Wed 30 Sep 2009
In Summary
Posted by Mary under Everything, Export, Sept 2009 Maui, Vacation
1 Comment
Because we only really took pictures on our mountain trek (except for the occasional shot from the iPhone), I wanted to write up a summary of the sea life and birds we’ve seen this trip, before I forget. I also wanted to make a little list of tips we’ve learned, so we won’t have to re-invent the wheel next time. So here goes:
Things We’ve Learned:
- Always check ocean conditions before going snorkeling
- Don’t put sunscreen on your face when snorkeling – it keeps your mask from getting a good seal, and gets in your eyes and stings, and is unnecessary since you will be face down in the water. Apply sunscreen to your face when you are done.
- The crackling sound you hear near coral is the sound of the fish feeding – water magnifies the sound.
- Snorkeling a couple hours a day can give you a very mild case of sea legs.
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The following are some of the Save The Reef things we learned from Snorkel Bob:
- Sunscreen kills coral – don’t apply sunscreen and then get immediately in the water. Apply at least 30 minutes before entering the water. Or, better yet, says Snorkel Bob, wear sun protection clothing instead of sunscreen lotions.
- Don’t buy shells, and consider not taking the shell leis you get at luaus or in some stores (we passed on some shell leis at Hilo Hattie).
- Don’t feed the fish – it changes their behavior and makes them more aggressive. (This was fleshed out for us by a Pacific Whale Foundation volunteer: when fish are fed, the aggressive fish take over and chase out the less aggressive fish, which includes the fish that clean the coral. Then the algae builds up, and the coral starts to die off L )
- Don’t go on tours that don’t follow the above rules.
Birds We’ve Seen:
- Frigatebird
- Common Myna
- Zebra Dove
- Java Sparrow
- Red-crested Cardinal
- Cattle Egret (Lis’ favorite)
- Red Junglefowl
- Grey Francolin
Fish/Sea Life We’ve Seen:
- Sea Turtle
- Spinner Dolphin
- Whitemouth Moray Eel
- Octopus
- Moorish Idol
- Hawaiian Blue Parrotfish
- Sergeant Major
- Hawaiian Sergeant
- Rainbow Butterflyfish
- Threadfin Butterflyfish
- Whiteline Triggerfish
- Yellow Tang
- Reef Triggerfish (Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, Hawaii’s state fish)
- Convict Tang
- Achilles Tang
- Longnose Butterflyfish
- Saddle Wrasse
- Pinktail Durgon (Triggerfish)
- Needle fish
- Porcupine fish
- Spotted boxfish
- Ornate Butterflyfish (Mary’s favorite)
- Fourspot Butterflyfish
- Hawaiian Dascyllus
- Yellowfin Goatfish
- Hawaiian White Spotted Toby (Lis’ favorite)
- Goldrim Surgeonfish
- Naso Tang (Orangespine Unicornfish)
- Black Triggerfish
- Trumpetfish
- Cornetfish
- Racoon Butterflyfish
- Oval Butterflyfish
- Fourspot Butterflyfish
- Teardrop Butterflyfish
- Square-Spot Goatfish
- Manybar Goatfish
- Spotted Puffer
- Orangeband Surgeonfish
- Unicorn Tang
Bob is right. Most experts now say the best and first line of defense against sun exposure is sun protection clothing, followed by sunscreen on uncovered areas of the skin.