Pacific Rim Divers Limited

Photo • Whitemouth Moray — Gymnothorax meleagris — Puhi

A whitemouth moray found at the Golden Arches dive site in Kona. This species is recognized by its dark body covered in small white spots and the pale interior of its mouth that gives it its common name. Puhi spend much of the day sheltering in holes and crevices, emerging to hunt fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Their open-mouth posture is normal and helps move water across the gills for breathing.

Fun fact:
Moray eels have a second set of jaws in their throat, called pharyngeal jaws, which help pull prey deeper into the mouth after a bite.

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Photo • Locust Nudibranch — Hypselodoris peasei — No Known Hawaiian Name

A locust nudibranch found at the Golden Arches dive site in Kona. Hypselodoris peasei is a dorid nudibranch found in Hawaiʻi and other parts of the Indo-Pacific. Like many nudibranchs, it feeds on sponges and incorporates chemical compounds from its diet as a defense against predators. The feathery structure at the rear of the body is a gill plume, while the pair of rhinophores on the head are used to detect chemical cues in the water.

Fun fact:
Unlike sea slugs with a protective shell, nudibranchs rely on chemical defenses, camouflage, and warning coloration for protection.

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Photo • Hawaiian Swimming Crab — Goniosupradens hawaiensis — Pāpaʻi Holoholo

A Hawaiian swimming crab found at the Turtle Pinnacle dive site in Kona. This species belongs to the swimming crab family, with flattened rear legs adapted for moving through the water. Pāpaʻi Holoholo is found on reef edges, sand, and rubble habitats, where it feeds on small invertebrates and scavenges for food. The species was formerly classified as Charybdis hawaiensis, a name still commonly encountered in older field guides and websites.

Fun fact:
Unlike most crabs, swimming crabs can use their paddle-shaped rear legs to swim and can quickly bury themselves in sand, leaving only their eyes exposed.

Pāpaʻi is the Hawaiian word for crab, and holoholo means to travel or move about—a fitting name for one of Hawaiʻi's swimming crabs.

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Photo • Wire Coral Goby — Bryaninops yongei — No Known Hawaiian Name

A wire coral goby found at the Turtle Pinnacle dive site in Kona. This small goby lives in close association with wire and whip corals, where it spends much of its time perched among the branches. Bryaninops yongei is found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including Hawaiʻi, and feeds primarily on zooplankton carried by the current. It is often seen alone or in pairs on a single coral host.

Fun fact:
Wire coral gobies can change s*x during their lifetime. They are usually found in pairs and may switch s*x to maintain a breeding pair on their host coral.

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Dwarf Moray Eel

Common name: Dwarf Moray
Scientific name: Gymnothorax melatremus
Hawaiian name: No documented name

Photos of a Dwarf Moray Eel at the Freeze Face dive site in Kona. This species is one of the smallest morays in Hawaiʻi and often stays deep inside narrow crevices with only the head exposed. Individuals feed on small fishes and crustaceans and rely on quick strikes and pharyngeal jaws to pull prey into the throat. Juveniles and adults show yellow to golden coloration with a dark spot at the gill opening.

🧠 Fun fact: Dwarf Morays rarely exceed about 30 centimeters, making them one of the smallest morays encountered on Hawaiian reefs.

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Juvenile Peacock Razor Wrasse

Common name: Peacock Razor Wrasse
Scientific name: Iniistius pavo
Hawaiian name: Laenihi

Photos of a tiny juvenile Peacock Razor Wrasse at the Freeze Face dive site in Kona. This individual was less than half an inch long and almost translucent, which is typical for very young juveniles. The species lives on reef flats and slopes and is known for diving into sand when threatened. Juveniles move through rubble and algae while feeding on small invertebrates.

🧠 Fun fact: Peacock Razor Wrasses can disappear into sand in seconds, using rapid fin movements to bury themselves.

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Juvenile Psychedelic Wrasse

Common name: Psychedelic Wrasse
Scientific name: Anampses chrysocephalus
Hawaiian name: No documented name

Photos of a tiny juvenile Psychedelic Wrasse at the Freeze Face dive site in Kona. Juveniles show distinct patterns and move quickly through rubble and algae while feeding on small invertebrates. This species is native to Hawaiʻi and lives on reef flats and slopes. Individuals change color and pattern as they mature, with terminal males developing blue and yellow tones.

🧠 Fun fact: Psychedelic Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, beginning life as females and transitioning to males as they grow.

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Juvenile Dragon Wrasse

Common name: Dragon Wrasse
Alternate common name: Rock Mover Wrasse
Scientific name: Novaculichthys taeniourus
Hawaiian name: hilu

Photos of a juvenile Dragon Wrasse at the Freeze Face dive site in Kona. Juveniles have ornate fins and shifting patterns that help them blend into rubble and algae. This species is known for flipping rocks to find small crustaceans and other prey. Individuals live on reef flats and slopes and change appearance significantly as they mature.

🧠 Fun fact: Dragon Wrasses use their strong snouts to move rocks much larger than their body size.

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Tom Smith Nudibranch
Common name: Tom Smith Nudibranch
Scientific name: Ardeadoris tomsmithi
Hawaiian name: No documented name

Photo of a Tom Smith Nudibranch at the Eel Cove North dive site in Kona. This species is part of the chromodorid group and is known for living on coral and rocky reef surfaces. Individuals feed on specific sponges and move slowly across the substrate. The species is recorded throughout parts of the Indo‑Pacific and is occasionally seen in Hawaiʻi.

🧠 Fun fact: Many chromodorid nudibranchs store chemicals from the sponges they eat, which helps deter predators.

See tomorrow’s post for video of this same nudibranch moving in the surge.

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