When we received mail from our friends Michelle and Howard Hall inviting us to join them on a dedicated trip in aboard the Kona Aggressor II…we did not hesitate and booked. The trip was around Kona, Hawaii and our goal was to look for spinner dolphins during the daylight hours and to attract mantas feeding on plankton during the evenings. To achieve the latter a big light used while filming the IMAX feature “Deep Sea 3D” by the Halls was attached to the Aggressor.

Concentrating on specific species makes packing much easier. No macro ports, lenses, or strobes on this trip!

And as on all trips…the weather did not cooperate. The first 2 days were weather days: strong surge, choppy seas and pouring rain kept us out of the water. But on the third day…there was (a bit of) light! A snorkel close to the Kailua Pier in milky water immediately gave everybody a needed boost for the next days in the water. Variable conditions for the rest of the trip gave us images and footage with a variety of light and moods.

The wonderful company we were in, the great encounters we had and the excellent staff on the Aggressor made this a trip that still gives me goosebumps when think about it.

Images taken in Kona, Hawaii (manta night dive: at Garden Eel cove and close to shore at the Sheraton, Spinner dolphins at the Kailua Pier and at Kealakekua Bay Marine Sanctuary (Cook’s Bay).