Green Sea Turtle Hatchlings/PMRF

In the Hawaiian Islands, Green Sea Turtles have made a great comeback in the past few decades. On our Snorkel charters, it still amazes me to see the sheer number of animals we are blessed to swim with everyday. As a Marine Biologist, I am then overwhelmed that I have lived long enough to see female sea turtles come back to the major Hawaiian Islands to nest. Here on Kaua’i we can boast more turtle nests than anywhere in the state!
This fall season it has been recorded that 19 Kaua’i beaches (360 degrees around the island) have had successful sea turtle nests. Although the true tally of live turtle hatchlings has not been published, the 2011 estimate is 500-1,000!
This increase is very encouraging, yet only a few hatchlings per nest will survive to adulthood.

Photo: Courtesy of Smithsonian Institute

Turtle tracks-Polihale

Female often come ashore to nest, several times in a season, but will wait 2 or 3 years to nest again. Green Sea Turtles nest at night and dig a “body pit” with rear flippers She will deposit approximately 100 eggs into this flask shaped egg cavity. The female will cover the nest with sand and head back to the sea. That is the end of her parental involvement.

The incubation period is 2 months.

Turtles use a specialized egg-tooth called a caruncle to break free of their shell and then use teamwork to climb to the surface. The journey to the ocean is when the turtle hatchlings become affected by environmental hazards. Vehicle tracks and marine debris are some of the physical threats caused by humans, but by far the lights on a beach will disorient and misdirect the young turtles and prevent them from reaching the sea.  Predators, such as sea birds, octopus and  fish, will await the turtle luau. These surviving hatchlings truly learn to swim quickly and frantically into open ocean using amazing instincts and magnetic orientation!

When we encounter drift nets and plastic on our Sea Rider Charters, I always hope that there are Frog Fish in the flotsam.  This Sargasso Fish is not one we would see otherwise on the Hawaiian Reef and we have an opportunity to view one of the most unusual critters of the ocean AND save marine life from entanglement!

Jon Winsley: Sea Engineering/ Oah'u

Seariders Helps Deploy Oceanographic Meter

Sea Riders was sub-contracted to Sea Engineering a company which specializes in coastal engineering, geophysical surveys, oceanographic and environmental studies, as well as marine waterfront construction and industrial diving.  We assisted in deploying a Oceanographic meter.  I Love anything science!  Jon and Chris are great divers and easy to work with! Will be surfacing meter periodically this year to obtain wave and current data that is on memory card. Awesome technology!

The NaPali Snorkeling Season is Coming to An End…

We have moved down to the Southshore to swim on the “reef of abundance” with the Sea Turtles and tropical fish.   The Na Pali is getting frisky, with swells which makes for murky snorkeling.  We did our last Sea Cave excursion, snorkel, this week on the Na Pali and an early season North Swell is coming in this weekend 10+feet!!  On  Sundays’ South Shore Snorkel we were blessed with five Dolphins swimming under us as we snorkeled as well as Honu (turtles) -  a fleeting moment that will live forever in the hearts and memories of those experienced it!

Night Diving for Lobsters…

The crew of Kauai Seariders and I have been night diving for lobsters for sustainability and to share with friends.  Lobster season opened on September 1st in Hawaii.  The Spiny Lobster will molt and mate during summer months. The season includes the months that have an “R” in their name.  Diving at night is a blast!  I think I like to catch them more than eat them if that is possible. It is illegal to spear these crustaceans, because you may inadvertently kill a female with eggs.   So we grab them by hand, staying away from the “girls” and take home only the big ones.

The Humpback Whales are Coming Soon!

I’ve also been spending time catching up on paperwork and research that was neglected during our busy summer NaPali Tour season. Bet you can’t guess what I am concentrating on now?  Humpback Whales – of Course! There is new research on Acoustic Monitoring of Whales to review, big thanks to all the whale researchers who provide us with this new data!  We’ll look forward to the arrival of the Humpback Whales from Alaska sometime in the months of November and December…

Photo and Video Compliments of the U.S.Navy "PMRF" John Burger

Kaua’i Sea Riders Crew have had a great 2010 summer!

Na Pali Charters, South Shore Reef Charters and Now…. Turtle Hatchlings!

The “Na Honu Kai” have recently been nesting around the island on a few remote beaches.In the past this was unheard of as Sea Turtles were hunted almost to extinction in the 1950′s and 1960′s. Most females would migrate to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, sometimes 800 miles or more, each way, to avoid humans, who are their #1 predator.

But since their protection in the 1970′s we are seeing a comeback and change of natural history in that all Sea Turtles of the world will generally go back to the place that they were born in order to build their nests. Could it be that they are more comfortable around people, that we aren’t as threatening?

For the 1st time in over 10 years, nests were successfully monitored and protected by the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands: John Burger, also known as  “Navy’s Nature Guy” and Kaua’i's Aquatic Biologist: Don Heacock, helped with the survival of dozens of the Pacific Green Sea Turtles.  A significant blessing and bridge from the military to the eco-community!

Hatchlings still have to face their natural enemies, such as Crabs and Sea Birds and of course the ” Mano” or sharks. We are trying to lend a hand by marking off nesting sights, fencing off nesting areas inland and scooting the newborn Sea Turtles,who are lost, into the Sea. Check out this video: Movin’Out

Young Sea Turtles, will now endure what is called the “Lost Years”, a time when they live in convergent currents and are extremely vulnerable to pollution:entanglement and ingestion of plastic.

