Whale Shark and Scuba Diver

  This scuba diver had to back out of the way when this massive whale shark, Rhincodon typus, came cruising through. The skin of the whale shark is comprised of dermal denticles, backwards facing skin teeth that channel the water improving hydrodynamics. If you ever get a chance to feel shark skin it is smooth one way and rough, like a cat's tongue the other. Whale sharks are so large that if they bump into you their dermal denticles will draw blood. I know from experience.

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Dwarf Moray Eel

     Moray eels are one of my favorite fish to photograph. There are many different species out here in Hawaii ranging from 6 foot Giant Morays to tiny 6 inch Dwarf Moray Eels like the one pictured here. Notoriously shy these little eels will peer out of their protected crevices until you get to close then disappear completely. Most of the bigger eels will retract only a little, leaving their head sticking out. I was lucky enough to get a picture of this little guy right before he zipped backwards into his crevice, not to be seen again.

Commerson's Frogfish

 A rare glimpse at a Commerson's Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) at Wailea Point, Maui. These fish are masters of camouflage and ambush. The have the ability to change their color over a period of days. Frogfish have a tiny lure, or esca, which attracts small fish close enough to be gobbled up. Shipwrecks are a great place to spot frogfish, although they are probably at many sites and just overlooked.