Keauhou dive with Eli

After not being able to shoot a Mu the day before, I was determined to get one. Eli called and said that pine trees was a no go due to a SW swell. We then decided that he was going to check down Keauhou side to see if the water and visibility would be good to dive.

As soon as Eli called back telling me that the water was nice, I started the long drive to Kona town. Reaching there we suited up and jumped in. We swam around the point to the left and worked the coastline.

Most of the reef out there turned out to be barren. We swam along the drop off and didn't see any action. We swam across the harbor and I start scanning the reef and see a nice tako! I drop down and poke him out with my spear. He's in a nice crack but im able to poke him out and grab him.

Swimming back towards shore

Mauna Lani Dive with Josh and Gary

This saturday we decided to do the same dive we did last saturday in hopes of seeing an ulua or shooting some Mu. Josh and Gary showed up at my house and I jumped on with Gary. We drove down to Mauna Lani and saw that there were other divers already in the water to the right of where we were going to jump in.

The water was really murky and we swam to the ulua house, Gary went to check if anyone was home. Seeing that no one was home we decided to try and hunt the infamous Mu pile there. We swam left towards the point and I finally came across a good sized pile. I took a drop behind a coral head and started to throw sand. I see some small ones come in but waited for some of the bigger ones in the back. They refused to come in so we continued on.

Josh then reports that he was able to get a shot off on a nice Mu from the surface due to the murky water and the range of his 125cm. He ends up losing it due to it ripping off. We start to head back and I try to find the ulua house once again in hopes that someone would be home. Just as I get around the G.A. Josh yells to me. He ends up shooting a nice blue whiptail uhu and I give him my knife.

We head in just before dark and wash up. Another good dive at ML!

Pine Trees/ OTEC dive with Eli

Todays adventure took place out on the Kona side. Pine Trees is a well known surf spot I had heard about from my friend Brandon Fair. I met up with Eli at Pine Tree Cafe and we loaded up and drove down to the spot. Upon reaching the beach I was surprised to see so much people! There was tons of people camping, fishing and surfing! We drove to the left till the road ended. Suiting up I saw that there was a bunch of fishing poles and a bit of surge.

We were about to jump in at this one spot when I decided that we should look for a safer in/out due to the surge and not wanting to lose any equipment! We walk aways an find a perfect in/out area behind a point. We jumped in around 3:30pm. The visibility was excellent. As soon as I jumped in I could see 2 big Mus hovering in midwater.

We swam to the right and Eli was able to spear 2 nice rois. I was amazed by the different structure and the sizes and depth of the caves we came across. We swim for about an hour and don't really see much. Finally we come across a fish pile and I see Eli point at a small uku and a pile of big Mus. Eli drops and tries to call the uku in but it refuses.

I end up taking a drop and am able to call the small uku in. He swam in straight at me and just as I squeeze my trigger he pulls a "juke x" and dodges my shaft! After disappearing we decide to head to deeper water in search of some pelagics.

We start chumming the two rois that Eli shot and the next thing I know Eli grabs my arm. I look at him and he points to a 6-7ft black tip shark. Around the same time two small kaimanus come in to investigate the chum. They disappear but the shark doesn't.

The shark keeps circling us coming closer and closer within my speargun. I could see she had a big hook with line stuck in her mouth from the fishermen on shore. The shark would disappear then reappear and show signs of aggression. After almost poking it in the nose a few times as it would come in straight for me she finally goes away. We start to see the edge of the reef again and I see a nice Ulua down deep. I tell Eli and hes like "WHAT? NO WAY!"

We head in just before dark and start to pack up the SUV. After the dive I end up washing my gear at Eli's place and he cuts me some plexiglass! All in all a good way to end the weekend!

Mauna Lani Dive with GaryNKekai

Due to the ironman triathlon this weekend our choices of dive spots were limited. I decided to try our luck at the infamous ulua hole outside of Mauna Lani. After having a successful night dive the night before Gary was ready to dive. Josh was suppose to come along but ended up not going. We arrive at the spot around 3pm. Suiting up I start to think to myself "Its been awhile since I seen an Ulua." We decided to check the house and see if we could hunt some Mus.

