Bruce & Ben (divemasters), Robert, Dave, Laura, and Linda (buddies)

Kosrae Village Resort
http://www.kosraevillage.com/

Orangefin anemonefish were among Linda’s very favorites on Kosrae Vidcap by Rich Torkington in Kosrae 2001

Dive Journal: We’ve been dreaming about the Kosraean reefs ever since last Saturday night, and we are not disappointed on our first well-lit day dive on Kosrae. The extent and beauty of the corals is outstanding! It is amazing how such delicate, huge, and varied coral formations have formed over so many years with no damage. I am especially amazed at huge overhanging formations and I can’t believe how they have not fractured due to either the currents or simply by their weight.

This dive is hopefully a successful maiden voyage for the video monitor back on my video setup, after its disappointing performance in Mexico last month. With top grade alkaline batteries, it seems to work great! I am immediately trying to learn how to keep the camera steady and use the zoom a bit. Most underwater photography advice I’ve read tells me not to touch the zoom, so as to minimize the attenuating effect of water between me and the subject, but the water is so clear here that it doesn’t make much difference.

We spy a nice barracuda mid-water on the dive entry. We also see the first of many anemone fish, scorpionfish, and a wide variety of butterflyfish that we are not identifying yet. I immediately like the oval butterflyfish best. There are also a fair number of beautiful flame angelfish, who shy away quickly upon approach. We enjoy the many Moorish idols, black snappers, damsel-like fish, and a big clam with purplish lips. We also spot a longnose filefish, which I am only able to identify when reviewing the video later.

The conditions are totally remarkable – so calm and clear that you can pick out very detailed bottom features and fishes from the deck of the boat.

SUMMARY OF SOME FISHES OBSERVED ON THIS DIVE:

This list was created by looking over the video footage and identifying each species. Mostly, just the new or notable species are listed.

• Barracuda
• Purple queen (loads of them)
• Slingjaw wrasse
• Pacific doublesaddle butterflyfish
• Pinktail triggerfish
• Longnose butterflyfish
• Checkerboard wrasse
• Moorish idol
• Flame angelfish
• Whitecheek surgeonfish
• Ringtail wrasse
• Threespot dascyllus
• Saddled butterflyfish
• Regal angelfish
• Midget chromis
• Orangefin anemonefish
• Black and white snapper juvenile
• Orangespine unifornfish
• Scorpionfish, exact species not clear
• Ornate butterflyfish
• Oval butterflyfish

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