoaid.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=9560

[Europhyllia]

I picked one out to show my son and it spewed a white tentacle that stuck to my finger with some strength. If I can get all the pics loaded you can see them.


Eek. That sounds really gross and scary. The rest sounds nice though. Enjoy Hawaii!

[txav8r]

That looks like Hanauma bay.

[Mr Cob]

Hawaii! That explains it, Aloha Corals always has some crazy hawaiian zoas and palys for sale...lots of variants of PE.

http://alohacorals.com/mahalo/category.php?id_category=5

[Monica25]

Exactly hanauma bay I was there for two weeks. Those pictures took me back to hanauma

Monica

[allan]

I want to get some of those zoas to send home but I'm fairly sure it's illegal. I want I want. If I lived here I wouldn't have a need to buy from you rob, and that just wouldn't be cool.

It's something like Kaonehoa bay.

From my porch....

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-bdd7-d936.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-bdf7-aa75.jpg

Gonna try a zoom shot on my phone.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-be32-e2e9.jpg

Me and my son want to try to make it out to that island.

[Mr Cob]

drip a matsumoto's shaved ice down your face for me : P

....and make sure one small kine drip goin get on yur slippah cuz...right betwaen yur toez bu. Shoots...

haha, have fun Allan.

[roscozman]

What island?

[Kristy]

Okay Allan, if you are trying to make us jealous.... IT'S WORKING! :D

There are those sea cucumbers all over the place and most of the time you wouldn't even realize they are there until you spy the little sandy poo pellets. Enjoy the snorkeling... that place you where you are staying looks amazing!

PS: Your son got to bring a friend to Hawaii? You guys are the best parents ever!

[ErikH]

I DEMAND UNDERWATER VIDEO.

:D

[allan]

Ha ha Erik, we just had lunch over here by the north shore. Gonna stop and snorkel somewhere around there. But I believe that our guide is gonna take us to Dole.

Ohio or something that sounds like that is the island that we are on. Same one that whykeekee is on.

[allan]

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-1c70-fa82.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-1c9b-0745.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-1cb5-c77d.jpg

[jroescher]

HA! He's going to be really disappointed in his reef tank when he gets home.

Glad you're enjoying your trip Allan.

[Kristy]

Ohio or something that sounds like that is the island that we are on. Same one that whykeekee is on.
I'm pretty sure that Allan is trying to say that he's on the North shore of Oahu in Kaneohe. :)

Allan, can you see the Chinaman's hat from where you are staying?

[allan]

I will ask about the hat.
http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-3290-1009.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-32b2-1481.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-32eb-5644.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-331f-7fb0.jpg

[allan]

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-35c3-d0f7.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bdb-35f9-a007.jpg

ID?

[ErikH]

IDK but Darwin comes to mind when I see this pic. LOL

[allan]

lol, I almost broke my back reaching for one of these urchins. It's a really nice purple. The spokes are kind of like the leather strap dress-like things that the roman soldiers used to wear, or some other medieval warriors. The entire top is a facet-like shield. Very tough.

The mouth is very red and although the bottom had a lot of tentacles, there was a single line circle of tentacles that appeared like stingers of some sort, rigid and questing. I had my son's friend touch one to see if it was poisonous or not. Now don't think I have anything against the boy... It's just that I couldn't convince Gloria to touch it. :)

I did see the Asian dudes hat. An island just offshore that resembles a hat. It's a nit north of where we are staying.

This place is awesome. I'd love to live here, but Gloria doesn't care for the fact that you can't see past the tree line, which is often just a few feet away. I tell her that it's because she is a child of the desert and used to the open landscapes of Texas. Ah, mainlanders. Tsk tsk

[allan]

drip a matsumoto's shaved ice down your face for me : P

....and make sure one small kine drip goin get on yur slippah cuz...right betwaen yur toez bu. Shoots...

haha, have fun Allan.

Rob, I meant to respond to you earlier. It took me about two months to realize that "maing" was a slang version of "man" (even though I keep wanting to read mange when you guys use it, which really doesn't fit).

So knowing that... I have absolutely no idea what you're trying to telling me other than something about having a good time and ice cream.

I will however continue to read your post over and again until I can figure it out. I honestly don't know why you left this place. It's awesome.

It does have it's draw backs though. While we were standing by the road a hippi like dude swept in close ducking his head. I quickly assumed a defensive posture and almost hooked him with a right swing. He was just trying to duck behind to avoid a cyclist that was coming up the trail behind me. One of the surfer dudes thought it was hilarious. I felt kind of stupid.

Well, it's 4:39, waiting for the son to come up so I can snorkel a bit before heading over to whykiki place to do the submarine tour.