Swimming out we find that the reef seemed barren. No uhus, goats, toaus or rois. We swam towards the house and just as I'm about to drop and check it a massive Ulua bolts out! Almost choking on my own bubbles, I yell to Gary to come over. He goes down to check it but the ulua is gone....( This was around 3:30pm)

We come across a cave and Gary drops and shoots a nice alaihi. While hes stringing his fish up, I take a drop. I see a Mu out in the distance but it refuses to come close. I start to see a nice grey shape swim towards me in the distance. At first I'm like awesome a nice big uku! It turns out

the tax man has come in to investigate the commotion. He swims right by me and disappears.

We swim further left and find a enormous Mu pile. There were two schools all 4lbs and up with about 10-15 in each school! Gary and I take turns playing "hide and go seek" but none come within gun range. On one drop I hide and start dusting sand. I peek over and see a small Mu start to come in with the bigger ones out of range. At the end of my breath hold the bigger one finally comes in slowly but surely. I line up and squeeze my trigger. MISS!

On another drop im hiding behind a big coral head and a nice sized one is hanging out just outside of my gun range. I lunge and take a shot and MISS again! haha 0/2! Gary later reports that a Mu was directly behind me! After some good laughs we swim in. Gary was able to shoot a nice alahi and I was able to shoot two nice rocks. Another epic dive at ML!

Dive with Gary N Kekai

After a long work week I was itching to get back into the water. One of my friends Gary who recently moved to Oahu was back on the Big Island for a few weeks. Upon seeing the conditions the day before we talked and planned a dive for the weekend.

I later found out that he was staying in Pauuilo which was perfect to get an early start. We met 7am at Earls to buy some bentos, ice and drinks for lunch. Driving down to the spot we were relieved that no one else was there.

After suiting up and hiking down I jumped in. The water visibility must have been the best I've seen it for a while with the weather perfect and no clouds around. There was a little breeze in the air but the water was on the nice side, although you could tell the north swell was due to arrive the next day. I jump in and take a couple of warm up dives. Even though the water was on the nice side, the current was ripping due to the full moon.

I was excited with these conditions and hoping that we would see some pelagics. While waiting for Gary I see tons of nehu (baitfish) in the water all around me. About 10 seconds later I see this fast torpedo object start coming up and eating the bait fish. It turns out its a nice kawakawa (wavy black tuna). I take a drop but due to the sheer speed of the fish its gone within a blink of an eye.

I look up and hear Gary shouting to me. Hes yelling at me that he lost one of his fins. I quickly swim back to him and take a drop to look on the bottom. Around this same time I look to my right and see a big kali and a huge omilu along with two smaller ones.

Trying to focus on the task at hand, I take another drop and see Gary's fin and retrieve it. He jumps in and we start to palu the area. After nothing comes in we decide to swim out to the left in hope for some onos. After reaching the end of the ledge we start paluing and I let down my flashers. After a good half hour of drifting we see nothing but opelu and bait fish.

We start to head in and decide to work the reef. After shooting an uhu I spot a nice kumu come out of the hole due to the commotion. Gary drops and gets a nice shot on it! We swim further down and reach the infamous toau hole. The current at this point is ripping and it was hard for us to take drops and reach the bottom of the hole. I peek inside and see a couple of big toaus but none present me with a shot. I give Gary the signal to start heading back and we start the long swim back.

We end up swimming about 1.5 hours back against the unfriendly current and finally get outta the water. With some nice fish in the cooler, 2 powerades, and bentos it definitely ended up to be a good dive!

Afternoon Dive with JP!

After not diving for most of the summer with Jesse we were finally able to to plan a dive on a day where the weather and water was cooperative. We decided to do a late afternoon dive since the tide was good and the wind was down. After eating lunch at my place and everything loaded up, we headed out.

Upon arriving at the spot we go to check out the water and the conditions were really nice! Walking back from the cliff we see a green toyota tacoma parked right next to our truck. After meeting and talking stories with this guy he told us he was the one responsible for building those ladders that we climbed down!

We finish suiting up and start to hike down. Upon jumping in and swimming out we see a small Kawakawa attacking the nehu. We decide to swim to the right and keep up a constant pace so that we could reach the point just around feeding time. We stop by the omilu house and I ask JP if he wants to check. He agrees and breathes up for about a minute before going down. He reports seeing no omilus but an omilu carcass with my shaft inside it! (I lost previously on a dive.) We decide to keep swimming towards the point.

