JULY 11 AND 12: WING AND TANKER BARGE
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The first dive on this album is at Wing (press the "MAP THIS" button above if you would like to see where that is) July 11, 2009. Here you can see that Rose has found a nice cache of nudibranch eggs.
Isn't it difficult to believe that something so large and pretty can come out of a small slug?
I like the "fine art" of the curves in the close-up.
Coral crab (Trapezia wardi).
These guys are always very deep down in the coral, which makes getting photos a considerable challenge. Getting them both in front of the camera AND in the path of light from a strobe is nearly impossible.
Another type of crab deep in the coral (Charybdis hawaiiensis).
The red and white striped thing between you and the crab is a soldier fish of some type.
Crinoids. The yellow is likely Comanthina schlegeli, the black Comantheria briareus. These are basically just extremely "bushy" sea stars.
Some nice corallamorphs at the bottom of the Canyon. Not sure of species, but likely genus is Discosoma. The name corallamorph basically just means "coral-like," and these are similar to corals in many ways. This would have made a nice wall-paper in the '70's! Even the name ("Disco" soma) sounds like something out of the 70's or 80's!
"What was that big bubbling creature that just came by?"
"I think it is passed. Safe now." Orangefin anemonefish (Amphiprion chrysopterus).
Nudibranch (Chelidonura inornata). You can see the size on Rose's hand. This species eats flatworms (you will see a flatworm in a later photo).
Octopus peeking out at Rose.
Hermit crab (Dardanus lagopodes).
Now we are on our SECOND dive for the weekend. The previous photos were Saturday PM (July 11). Now we are in the morning of Sunday, July 12. If you are interested, press the "Map This" button above for orientation as to where we are for this dive.
According to what I have been told, prior to the invasion of Saipan, American forces pulled a large concrete barge ("tanker") into Saipan waters under cover of darkness. They then cut it loose and let it drift. It ran aground at its current resting place. From a safe distance, American ships then watched as the sun came up. As first light arrived, the Japanese saw this new vessel in their lagoon and fired upon it. This allowed the Americans to observe where the major Japanese gun batteries were so that the invasion could be planned with better information.
The tanker now rests in about 20 to 30 feet of water on fine sand.
NICE! An empty cowry shell! Notice that nice sand.
Now HERE is the critter we were looking for. The beautiful and interesting nudibranch (sea slug) called the "Blue dragon" (Pteraeolidia ianthina). The color varies, so they are not all blue, but it is easy to see how they got the "dragon" name.
Some of you have read about these guys in previous albums. If this includes you, please forgive the repetition. A blue dragon starts out life much as does any other nudibranch. It feeds on poisonous hydroids and soft corals. Now, these critters (hydroids and soft corals) contain symbiotic organisms (called Zooxanthellae) which photosynthesize and provide food. They also contain stinging cells (called nematocysts) for protection. The blue dragon digests most of the body parts, but the Zooxanthellae and nematocysts are able to pass through the dragon's digestive tract and become incorporated into the surface tissue. The many appendages (called cerata) are arranged to maximize surface area and allow optimum photosynthesis. Many experts say that blue dragons probably do not need to eat at all once they attain adulthood.
This barge is not really considered to be a dive site, but I think it is totally cool. It has just enough walls, compartments, and windows to create mystery and lead the explorer onward ("What is through THIS window?"), but is open enough to be a reasonably safe open water dive (NOT a penetration type of dive). There are many skylights above, which let the sunshine through, as you can see here.
Rose, I think you look like you are enjoying the dive. One of the skylights is quite visible above.
Another blue dragon. Here you can see a little more "blue-ness" of it. Or maybe they are called "blue" dragons because someone thought that they looked melancholy?
Lots of interesting stuff scattered around, creating a pretty cool artificial reef.
These little volcanoes occur elsewhere, too, but not usually this densely. I don't know what type of critter creates and lives in these. Sometimes they will "erupt," with sand and small debris coming out for a minute or so. I have tried to dig down, but have always come up empty-handed. If anyone knows what these are, please leave a comment!
I'm not sure what species this ornate nudibranch is. I think it is genus Risbecia, which is a type of Chromodorid. By the way, the term "nudibranch" technically means "naked gills." You can clearly see the gills of these two, on their backs.
I would think that this would be a totally cool dive for someone familiar with what some of the equipment may be.
Time to head back up to the kayaks and return to shore. The next photo is back at Wing. I hope you enjoyed the Tanker!
Tiny nudibranch (Thuridilla bayeri). This starts our Sunday afternoon dive at Wing.
This implement is out at about 90 feet. I have no idea whether it is something nautical or a piece of discarded farm equipment. It appears to have an auger (corkscrew), which could have been for digging or for moving grain, dirt, sand, etc. Crinoids seem to find it a fine place to frequent.
AAAAAhhhhrrrrgggghhh! Attack of the crinoid!
I think this crinoid is just sitting there laughing!
Can you flind the founder? Oops! I mean can you find the flounder?
Can you find BOTH flounders here? I have never seen them dance like this before.
Totally cool. I assume it may have been a mating display, but I'm not sure.
Hey, Rose: Are you doing a "moonwalk" underwater? Nice tribute to Michael Jackson! But you should have taken off one of your gloves first.
Oh, I see! You found a nice flatworm (Bothus pantherinus). One interesting fact about this genus: Individuals have TWO penises!
Pretty critter. Remember the nudibranch earlier which, I mentioned, eats flatworms? Well, for that nudibranch, here is a tasty, 2-penised morsel! By the way, I'm not sure whether or not the sexes are separate in this genus. They may be hermaphrodites, for all I know. Mixed male and female AND 2 penises. If THAT's true, it must be quite a life!
What was that, Bob? Did you say that you are going to linger here until you have 4 PSI? OK. See you at the car!