[Europhyllia]

Kristy had pics of these urchins on her Hawaii thread and I ID-ed them then I believe

[Europhyllia]

helmet urchin:
http://www.thefeaturedcreature.com/2010/10/at-ease-helmet-urchin.html#axzz1On3hG5pE

[Regric25]

Rob, I meant to respond to you earlier. It took me about two months to realize that "maing" was a slang version of "man" (even though I keep wanting to read mange when you guys use it, which really doesn't fit).

So knowing that... I have absolutely no idea what you're trying to telling me other than something about having a good time and ice cream.

I will however continue to read your post over and again until I can figure it out. I honestly don't know why you left this place. It's awesome.

It does have it's draw backs though. While we were standing by the road a hippi like dude swept in close ducking his head. I quickly assumed a defensive posture and almost hooked him with a right swing. He was just trying to duck behind to avoid a cyclist that was coming up the trail behind me. One of the surfer dudes thought it was hilarious. I felt kind of stupid.

Well, it's 4:39, waiting for the son to come up so I can snorkel a bit before heading over to whykiki place to do the submarine tour.

"....and make sure one small kine drip goin get on yur slippah cuz...right betwaen yur toez bu. Shoots..."

LOL This had me laughing too. I was wondering if Rob had finally bumped his head on his chandelier and knocked his sponge loose...

I think what he is saying is Make sure you get a drip on your flip flops right between your toes but IDK lol

http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/

[allan]

Rob's art reminds me of hawai'ian culture, I think he lived here when he had hair.

Sponge... I like it.

Fixing to do the sub thing so plenty pictures coming soon.

[Mr Cob]

haha...yeah, Rick nailed it.

Translation for you Allan:

"Allan, please be sure to stop by Matsumoto's Shaved Ice, it was my favorite while living in Hawaii. It was so wonderful that it would melt all over my facial area and drip onto my flip flops and get between my toes. It was very enjoyable."

Is that better? HAAHAHA!

Allan, I had to leave...I did two things while living there: Surf and Party. I eventually realized that if all I did was surf and party that at some point I would not be able to do either...

Matsumotos is on the North Shore....near Haleiwa. (ha-lee-eee-va) and you are staying in Kaneohe... (con-eeee-oh-he)

mmmmmmm......
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VJnbcL_JRFk/SkAVHYHzL_I/AAAAAAAAAcg/awpplZ-gjRU/s320/shave+ice.jpg (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VJnbcL_JRFk/SkAVHYHzL_I/AAAAAAAAAcg/awpplZ-gjRU/s1600-h/shave+ice.jpg)

Try snorkeling shark's cove (also north shore, don't let the name bother you), my favorite surf spots were: Rocky Point and Pipe, Sunset (next to pipe), Sandy Beach, Makaha (local attitude here), EWA beach (another crazy local place, don't go here) and my all time favorite because the Bus didn't run here is XXXXXX haha, I ain't telling, nah, it was Third Dip, but I almost got jumped when I went there with my wife to surf on our honeymoon. That is until I told the braddah that my family stay Waihiawa side from da Ka'alla family. You are free to use that if you need. I know you are big and a trained combat fighter but those Samoans can throw man.

Go surf town dude, rent a longboard, they are easy to stand up on, the town peeps are nice and friendly. Waikiki.

[Mr Cob]

Just for you Allan....haha, I'm in the middle and that's me dropping in on a wave at Third Dip and I had hair! Too bad I fried it...

1169611695

[Europhyllia]

good thing you didn't bring THAT hair to Texas. Jack would make you wear a hat at all times

[Mr Cob]

lol, yeah it stayed in Hawaii and I replaced it with a little belly

[allan]

Lol dude, you look like that crazy dude in waterworld that wanted to trade for the girl and got killed by Kevin Costner.

Still haven't got my snorkel wet... But plan on it Friday afternoon.

[allan]

http://tapatalk.com/mu/c6e4d0dd-362d-63cd.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/c6e4d0dd-364a-c999.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/c6e4d0dd-3667-7d1c.jpg

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http://tapatalk.com/mu/c6e4d0dd-3729-2ad5.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/c6e4d0dd-3753-4f5e.jpg

Erik, I tried to get a good pic of the blow fish for ya, there were about a dozen of them floating about. Very large, 15-18" at least.

Also saw several orange shoulder tangs about.

In a few of the shots above you can see a sea turtle getting its shell cleaned.

Today we are doing the intro scuba thing. Two twenty minute dives. I won't be taking my phone so the picture quality will be better.

Interesting demonstration of how depth filters out the light spectrum. It got really blue down there.

Nothing glowed like in our tanks though... Why?

Also, why is there not a lot of Coraline growth in the areas like in our tanks?

[allan]

1170811709117101171111712

My son and I are SO gonna get our PADI certification!!!!