Upon reaching the point we start to see some action. I keep on wanting to swim farther into unexplored territory but my watch says its already 5pm and we are at least an hours swim down current from our entry point. I don't see much out in the deep so I head in shallow and see a nice omilu swim right below me. I take a drop and hide behind a rock. I start to dust and peek up and the omilu is right in front of me. I get a good shot in the gill plate and swim back towards my float.

We decide its finally time to head back since it was getting dark. On the journey home I take a drop on a Mu and get a shot off. We drift back to the omilu house and can see the sun setting which gives us just enough light to check the house. Out of the corner of my eye I see a HUGE omilu swimming mid water. I throw my spoon and so does Jesse but fail to entice the beast.

Right around that time I see another omilu/ulua swim into the back part of the cave. By this time its getting really dark so we decide to call it a day. We had to swim around the fishermen's lines and climb out in the dark.

So ends the story of another epic dive with JP!

Kill Roi Day

Today Ammon, Josh and I dove Breakwall.

After picking Ammon up we headed down to the dive spot. The conditions were perfect with no wind and good visibility. We jumped in late morning around 10:15am. We swam out to the same exact ledge where we saw the tiger a couple days before.

Not seeing much I decided to shoot some rois. Using "Ammon's technique" I was able to get a good shot off on one which was the first fish of the day to add on the stringer. I see uhus and try to take drops, but since its late in the morning they refuse to come within range. We continue further and see a big Mu pile with some "makoons".

After trying to take drops on the pile, they also refuse to come in. We swim further out and to the right and I see yet another roi. I take a drop and lay on the bottom waiting for it to come within range. A small moana kali comes in and I take a shot and am able to land it.

Ammon shoots a big roi and we both see a baby fish fall out of its mouth dead. Swimming on further Josh launches a shot at a big kumu but misses and ends up getting his shaft stuck in the reef. After two tries he can't budge the shaft. I go down and after pulling, pushing and turning am finally able to get it free.

We head in and end up with 6 Rois, 1 menpachi, 1 Toau and 1 Kali. After getting out I happily eat my Kalua bowl in front of Ammon. (After he offered me fresh kalua for his bros wedding).

First Tiger Experience

Today....Shark....a BIG one.

Josh and I went diving out on the Kawaihae Breakwall today. He wanted to test out his new shaft that was customized for his 125cm aimrite. I decided to use my 90cm HHead in hopes of shooting some rois and small game. I also got to use my "daisy chain" for the first time.

We jumped in late around 10:15 am. Swimming out to the ledge we see a few uhu here and there but nothing big. We finally get to the ledge and I decide to anchor my float. I see two decent sized joes but they are skiddish. I start to watch Josh stalk a toau when I see a good size Mu outta the corner of my eye...

The Mu looks curious so I take a drop and find a good reef depression to hide in. I make sure my whole body is well concealed and grab a rock an start scratching. I take a quick peek from behind the ledge and to my surprise the Mu is coming towards me! I put my head down and wait a little longer...

The next thing I know the Mu is right above me! I aim and fire my 90cm and the Mu takes off in a flash. He holes up and I try to call Josh over. Swimming towards me Josh takes a drop and just as he reaches the cave the Mu manages to rip off! I follow him from the top and lose him in a deep crack. :'(

We decide to swim back to the float and work the ledge. Upon reaching the float I look towards the surface above the sand and see an small shape approaching from the distance. Not sure what it was it came closer and closer. My first impression was that it was a whale shark due to the massive girth and size. As he finally came into range I realized it was a "makoon" tiger shark! She looked to be about 12-15ft long!

She came in straight at me reaching about 10-15ft. I raised my HHead 90cm realizing that this was the only thing between me and her. She turned broadside and gave us a glimpse of her massive size and stripes! Luckily she wasn't aggressive and vanished in a blink.

Josh looked up at me and his eyes were big like menpachis! "We go in?!" he said. I tried my hardest not to laugh and said "ya lets head in". On the swim back I kept laughing and he kept saying "F*ck I wish the truck was a little closer!" hahaha.

We noticed two other divers and decided to warn them. Josh told them "tiger shark" and before we knew it they swam in faster than we did! Just as we were about to reach the stairs I see a good sized Alaihi and fire. After stringing the red fish up we called it a day. We washed our gear down at the harbor, ate some Earl's bento rolls and stopped at Seafood Bar for a few brewskies laughing and retelling our account of "Unko Tony".

