If not for automobiles, a popular artificial reef in waters off of Kihei, Maui would not exist. If you’ve been to the Keawakapu artificial reef, you know that this site is made up of about 2,000 automobile tire modules. These modules were constructed by putting 8 tires next to each other on edge and setting them in a concrete base. …
Yellow Boxfish (Ostracion cubicus) Sighted off of Maui, Hawai‘i
With only TWO sightings of a Yellow Boxfish (Ostracion cubicus) ever previously recorded in Hawai‘i, last week’s sighting off of Makena, Maui makes it one of the rarest fish a diver could see here. Experienced Maui dive guide Dave Fuller was diving on a WWII amphibious tank in 60 feet of water on Dec. 7, 2019 when something he’d never …
What Does a Sponge Crab Use in a Pinch?
Ordinarily a conforming Sleepy Sponge Crab (Dromia dormia) would be expected to be carrying a sponge on its back. It’s what they do. In Hawai’i that sponge is usually a large, oval piece of yellow sponge, but they will carry other types of sponges too. Like most animals they exhibit individual preferences. Over the years we’ve also seen them carrying …
Identifying A Mystery Bottle from a Sunken WWII wreck off Makena, Maui
During WWII the Kihei-Makena coastline of Maui was an important training area for U.S. Marines headed to the Pacific. The sandy beaches were good for practicing beach assaults with amphibious tractors (AMTRACS) which were also known as LVTs (Landing Vehicles Tracked). For unknown reasons, some of these vehicles ended up submerged in relatively shallow water (60-80 feet), and are now some of our favorite …