So keep up the Good work everyone! Dispose of your trash properly and Recycle! All of us together can make a difference! So that our Children and Grandchildren get to experience the joy of swimming with the Sea Turtles!

At Kaua’i Sea Riders we always seek the rare and unusual in small personalized groups. Nature runs the show and we never know what to expect! Looking forward to a great Summer Na Pali Season and continuing to explore the reefs around the Southshore on our 3 Hour Southshore Adventure.

The underside of a Whales’ Tail is unique to each individual, hence a modern way of tagging and counting the North Pacific Humpback Whales is done through digital photography.  Our Presidents Day Charter Passengers had a rare and close encounter and I would like to share these Humback whale visions from Alexa Boyes.  Mahalo Alexa!

Megaptera novengliae

They’re Back! The North Pacific Humpback whales are frolicing along Kaua’i shores once again! What a great blessing to view these animals in a respectful manner from the Zodiac. Please join us for an experience like no other in the winter months! I will let the passengers blog and share photos  for me in the coming weeks so that I can concentrate on Charters and Acoustic Research while the Gentle Giants are here!

A Hui Hou! Cap’t Tara

False Killer Whales

Kauai Sea Riders is a charter for Kauai visitors who want a personal and unique experience in and on the Ocean.  Yet, few realize that a large portion of the use of our Navy Seal Zodiac “HOOKAHI” is for scientific purposes.

This type of boat is referred to as a RHIB, or rigid hull inflatable and is a documented small craft that can get into the inaccessible areas. Powered by twin 140hp. 4-stroke Suzuki motors, which are “Green” friendly, this craft is perfect for Hawaiian ocean conditions and Marine life Research. Kauai Reef Conservation was formed to be a non-profit service to Federal, State , Private and other Community Non-Profit Organizations. The goal is to promote education and awareness of the diverse and unusual habitat in Hawa’ii.

In the past we have been contracted to conduct field research with Coral Reef Monitoring, Fish Kill Studies, turtle tumor and turtle mortality and  retrieval, Marine Mammal entanglement, Seal de-hooking and the monitoring of the rare and endangered toothed whale species, such as the False Killer Whales. So when you support Kauai Sea Riders by coming out on a Kauai Snorkel Tour or Whale Watch Tour, you are also a partner in Kauai Reef Conservation.

Fieldwork is my expertise, so any legal (501 c-3) advice , marketing help, or future grant ideas are greatly needed and appreciated ! Mahalo!

Captain Tara Leota

Moray eels, or puhi in Hawaiian, are very abundant in island waters. Represented by 40 species in the family Muraenidae, they are quite diverse in size, appearance and habits. The Giant Moray can reach a length of 10 ft. and weigh 75 lbs. Imagine coming face to face with this creature, the vision appearing 25% larger due to refraction from a mask!

Lacking scales and protruding fins, it is easy to think of Moray Eels as separate category, but they are truly bony fishes. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins are fused, and instead of scales, nature has provided them with a layer of mucus which protects the skin from germs and parasites. Perfectly adapted for the Hawaiian reef, the moray are efficient hunters. They have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell. They hunt at night, locating  resting prey such as damsel fish or cardinal fish. One inhabitant of the reef that outsmarts the moray is the parrot fish, which sleeps in a gelatinous cocoon that hides its smell.

During the day, moray eels can be seen poking their heads out of the reef, opening and closing their mouths, their rows of backward teeth looking menacing. This is not a sign of hunger or aggression, but the way these creatures breathe, pumping water over gills which are located behind the jaw. The configuration of the teeth ensure that a slippery fish will have a one-way journey to the stomach!  Some of the moray, such as the Snowflake or Zebra eels, don’t have teeth but grinding plates for crushing crabs, urchins and other invertebrates. Like most predators with big appetites, this family of marine life, will “luau” and then rest for a few days.

It is best not to stick your hands into holes and crevices while snorkeling and diving. An eel will defend it’s territory and can inflict painful bites. Some Dive masters feed eels making them “tame”, but since the eel’s eyesight is poor, this is unwise. The animals cannot discern fingers from squid! As always on  Kaua’i Sea Riders Snorkel Eco-Tour we educate passengers that it is better to observe reef animals in the wild, instead of changing their behavior.

Popular in Europe, Japan and China as a culinary delight, moray eels are raised for food. Thousands of tons are harvested each year to the delight of the fishing industry.

With your new understanding of these curious animals, you will be able to exclaim to your dive buddy, “That’s a Moray!” without  fear.

The Italian accent is optional.

We often encounter Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin on our Kauai Sea Rider Adventure tours! Named for their playful mid-air spins, the Nai’a have the reputation of being the “clowns” of all marine mammals of Hawai’i.
They are known for their friendly bow-riding behavior – but, they are still wild animals and should be treated with respect and caution. Through “Echolocation”: the ability to “see” by sound interpretation, dolphin can determine the exact location of a vessel or swimmer and are acutely aware when they are being chased or surrounded.

Our Kauai Snorkel Tours includes the blessings that nature offers and yet everyday is different. The Spinner Dolphin always bring the passengers and crew of the our Zodiac to a “lighter side” and brings out the playful spirit in all of us!

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