I was happy that we both came back in one piece and have gained even more respect for the ocean and its tenants.

1st day of School=Reds

After graduating from college it felt weird not to be in school when all my friends were starting their first day. The weather and water conditions were pretty nice so Ammon, Josh and I decided to do a dive out on the Hamakua Coast. I had a hard time choosing between my speargun and 3 prong. I finally chose my 3 prong and we decided to all use 3 prongs. We jumped in around 8:30am and swam to the left.

The water was nice and there was no wind. I took a few drops early in the dive and started to check in between the boulders and under the ledges. After finding 2 menpachi holes and picking up some red fish, I swam towards a steep drop off. Reaching the edge, I see 2 small kumus and one good sized one! Armed with only my 3 prong, I knew that I would have to get really close to get a good shot off. I started a quiet descent slowly kicking down towards them. Upon seeing my presence the kumu starts to veer off. I keep swimming down and angle my attention away from him. I hit the bottom and give two soft grunts.

To my surprise I peek over a rock and see the kumu heading straight towards me! I slowly turn my right arm and take a reaction aim and get a good shot off! As I start to ascend im smiling and admiring the beauty of this prized fish! After a couple of cheers and high fives we start to swim further down. We find more menpachi and decide to head back. Ammon also picks up a nice sized kumu, a toau and some menpachi.

All in all today was a good dive!

A Short Dive

Todays dive was a short one. The conditions have been prime with small surf and no wind along the Hamakua coast. Ammon, Kealii, Josh and I decided to do a early morning dive. Ammon and Kealii arrived at my house around 7am and we loaded up and jumped in. We waited for Josh at Earl's Snack Shop. Everyone was itching to get into the water and the wait seemed like forever. We finally met up and drove down to the spot.

Upon hiking down the conditions were perfect. We jumped in and I stuck with Josh while Ammon stayed with Kealii. I followed a ledge out and saw a big blue whiptail peeking out. I took a drop down current, hit the bottom and snuck up towards the ledge. Peeking over I could see the big face of a big blue uhu. I lined up for the shot and squeezed my trigger. I swam up and saw it was a good holding shot. With an uhu on the stringer I could feel my dive mode start to kick in.

We started to swim further and Josh reported not feeling so good. He started to palu the water around us due to feeling sea sick! We signaled to Ammon guys that we were going to head in. Even though it was a short dive it felt good to get in the water again.

Diving with Dad

Today was one of those rare days where the conditions were almost perfect for diving off the beautiful hamakua coast. I was lucky enough that on this same day my dad was off from work. We decided to do a morning dive since there was a slight high tide. All this past week, the winds have been gusty. However today, there was no wind at all.

I decide to test out my bumper buoy rig that my friend Troy had helped me with. I also wanted to test out my flashers which were finally finished after 3 coats of clear casting resin had been applied. I checked my freezer and found two ziplocs of anchovies from the last dive Nick and I went on.

Soon after breakfast my dad and I load up the truck and drive down to one of our favorite spots to dive. Upon reaching our destination, I make quick note that the wind and water was almost perfect. We spotted a truck parked on top and I started to pray that they would let us jump in. We quickly suited up and hiked down.

There were two fishermen there who stayed and fished all night. They were friendly and allowed us to jump in since they were leaving. The water was the nicest I've seen it all summer. We started to swim to the right and stayed right along the ledge looking for some big game. Seeing nothing we decided to head in a ways to work the reef. I come across a nice fish pile with a good size Mu and Joe. I take a drop on the Mu and am just about to level off when the fish spook.

We continue to swim and I see yet another Mu which quickly evades me upon noticing my presence. I decide to head to really shallow water so my dad can pick up some kole. I see this good size omilu swimming slowly and throw a spoon but he bolts and doesn't want anything to do with me. We finally come to the pinnacle and my dad starts shooting koles. I see a Mu in the distance and notice that he is curious. I take a drop and hide behind a big bolder. I flatten my body as much as possible and take a quick peek to see the Mu swimming towards me. I look down and stay as still. The Mu finally swims within gun range and I get a good shot!

Since the water was nice we decide to swim out past the ledge in search of onos. I start to lower my flashers and start to chum. We drift for about an hour and see nothing. Swimming back in we decide to call it a day.

