Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Angela on Oahu on February 8, 2008:

You say, "The fin is the last thing you see...." - that's a little misleading, as it is a TAIL fin, or simply tail, not a side fin.

If you go to the west side of Kauai, there are black sand beached in Waimea and Kekaha, too. Each island has its own eco-centric quirks.

We're glad you enjoyed your stay here - y'all come back! Aloha nui loa - (love is the best)

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I do consider the tail fin a fin. -rc

Posted by Steve, Holland, MI on February 9, 2008:

I've always heard the tail of a whale referred to as the "flukes" not fins.

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Fluke is another name for the tail fin of a whale or dolphin. -rc

Posted by Kim, Japan on February 9, 2008:

The black sand makes me think of here. It's a little lighter where I am. Of course, I'm living in Hokkaido... so, well, I'm living on a volcanic island.

It's not very active around here any more (Hokkaido gets a lot less earthquakes than down south), although the newest volcano in Japan is a ways southeast of me. (Showa Shinzan)

It's very rocky around here, but all the sand you find is this grayish-black. My husband and I paint miniatures as a hobby and he loves the sand for basing the miniatures. It's really beautiful...and strange... to see these rocky black sand beaches.

I'd love to visit Hawaii sometime. The weather is definitely WARMER than here... it looks fantastic! ;)

Posted by Russ Olympia, WA on February 9, 2008:

I went on this dive 5 or 6 years ago. It was fantastic, they were "flying" less then 2 feet over us as we sat on the bottom. There must have been at least 20 of them flying in and out of view. I also went on a dive in Papua New Guinea and saw a bunch there, but Hawaii was by far better.

Posted by Daniel San Ramon, CA on February 9, 2008:

Next time you dive off the Kona Coast, try the "airplane Dive if it is still there. I dove the Airplane way back in the early eightys.

Posted by Tom in Virginia on February 9, 2008:

Thanks for the pictures and the travelogue. Whether the majesty of the Rockies or the serenity of Hawaii, these sideline tours outside of True are always a thoughtful diversion. I see the whale, beautiful sunset and mantas feasting, and it's humbling. In the great scheme of things, many of our everyday concerns don't really matter. Which is why I'm stunned that the first posted comment is from someone "correcting" you for being "misleading" over what is and is not a fin. Seems to me, Angela missed the point.

Posted by Elizabeth, Calgary, Canada on February 9, 2008:

I enjoyed your description of your dives off Kona with Jack's - my husband and sons dove with them when we were there over New Year's 2002. The boys went on the manta ray dive and did see the mantas - they said it was just astounding having them brush against them and swoop overhead. (They would have been 14 and 11 at the time). And it took their minds off the fact that their dad, who was supposed to go with them, was in the Kona hospital with a ruptured spleen, sustained while body surfing at the beach. Quite the experience in every sense of the word - thanks for the memories!

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Ouch! It's a bummer to get hurt/sick when on vacation. -rc

Posted by Greg, Down Under (Australia) on February 10, 2008:

Great looking photos and video of the Manta rays. My wife and I will be holidaying in Hawaii in October this year with some friends from Iowa. This looks like a great adventure with Jack's Diving Locker. I will inform our friends in Iowa, Harold & Evelyn, to view it. They will control the bookings for tours so I can see this as being for us. Thanks for the great Idea.

Posted by Barbara - North Hampton, NH on February 12, 2008:

I loved this blog on diving in Hawaii. I'm green with jealousy! I dove there 20 years ago and had the same dolphin escort experience - sure does make the soul feel good! While I didn't have the Manta sightings either (we weren't looking for them) I did have the extreme pleasure of diving with a bunch of giant sea turtles. Truly an awesome experience. Thank you for awakening such great memories.

Posted by Kyle, Edmonton, Alberta on February 12, 2008:

Glad you liked Kona, Randy! My parents recently purchased a condo there, and I got to make my first trip there with them over the Christmas holidays this year. I made it out on 6 dives with Jack's Diving Locker, and did the manta ray night dive. The mantas did not show up for us, but a number of yellow headed morays came to play. Next to Bob Soto's in the Caymans, Jack's is the best I've ever been on. I can't wait to go back!