invertebrates

phylum Echinodermata

• blue-lined long-spine sea urchin (Diadema savignyi)*

• rock-boring sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei)

• banded sea urchin (Echinothrix calamaris)

• blue-black urchin (Echinothrix diadema)*

• red slate pencil urchin (Heterocentrotus mamillatus)

• collector urchin (Tripneustes gratilla)*

• pillow cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae)*

• mottled Linckia (Linckia multifora)*

• black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra)

phylum Cnidaria

• mushroom coral (Fungia scutaria)*

• cauliflower corals (Pocillopora spp.)

phylum Mollusca

• imperial nudibranch (Hypselodoris imperialis)*

• varicose wart slug (Phyllidia varicosa)*

phylum Annelida

• Medusa spaghetti worm (Loimia medusa)*

fish

• butterflyfishes (Chaetodon spp.)

• leopard blenny (Exallias brevis)*

• zebra moray eel (Gymnomuraena zebra)*

• white-mouth moray eel (Gymnothorax meleagris)*

• pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua)*

• Blotcheye soldierfish (Myripristis berndti)*

• orange-spine unicornfish (Naso lituratus)

• spotted boxfish (Ostracion meleagris)

• manybar goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus)

• lei triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa)*

• saddle wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey)

reptiles

• green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)

* = first identified species encounter

My first time ever SCUBA diving in Hawaiʻi! It was also my first time diving in over three years, so the primary focus of today was just remembering how to breathe underwater. We boated out of Kewalo Basin Harbor, and dove the Pipe and Secrets sites. It was so exciting to see so many new species, including new species of urchins, moray eels, and triggerfish, and my first species of sea stars and nudibranchs in Hawaiʻi! Subtidal urchins are huge!

Unfortunately, no pictures because I couldn't get my GoPro to work under the higher pressure, but I will definitely try again with a proper case next time.