Big Island Diving!

[Platypus]

Rick and I were itching to take my RIB out for a quick dive (My valentine’s Day Present is a 21’ Ballistics RIB :thumps:), so we called up Deron Verbeck and Jeff Alberts to do some reef diving. Andrea Kawabata had to work so it was just the four of us. We’re still trying to get the trailer suitable for launching at South Point which requires a 20’ extended tongue, so we had to put in at Keahou ramp and we drove the RIB South to an area that supposedly held some large Moana Ukalis. When I called Deron to see if he was free to come dive, he says, “Angela you are going to shit yourself when I tell you this”. He was just out on one of his charters when he spotted a floating log. Armed with only his camera, he slides in and this is what he sees…..

[Platypus]

Needless to say we decide to take the bluewater route to the reef, looking for any flotsam that might be out there on the way – but no such luck that day. So we head to the spot and decide to hopscotch. We drop Deron and Jeff in the water, then Rick and I drive about a mile up the reef, anchor up, jump in and swim further up on the reef. There were plenty of Moana Ukalis but we were holding off on shooting them until we saw some really big ones. When we did see the big ones, we realized they were big for good reason, those suckers are SMART! I shoot a nice Roi, then we see the RIB heading our way, we jump on board and head just a little further north and anchor up.

I decide to sit out this dive and get some lunch, so Rick, Jeff and Deron all jump in. Deron heads for the drop off and Rick (who is the last to get in) sticks to the shallows. I watch as Rick dives down then comes back up laughing and hollering, his gun unloaded. I see Deron heading Rick’s way, then Deron screaming, “You motherfu(ker!” and shooting him the bird. You see, Rick had told Deron before jumping in, that since he was a multi-record holder in the apnea world, that he should stick to the deeps and leave the shallows to Rick. What we didn’t know was that in the shallows was a nice Ulua house, with 3 nice uluas holed up in there that came out and said hello to Rick. Rick shot one while the other 2 went bolting out into the deep. Of course I am sick about it, it is the story of my life. Anytime I sit out a dive, someone shoots a great fish. Rick always tells me, “You are never going to shoot any fish sitting on the boat”. No shit Sherlock! :rolleyes: :p Deron and Jeff shoot some nice Moana Ukalis, Uhus and Joes, we all hop aboard and head a little further north.

[Platypus]

We decide that we will hopscotch again, so we drop Deron and Jeff in, and Rick and I decide to head just a tad south this time. The water is crystal clear, and we can see the bottom at 80’+ like it was 20’. We slowly drive the boat when Rick turns to me and asks me if I wanted to jump in and swim with sharks. He is laughing because he knows the answer before I give it to him. Not only “No” but “HELL F’n NO!”. We see shark fins breaking the surface, they are big and there are many. I get worried about Deron and Jeff and tell Rick we should drift with the guys in case the sharks come close to them. It is at that time I hear Deron screaming for us to come to them. Rick hauls ass to them, and we find out Deron is screaming for his camera. It was a huge school of Scalloped Hammerheads doing their thing. Jeff and Deron were surrounded by them. Deron tells me I should jump in, at which point I repeat, “Hell F’n no!” He’s laughing as I hand him his camera, but it was too late. They had moved off and we could not find them again. Here is a picture Deron took of the sharks a different time…

[Platypus]

The weather had taken a slight turn for the worse, and with a long drive back to the ramp, we call it a day and head in. I am baffled. Isn’t the Kona side supposed to be flat ass calm? Well, not always. ☺ Rick and I have a moto: “If it aint gonna be fun, it’s not worth it.” We had a blast!
Here are a couple of the Kalis Deron shot, and I didn’t get to take a picture of Jeff’s catch…

Deron “We got our asses handed to us for a few Moana Ukalis” Verbeck:

[Platypus]

I really love diving the Island of Hawaii. You really don’t even need a boat to get into some great reef or bluewater action, you can jump in from shore and shoot some amazing fish as I show you here, all from shore:
Deron’s 84lb Giant Trevally – although I now wonder who really shot this fish??!! ;) :p just kidding!

[Platypus]

Jeff Alberts' 457.5lb Black Marlin - not bad for a "rock-hop" :D
Wish I had a better resolution...

[Platypus]

Last but not least, one of Hawaii’s best wahini spearos, Andrea “Anj” Kawabata with the Women’s State Record Moana Ukali – 4.18lbs!!! These were the Kalis we were looking for! I credit Anj for teaching me how to shore dive and use a 3 prong, and hope she will teach me how to find Tako!

