Dive at Halona Blowhole (East Oahu)

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Oahu Dive 17. The Blowhole

Today I finally got to dive with Sandi and Charly the couple of critterhunters that responded to my ad on scuba board looking for photographers to dive with in Oahu. I also got to meet Arnie, an experienced dive instructor and US Veteran.

There is a hike down to the entry point. It is a bit tricky for my short legs carrying heavy breathing apparatus and underwater camera equipment. I am thankful to Arnie who carried my camera down and Charlie who carried my fins. Terri, another one of their friends and local diver joined us on the dive. Two of the divers were pretty older than me and I have to say that they caught up with me, passed me and left me behind. I am definitely not a surge diver and these guys ride it out like it is nothing. I decided to descend and grabbed on to big rocks to push me towards the rest of the group while everyone else swam on the surface. Overall the dive was surgie and difficult for photos. But in the summer time it would be a great place to practice over-unders. I saw a couple of giant moray eels and a tiny yellow one, gobies, an octopus, peacock flounder, horny fish and like at least 7 or 8 white margin nudies that I had seen before but didn’t have the chance to photograph because I had the WA lens when I saw them.The nudis were up on a wall and with the surge I didn’t want to break my port trying to take a shot.

On the way out Sandi showed me where to pick up cowrie shells and and sea glass so both of us got our pockets full of them. There was a cute turtle feeding on the sides of the exit point.

Arnie got my camera so I could get out with no problem.

Log 523. 53ft 64min 105mm No ankle weights (if the dive is not shallow I am not wearing them).

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Photos

White margin Nudibranck
I saw a group of a bunch of them. Pretty common in the area. Pretty exited of my find I called Sandi over to show here and she gave me the "whatever" sign. lol

Giant Eel
Just like ours in FL

Map Mom's to Blow Hole
I drove to Charlie's + Sandi's place in Kailua and from there we went to Arnies place who has a lovely house with montains behind. I loved the area.

Tako Octo
I wanted to check it for eggs but the current blow me away from it. Everyone was returning so I snapped a shot and moved on

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Love a few underwater photo tips
Your photos are fantastic.

[Xeaman]

Hi Dave. I post photo tips according to what ever I run into that specific dive..and I am happy to help as much as I can… Mena