...to screw up what could have been a perfectly good early morning dive on the Big Island.
(Actually, there was human error also involved, along with a message from the "Dive Gods that also kept out out of the water). But, I'd rather blame this federally protected sea dog, uh, monk seal, instead.
The plan was to get up ahead of the crowds early on this particular day with our dive buddy Bob to make a shore dive here at Old Airport.
Upon evaluating the rather docile shore entry (minimal surf), we noticed something big in the water swimming with great enthusiasm.
Eventually, the thing surfaced, revealing itself to be one of the handful of Hawaiian monk seals that inhabit the Big Island (Sorry folks, this is as good a picture as we got). The meeker amonsgt us chose it as an excuse to avoid attempting the entry, as, it's against federal law to even LOOK at one (hyperbole for effect).
Though some among us were thrilled at the sighting, a yellow tang certainly wasn't, as it happened to be the object of the monk's furious thrashing about. The monk surfaced with the unhappy yellow critter in its mouth, before proceeding to chomp it down with a bit if difficulty. Mr. Tang, it should be noted, did not go quietly into that good night.
Monk didn't seemed too disturbed at our appearance, even rising up to the surface near shore to gaze at us, gazing at him. I knew he'd move away, once I ran to get my camera, and, true to form, he moved out aways, hence the lousy shot.
Bob called a buddy of his who studies such things to alert him of the unusual sighting, and we waited for Mr. Monk to head on his way.
Once it did, we set about gearing up for the dive, or attempting to, anyway, as one of us, who shall be unnamed, conveniently and suspiciously forgot their wet suit. I was the lucky one sent back to retrieve it, to end the excuse not to shore dive for the moment.
However, during Take Three of the attempt to shore dive at Old Airport, there arose a huge hissing sound from one of our regulators. The noise appeared to emanate from inside one of 'em, indicating a blown "o" ring of some kind, and, with no spares, that pretty much indicated that the Dive Gods did not want us going in here on this particular day.
