Molokini Coral Critters

Molokini Crater is many dive sites, a 5-tank day/night might cover most of the neat areas. With it’s protected status, multitude of visitors and stunning beauty; photography is easier here than anywhere I have been. I also benefited from numerous excursions over a few years, with the added advantage of breath-hold, or freediving, so as to be even less scary or obnoxious to the critters. My favorite areas are both tips of the crescent, the long western reef and the southwest backside.
Yellow Margin Moray

The west reef tip is where this Yellow Margin Moray was most often found.
Switchback

He was not particularly fond of flash photography, but this day he could only Switchback.
Pissed Moray

You know he´s a Pissed Moray when his head changes color and he swells up like a water balloon.
Trumpet Fish and Moray

By the time the Trumpet Fish and Moray got together the moray seemed to be more comfortable, or just distracted.
Shelf White Tip

On my next trip, I went looking in the same area, only to find a little (3-4ft) Shelf White Tip.
Wedged Puffer

It is hard to get a Wedged Puffer shot without being considered a terrorist photographer,
Red Carpet

but I stuck around long enough to see him past the Red Carpet, safely deflating and retreating to the depths.
Threatened Crab

Trying to scare me away with the Threatened Crab pose, he did not want his picture taken. We covered at least 50 yards while he looked for a hole to hide in.
Alien Monster

Doesn’t he look like an Alien Monster from this angle?
Raccoon, Cowries and Shrimp

In the center and eastern sides of the interior, Raccoon Butterfly Fish are plentiful. When the strobe went off on this one, instead of a dark background, I got Raccoon, Cowries and Shrimp.
Cowries and Candy Canes

Looking in this colorful hangout usually rewards you with Cowries and Candy Canes
Wall Raccoons

The backside is not a smart place for solo freedivers, but my infrequent forays have been memorable. This is an awsome night dive; in the day you only see the color when the strobe goes off, like for these Wall Raccoons. Talk about colorful!
Zebra Moray

I have only come across a couple Zebra Morays, and he had a very colorful surrounding.
Fish Filled Crack

My favorite Fish-Filled Crack reminds me of a living kaleidoscope, constantly changing color, just a little less symmetrical.
Fish, Fish, Fish

My calm spiny puffer subject could be thinking Fish, Fish, Fish!

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