A Special Winter's Day in Hawaii

From tales of whales to whale tails, Sargassum to enchanting megaptera novaeangeliae songs while freediving, the "Sea Smoke" takes Chris and Jeff for a memorable ride.

Sometimes being out on a vessel without "having" to entertain or be responsible for a group can feel completely different than a working charter. We headed offshore a couple of miles from Waikoloa in flat calm seas with no wind to watch and photograph whales. We stopped during a "slow" period to shut down, lower the ladder and freedive next to the vessel...knowing that the humpbacks would be singing loudly. As we descended further and further down cobalt columns shimmering in the bright sunlight, the sound of the songs was dramatically increased. Only ascending when it was absolutely necessary to catch a breath, slowly leaving the mysterious melodies of countless whales. Our energies were increased by this "other world" experience, for there is nothing to compare the experience. We saw more whales together in a "heat run", where several males were competitively seeking the attention of one female, and tons of love.



A peduncle arch as a humpback prepares to sound


The whale uses the several tons of weight to begin the dive with the aid of gravity

The underside revealing the unique "fingerprint" of the individual whale. These are catalogued and are essential in tracking the individuals and their annual migrations to and from Hawaii and Alaska.




The surface of the sea was full of flotsom and jetsom, "stuff of all sorts", from tree branches, old logs, leaves and even some polypropolene line. I decided to retrieve the line. Upon shaking the water out of the line I noticed two fishes had fallen back in the ocean, they were hitching a protective ride with the clump of line. I was able to snap a couple of pics of the fish before we left them, feeling naked, at sea. . .


There is no Sargasso Weed in the Eastern or Central Pacific, so the histrio histrio Sargassom Frogfish take the next available protection...polypro line.

I felt like an ocean steward and homewrecker all at once, life's choices. I am sure they found one of the branches nearby and are still huddled underneath drifting thousands of more miles in the Pacific.


Every day is an adventure!


Stay tuned for the upcoming pics of the first "Seahorse" I have ever found in the waters off Hawaii in over 30 years.