"Whale Watching and Snorkeling in Maui...more pics." Top 5 Page for this destination Maui Travelogue by seamandrew

Humpback whale spout and fluke in the distance.

Humpback Spout

Humpback whale exhales, releases all that saltwater.

Two humpbacks

Two humpbacks swimming side by side through the water.

Whale spout

Humpback whale up close, unfortunately not close enough. US law probits it.

Black Triggerfish, very common around Maui.

Black Triggerfish at Molokini Crater. They're easy to detect by their shape (as you can see from the picture) and the all black body with small white markings on the fins They were a bit excited about all the snorkelers. They're not allowed to be fed, but somehow they seemed ready to be fed. I guess everyone doesn't always obey the rule. A shame!

Raccoon Butterflyfish on the hunt for food.

One fish that is hard to miss because of it's bright color is th Raccoon Butterflyfish. It's bright yellow tail fin allows it to stand out in a beautiful blue ocean.

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a near Black Rock

One of the highlights of my snorkeling adventures in Maui was seeing the famed Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. Roughly translated into English from Hawaiian is "The hog-snouted fish that fits things together."

There are two species of triggerfish that have earned this title. The first is pictured here, the Lagoon Trigger. I've had several of these in my life in my home salt-water aquariums. The second and true one is the Picasso Trigger.

Both have adopted the name Humuhumunukunukuapua'a but I think the Picasso Trigger is the deserving fish. However, I find the Lagoon Trigger much more beautiful.

White spotted puffer.

White spotted Puffer... another easily identifiable fish.