[OceanEd]

Very nice, Angela. You couldn't live in a better place!

[clavinr]

Unbelievable!

That picture of the hammerheads would make a great background for a computer...the shot of Rick would too.

[NJ DREW]

Wow!!!!!!!

[zenspearo]

Wow!!! Awesome report. Thnx for sharing!

[SpearMax]

Angela and Rick, fantastic report from paradise! :beer: :beer:

I too think the shark shot is awesome! Tony

[Judge]

Great story and pics...Oh I dream of returning to paradise. :D
Judge

[JLittle44]

My valentine’s Day Present is a 21’ Ballistics RIB :thumps:This on top of living in paradise? Are you tryin' to make life completely insufferable for the rest of us?:D

Very nice!

[Brandi]

Angela! Sounds and looks like a really fun & adventurous day! Thanks for sharing.
Safe diving

[DKSocal]

Looks like some epic diving! I really wish i was able to get out more often here on the Big Island. Been down to South Point plenty of times although never for the Spearfishing reason :(. I'll be leaving for the summer since finals are done at UHH already so I have high hopes of speaing much more next year.

Congrats again on the great outing!

[Platypus]

Thanks for the comments!

Natedogg! When are you and da boss coming back? Looks like we are back on board with the ranch, so maybe you can lift the lava curse you put on it?! ;) haha

Hey JLittle44, when he realized I wanted a RIB for VDay, his eyes lit up like a little b!tch on Christmas morning!! What Red Tide is to tournaments, Rick is to boats - a junkie!! :p So he had a lot of fun rigging it and tricking it out for me.

Brandi - you still coming end of the year? And Judge, we'll see ya soooon! :)

DKSoCal - we're only a call or e-mail away, next time you want to dive let us know!

Here is our mate Devin with a nice rainbow runner, and wahoo taken off his kayak...

[biggsy]

Awesome story Angela. The water looks amazing.

[ScottZeagle]

Nice report, Ang!!!

We are looking forward to getting over there for a visit....maybe in 2009!!!

:)

[DKSocal]

DKSoCal - we're only a call or e-mail away, next time you want to dive let us know!

Here is our mate Devin with a nice rainbow runner, and wahoo taken off his kayak...

Appreciate the invite! I will definitely drop you a line, I would love to learn the know-how of diving the Island and more of the etiquette and most of all the best species to pursue and general things.

PS: on a side note, I have become a regular into the Big Island Spearguns shop down here on Hilo side and both women (can't remember to ask there names) are more then knowledgeable and friendly as well.

Congrats once again!

[Platypus]

Here's another friend, Grant Wilson with a 13.4lb Big Eye Trevally - this pic reminds me of when I was swarmed by a school of them, but I didn't shoot because I was being "selective" and thought they were small Ulua... :slap:

[Griswold]

Great stories and pictures Angela - thanks for sharing them.

[Fis_Hunter]

Great report and pics. I am going to be in Kona the first week of july. I hope I get a chance to shoot a couple of fish for dinner.

[Wahooooo!]

Great report. That Rainbow Runner is unreal. I didnt know they got that big. Good eating.:cowboy:

[Platypus]

Here's our buddy Devin again. He offered to help us move for the last time (for a while) and to express our thanks Rick gave him his own personal 140cm Super Venom. That gun had heaps of good juju, lost count how many Doggies and Macks Rick shot with that thing. Devin took it out, and came home with this 60lb YF Tuna. Rick, Derek Hara and I jumped in a few days later, but all I saw was kava kava and a small awa that was very weary of me, and took off into the deeps with lightning speed! I want an Awa badly.. Heard they put up a massive fight!

[Platypus]

We celebrated Anj's birthday by going camping with our friends on a secluded beach, Rick and Anj teamed up and came back with some nice fish - Rick's Bluefin Trevally weighed in at 19.4lbs and Anj shot Moana Ukalis over 2.5lbs... She is for sure the Kali Killer... ;) and as usual she managed to come up with a nice Tako as well... Funny thing is we always ask her to get us a tako, and she never promises anything, but delivers every time. :D We've been seeing a lot of huge Omilus over here....

