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Hawaii Fish, Marine life of Oahu

In Hawaii especially the island of Oahu scuba diving in Waikiki will excite anyone !

With turtles, rays , sharks and reef fish the Hawaiian island chain is a divers' delight. Most people visiting Oahu don't really get the chance to see all of Hawaii's hidden marvels. Talking about every marine life in Hawaii would take a 1000 page book! So what we will do is talk briefly on what types of marine life you will encounter when scuba diving in Hawaii.

Scuba Diving in Oahu

Ok, what is the most popular marine life in Hawaii ? I would guess it is the Hawaiian green sea turtle. The Hawaiian green sea turtles are very common in Hawaii and can be seen almost on every dive in Hawaii. Eating mostly seaweed these reptiles spend the majority of the day relaxing on the reefs or wedged underneath a rock ledge. Air breathers Hawaiian green sea turtles need to surface regularly- Staying underwater for about 1 hour, different amounts of time depending on their species, size, and what they are doing. Some turtles can even hibernate underwater for months.

Next would be the sharks. Hawaii does have sharks and plenty of them. The likelihood of being attacked by a shark in the waters of Hawaii is rare, extremely rare. In 2007, 7.4 million visitors came to the islands and there were just eight shark attacks in Hawaii that is the highest since 2002. The last fatal shark attack in Hawaii occurred April 7, 2004, when a surfer was killed off Kahana in West Maui. Don't get scared, sharks do not attack unless provoked. Sharks do not mess with scuba divers whatsoever unless that diver is spear fishing then the shark will go after the fish that is caught.

Trumpet fish are just plain weird looking. These types of fish are frequently found on reefs and dive locations in Hawaii and elsewhere in the world making this reef fish one of the popular ones. With their long slender body, horse-like looking face these fish are very interesting. You can guess why "trumpet fish" was used to name this fish. These fish come in a variety of colors and can even change colors to blend in to their background.

The all to cute puffer fish, made popular by the movie Finding Nemo. In Hawaii, especially Oahu puffer fish are everywhere. All different shape and sizes these very unique fish have an excellent way of defending itself from predators such as the eels. Biologists think puffer fish, also known as blowfish, developed their ability to inflate because of their slow, somewhat awkward swimming style which makes them vulnerable to predators. Puffer fish use their highly elastic stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water to turn themselves into a inedible ball several times their normal size. Other species like the porcupine puffer have spines on their skin to make them even less palatable.Oh by the way, almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one puffer fish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote, YIKES.

Dolphins are also frequently found in the waters of Oahu. Just minutes outside of the hustle and bustle of Waikiki you can easily find spinner dolphins. These playful mammals are the "Aloha Ambassadors" of Hawaii. Traveling in groups or pods of 30 or more the spinner dolphins keep the family safe. Dolphins are extremely intelligent and can outwit the dreadful tiger shark around. The spinners so they are called eat an abundance of sea life. They enjoy some crustaceans, and love to small fish. Although not a threat to humans it is wise to stay away from this majestic creatures when their young are around. Chances are really good that you will encounter a dolphin at on the boat.

What about stingrays ? To be exact the Hawaiian sting ray. This fish, the cousin of the shark will blow your mind when you see it. Pay close attention to NOT molest this animal due to the large spine that is at the base of the tail. People do get hurt by sting rays but this is only because people accidentally step on them, causing them to strike out. Stingrays eat all kinds of critters, crabs and certain types of urchins. Scuba diving encounters are frequent and usually the sting rays are a bit shy preferring to swim away rather than stay close to divers. Honestly, these beautiful animals got a bad reputation after the Steve Erwin tragic death. This is extremely rare.

Eels are very plentiful on the reefs of Hawaii. There are too many species to discuss here so lets just say eels are eels. These snake like creatures dwell in rocks and crevices and wait for unsuspecting fish to come by. Eels will not attack divers unless provoked so do not put your hands in any holes without knowing what is in there. Eels have bad eye sight and rely heavily on their sense of smell to detect food. Making great picture subjects due to there laid back appearance be careful when shooting these marine animals. Some are grumpy and do not wish to be photographed.