Waking at 5:45 due to Drew’s untimely appearance into my room started my day off poorly, especially since we got back from the Mauna Kea hime at 11:00. However, I was able to sleep for thirty more minutes, so I was happy again. At 6:15 I woke to the sound of harmonized alarm clocks. After the dry Honey Nut Cheerios, we left for the marina where the boat was waiting. The first dive was near lava tubes, where lava flowed previously. We saw an octopus, moorish idol, and a deflated pufferfish. The divemaster allowed us to swim through the lava tubes. They are basically small caves and tunnels. After the first dive, we went to the next site and jumped in. It was pretty similar to the first dive, except not as deep. Next, we came back to the marina to have lunch. I had a ham sandwich, chips, and a cookie. Next we went to the Monk Seal place again to learn about their diets, lifestyle, and treatments for their diseases. The younger seals are tube fed until they are old enough/understand enough to swallow whole fish. Then we went to the visitor center to be briefed on the blackwater dive. The animals live at depths of 1000 feet, where no light reaches, ever. Each night they swim up to the surface where photosynthetic organisms live, so the pelagic animals can eat them.
I am looking forward to the Manta Ray Dive and the Black Water Dive. The Manta Ray dive, I anticipate, to be a highlight of the trip, due to their immense size and presence. I am excited for the Black Water Dive because the workers say it is like nothing I have ever done before. I am also told that the creatures are very unique and highly evolved for their environment.
