Be on the lookout for this suspicious gang of pink cap, pink suit clad people, last seen in this "group" photo prior to heading out to sea. Beware, when cold, the suspects can out swim even persistent followers. This winter phenomena, when the water is ccccold, as today, people tend to swim fast, not stop and chat, or play with unusual sea creatures. Silly me, early in the swim I got distracted by a camera shy Zebra Moray Eel, and a stealth octopus, so I lost the gang.
This endangered Hawksbill Turtle did unite about 5 of our swim gang. We are joyed to identify the rare turtle by the unique beak shaped nose, and scalloped rear shell. The red algae on his shell is also indicative of Hawksbills.
Maui plays an active role to aid propagation of the endangered Hawksbill Turtle. During summer nesting season, a "Dawn Patrol" group would walk each known nesting beach, 7 days a week. My charge of sand was Oneloa Beach. On Thursday mornings I would walk the length of the beach in search of evidence of female crawl tracks up the sand to a possible nest of eggs. When nests are located, after a 2 month incubation, people would camp for many nights to ensure all the late night hatchlings evacuate the nest and make it to the ocean safely.
This past summer, Maui had 6 known Hawksbill nests. Over 800 hatchlings safely made it to the ocean, headed out to deep waters. One of 1000 hatchlings will come back to Maui as a juvenile in 7-10 years. At sexual maturity about age 25 years, the female will make her nest on the same beach she was born on.
Bruce, our friendly White Tip Reef Shark was home in his cave today. Lovingly named after Finding Nemo Bruce, the 12-step shark who pledged off of eating fish, we can be assured he has not eaten any of our recent Hawksbill Turtle hatchlings.
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