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!