Windy Dive

The winds have been really blowing lately. A quick check on the surf report revealed that it was ok to dive. I called Ammon up the day before and he was still feeling sick with his sinuses bothering him. We ended up going out for a late afternoon dive. The weather was still really windy but it was really hot and sunny. Upon arriving at the spot we walked towards the peak of the cliffs and could hear the wind howling and see fierce whitecaps as far as the eye could see.

However upon further inspection we saw that our in and out area was protected by the point and that it would be ok for us to jump in. We jumped in around 4pm and swam left. I took a few warm up dives to get acclimated to the depth and pressure. We swim further and see a few uhus here and there but they are all really wary. The water is on the murkier side with decent current.

I spot a good size Mu lurking in the distance and take a drop. Upon hitting the bottom, I trying calling to it but he refuses to come in. I start dusting sand and I see a good size Joe out of the corner of my eye. Hes also on the alert and swims away.

After drifting for about an hour, Ammon reports that he sees a nice kumu near a sand patch. He takes two drops and on the 2nd one is able to get a shot off. While hes stringing up his prize, I see a school of kawakawas fly by on the inside in about 15ft of water!

We decide to head back in due to the sun setting. I finally see an approachable red whiptail and take a drop. Upon seeing me dive the uhu swims up from the reef towards me! I squeeze off a good holding shot and the uhu takes off while stripping line from my reel. At the same time Ammon and I spot a huge moana kali in the distance. I decide to help Ammon with the stalk while keeping an extra eye on the gianormous Kali. Not having an interest in us the Kali swims away.

I return to my gun floating mid water and take a drop. I hit the bottom to find that the uhu has pulled my shaft all the way in the back of the little cave. Luckily I see that the small hole opens up on the other side. I return to the surface and reposition myself along side the opposite end and take another drop. I see both the uhu and my shaft and brain the uhu first. Since the line is pulled through the hole, I needed to unclip my shooting line from my gun in order to bring the uhu to the surface. I return to the surface yet again rethinking my strategy to untangle this fish. I finally go down again and see a moray eel trying to steal the uhu. I grab my shaft with my hand and start poking it till it finally swims off. I'm finally able to unclip the line from my gun and swim the fish up. So much work for an uhu!

We end up swimming back with 2 uhus and a kumu. We see two people fishing who cannot believe we are diving due to the wind and water. After sharing some laughs and stories we head up to the truck. Not a bad day of diving.

Mauna Lani

Ammon and I were able to check out one of our spots outside of Mauna Lani after not diving there for what seemed like forever. On this trip I was armed with my favorite gun. An omer 110cm Cayman Carbon with an Omer match 50M reel. Ammon was armed with his 100cm omer cayman.

We swam out looking for the infamous ulua house where in the past my two friends and I were able to get a nice one. Upon swimming along the drop off and not seeing much action, I decided to make some drops and see what would come in. The first drop that I took a small uku came in. Scanning all around me I didn't see anything else. We swam back in and decided to swim right with the current.

We encountered a lot of nice structure. Not seeing any game fish we decided to shoot a few rois. I see a big school of nenues and some uhus. On the way back I also saw a good size kumu but it ran away. :( It was a long dive and we ended up getting a few fish.

1st dive of summer 2010

After being sick for about 2 weeks my friends and I were all itching to dive together after being away from the big island for so long. I was just getting over a massive cold which later turned out to be a bacterial infection. After being prescribed three large doses of antibiotics from Dr. Hopman and a good weeks rest, I finally felt up to getting back in the water.

Today's dive took place at the infamous break wall. My dive partner Ammon accompanied me on this trip, and we were both anxious and excited to dive together again after much time had passed. I was using my trusty 90cm HHead and Ammon was armed with his 100cm omer cayman. I was fast to suit up and quick to jump in.

Upon jumping in my eyes began to slowly adjust to the clarity of the ocean after not seeing it for such a long time. I did a few warm up dives and we started to swim out. We saw a few uhus but I wanted to check the mouth to see if there would be any predatory fish cruising the murky depths.

Reaching the mouth I threw a spoon and took a blind drop. I hit the bottom and looked up to see the spoon continually spiraling down towards me. Two omilus rush in and I get a shot on a small one. We dove for about an hour more and decided to call it day. I knew this would be the start of another epic Big Island summer.