[Mobile Diver]

Great fish!! Life in paradise!!:thumps::thumps:

[Platypus]

Anj and her buddy Justin Lee went diving and picked up some nice fish. Her Kali was another one over 4lbs, but not bigger than the state record (which she holds). :) Oh yeah, and some tako... :cool:

[Platypus]

Here are a few more of Devin's tuna. He swung by our ranch after he was done diving and we took some pics... I noticed these almost perfect circles were cut out of the fish's body, and found out that it was done by a type of shark called a "cookie cutter". Thought it was pretty neat....

[Platypus]

Here's a couple of pics of Deron VerBeck's friend / co-worker with a NICE Omilu.... These photos were taken by Deron and you can see some more of his exceptional U/W photography at www.iamaquatic.com

[SpearMax]

Paradise for sure Angela! Great shots of beautiful people and fish! Tony

[kill shot]

Nice pics Angela.

[Natedogg]

I'm so happy for you and Rick. You guys are living the life. It looks like your settling down in the new place very nicely.

We're still looking for another trip, hopefully in Sept. for our anniversary. Can't wait to see you, Rick, Deron and Jack Ku again.

[biggsy]

I feel like I am there when I am reading the reports and looking at the pictures.

There is some amazing terrain there.

Thanks for sharing it with us Angela!

[Captn Ron]

Nice pics and reports.........I sure miss those islands.

[Platypus]

Hey Nate! Still coming with the Boss? :)

Here is a picture of Kaui with a 30lb Ulua he shot this past weekend - I think it is his first? He and Grant also did their personal best freedives past 100' AND I take some credit for Grant's dive since I let him borrow my fins :cool: (JK) :D I add a picture of Grant and his 58lber he shot a different time...
Also had Diver Joe & his boss (wife ;) ) visit me for the weekend, and he shot a nice Mu, Ala Ihi, some Uhu, and a healthy kali.... Just need the pics... :)

[X-DIVER]

Hey Angela,
Sorry that I couldnt make it there with Diver Joe this past week but it was awesome to see you and Rick today at the store.Hope to make it there soon and dive with you guys.
Aloha, Kip

[Bulit7]

Wow ! So many great pics.

We need a larger pic of the Marlin.
The shark shot in higher res would be great too.
That taco is fokin huge. I have caught tons of big ones but that one is huge. Anyone that has caugh one of those freediving knows what a clusterfk that can be. They are powerfull animals and bite to boot.

Great report!!

[Platypus]

Here is one of my dive buddies, Derek, with a couple of nice Mu. Each time we dive, guarantee he will surface with a Mu, and not a "U" - but a MU ;) I finally was given the secret to his technique, it is pretty sophisticated and no freedive classes can prepare you for the skill needed. It is a natural ability.

[Platypus]

OK - so we have proof the triple digits are still out there.... :D Awesome catch Devin!

[Platypus]

Rick and Derek took Jeff Alberts diving before he took off for his trip to Australia, I was sick so I stayed home. :bang: They had a pretty good day. There are some monster Ukus out there... ;) Rick also got a Yellowspot (and I think Jeff got one as well). Derek is trying not to drop a nut holding up his 2 slobs. :D We went back a couple days later and Derek got his first Uku. I saw one, but it wanted no part of me... I will come across that huge, dumb suicidal Uku one day. :)

[X-DIVER]

Awesome pics, awesome fish,and awesome divers.Nice ulua`s and mu`s Derek

[clavinr]

Holy smokes!

Derek is a really great diver and it is cool to watch him work the reef. Your fish are really smart! It took me hours to land this monster!

I especially enjoyed my tour of the Aimrite factory! Thank you for the cool float!

Angela, Thank you for teaching me new swear words.

We had such a great time. We were at the airport and she was planning our next trip! She is on line looking at jobs for me in Hawaii "Oh, look here's one for you..." Picture is her crossing the finish line 15:48 and she wants to enter again!

Thank you for everything!

[RLdiver]

Is the cookie cutter shark common?....Rather, is it common to see the bite marks from them? I've been seeing a lot of fish on bloodydecks that have the holes all over.

http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/hawaii-usa/120159-maui-hawaii-living-dream.html

[Platypus]

My drinking buddy Fred got a nice Uku! I am surprised there isn't a beer somewhere in that picture. Actually I am a bit disappointed... ;)
My "son" Wiiilsooooon! got a nice Uku last weekend also. Still waiting for that little B@str@rd to e-mail me a pic... :D