SCUBA diving

Learning to dive amidst coral gardens

While in Hawai'i I learned how to SCUBA dive by taking my PADI Open Water Certification with the Nautilus Dive Center in Hilo.

Barbara, Deanna, and I get ready for our first SCUBA dive
Hilo, Hawai'i (February 23^rd, '08)

My friend Barbara and I were lucky to get a chance to do two dives at Puako, on the Kona side of the big island with some friends from work. On the first dive we went to about 60' to check out some garden eels in the sandy bottom, then we glided across coral while heading back towards shore.

Planning the dive
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Entering the water for our first dive of the day
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Looking for garden eels at 60 ft.
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

I point out something of interest to Barbara
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Discussing eels
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Coral and yellow tangs
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Barbara and I glide over the coral
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Beautiful coral gardens
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Underwater friends
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Our second dive had a slightly surgy entry, but was well worth the short swim away from shore to get to dive beside some coral shelf structures and through lava archways. On this dive we took a few moments on a sandy patch to take a break and make friends with a hermit crab and a sea urchin. At the end of the dive we found a turtle lazily gliding through the clear water.

Getting prepped for our second dive of the day
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Paul, Barbara, and I swim through an underwater valley
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Barbara flying underwater
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Diving through an arch
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Exploring an underwater arch
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Barbara hangs out on a sandy patch
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Paul, Barbara, and I make friends with a hermit crab
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Feeling the sticky tentacles of a sea urchin
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Feeling like a mermaid
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

It's tough to smile when you're diving!
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

A turtle makes a cameo appearance
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)

Diving does strange things to my hair
Puako, Hawai'i (April 27^th, '08)