[Mr Cob]

awesome Allan, great shot of you and your son...two happy dudes right there

[Europhyllia]

what is the quesadilla with a rock on top? (last pic)

[Kristy]

awesome Allan, great shot of you and your son...two happy dudes right there

Agree. That one needs to be printed and displayed somewhere, preferably viewable from your desk at work.

Every time I look at this thread I get jealous and say I'm not gonna look anymore. Then Allan posts some more pictures and here I come back for more! :D

[TexasTodd]

1170811709117101171111712

My son and I are SO gonna get our PADI certification!!!!

And maybe some photography lessons from Milly ;)

MORE UNDER WATER CLOSE UP PICS!!!!!!!

Todd

[allan]

what is the quesadilla with a rock on top? (last pic)

Karin, I didn't realize that loading the pictures that way would limit me to just five. The very next picture is our guide holding up the latest snail I've ever seen. The bottom is a light pink but the top just looks like a large rock.

The current was quite strong. My hat off to those that take under water pictures. It was a constant struggle not to impale myself upon one of the urchins that punctuates the ocean floor.

[allan]

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These worm things were all over and some were pretty colorful. I had thought it was an octopus tentacle, until I touched it.

[Mr Cob]

you are like a big kid touching everything without any fear...I think I know too much and it's caused me to be a big chicken...lol

[allan]

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Porcupine fish, it was sleeping at the bottom and I guess I disturbed it... but hey, it was already 8 am and those fish need some waking up. He was about 10 or 15 feet down and I didn't trust myself to go that deep yet. I have an old ear injury that makes it very painful if I go very deep without clearing my nose.

[allan]

1173011731117321173311734

Okay, we stumbled on this one while checking out the shelf... you can see the drop away from the top down view of the turtle. I'm going to post up a few sets of this guy. Man he was so cool, just watching me take pictures of him until I guess I got to close and he lazily swam away. I almost expected him to say "follow me bro-ster, this way" as he swam away.

Oh yeah, and I reached out and touched his shell.

[allan]

1173511736117371173811739

Some more pics of the cool turtle.

[Mr Cob]

Awesome Allan, thx for posting them all.

Sea Turtles...my fave...except when bobbing on a board waiting for a wave and a turtle head pops up next to you...LOL! U almost always have "shark" in the back of your head.

[allan]

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The blue fins on the left are of my son's friend who almost swam into the eel. I tried getting some up close and personal pictures of the eel, but he kept coming out to meet me which frankly was a bit disconcerting. I've been bitten by a myriad of animals over the years from a chipmunk to a black bear... I was NOT going to add eel to that list.

Wife is kicking me off the the computer, aloha!

[allan]

To all of you with the in wall tanks...

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8b73-9911-523b.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8b73-994c-ab27.jpg

Try 480,000 gallons... Would LOVE to see the fuge!!!

[FireWater]

Try 480,000 gallons... Would LOVE to see the fuge!!!

Spoken like a true addict.

[Europhyllia]

awesome sea turtle!

[allan]

Yeah he was cool. Really docile... Not the one who trie to drown me, but the first one. Big eyes.

[TexasTodd]

I'm sure it went fast over there. Now G can start planning another one!

Todd

[allan]

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8b73-d072-f9b9.jpg

Last sunset here... I do not want to leave. Rob, still looking for a mustofies for shaved ice and dirty toes.

[allan]

Spoken like a true addict.

An addict that may be recovering. I've done the tank thing now for two and a half, and I've been thinking lately of giving it up. Was thinking about going into diving next... well, I plan on that anyway, but it would be nice to just have one hobby.

[FireWater]

Having only one hobby is way over rated. Don't you have a short attention span anyway? :applause:

[allan]

I do. But I think two years isn't really short attention span.

[FireWater]

Diving is fun and I am sure you will have a great time with it. If you keep your tank then you can change it to a specific bio-type and dive the rigs off the coast and bring stuff back for your tank. There you go - multiple hobbies.

[Europhyllia]

I do. But I think two years isn't really short attention span.
At 2 years your tank has barely even settled in... ;)

[Scream311]

To all of you with the in wall tanks...http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8b73-9911-523b.jpghttp://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8b73-994c-ab27.jpgTry 480,000 gallons... Would LOVE to see the fuge!!!Dude No Way ! My 125 in wall is a mear SPEC compared to this Beast ! FreakN Sweet. They'd have to remove Me from the glass of that tank. Leaving behind fingerprints, a face print lol and a pool of saliva haha

I wonder if that tank drains into the sea as a Sump ?

[allan]

I really enjoyed the diving and plan pursuing that next. I do t think I can give up my tank, just don't plan on doing anything else to it.

We flew in this morning so forgive me my melancholy. My heart is still in Hawaii wit my bruddas :)