Loving Focus Photography Gretchen Yengst

  • Home
  • Browse
  • About Me
  1. Travel -- Sharing Wondrous Places

Under the Waves Maui

Read More
  • Welcome! Enjoy my underwater photographs and information

    Welcome! Enjoy my underwater photographs and information

  • Where am I? Landing on island of Maui... in the Hawaiian islands ... renting a car. Then an easy drive around NE coastal road to community of Napili.

    Where am I? Landing on island of Maui... in the Hawaiian islands ... renting a car. Then an easy drive around NE coastal road to community of Napili.

    From Napili Surf Resort Maui

  • Arriving at our comfortable and beautiful accommodations at Napili Surf Resort where rainbows quickly come and go before your very eyes:)

    Arriving at our comfortable and beautiful accommodations at Napili Surf Resort where rainbows quickly come and go before your very eyes:)

    From Napili Surf Resort Maui

  • Here is a panoramic view of Napili Bay spreading out in front of us with the island of Molokai across the way

    Here is a panoramic view of Napili Bay spreading out in front of us with the island of Molokai across the way

    From Napili Surf Resort Maui

  • Looking across Napili Bay from the lava pools to the other side ... this is where I go to snorkel and photograph in clear water

    Looking across Napili Bay from the lava pools to the other side ... this is where I go to snorkel and photograph in clear water

    From Napili Surf Resort Maui

  • Here is that north edge of the bay with a lava wall and clearer water for good snorkeling .

    Here is that north edge of the bay with a lava wall and clearer water for good snorkeling .

    From Napili Surf Resort Maui

  • I always swim with my husband, Chuck... Important for safety and for noticing different fish.

    I always swim with my husband, Chuck... Important for safety and for noticing different fish.

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • The bottom of the bay has old lava and coral that makes a great sea-life habitat

    The bottom of the bay has old lava and coral that makes a great sea-life habitat

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • Like this cozy spot for a resting turtle

    Like this cozy spot for a resting turtle

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • This is a shallow old lava rock bed and is very sharp  so I must swim carefully to keep my body from touching... it attracts lots of fish as its pockets hold things fish love to eat

    This is a shallow old lava rock bed and is very sharp so I must swim carefully to keep my body from touching... it attracts lots of fish as its pockets hold things fish love to eat

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • Corals also grown on the lava and attract the fish ... the fish begin to blend in with where they swim, nest and eat. This fish is a Sailfin Tang

    Corals also grown on the lava and attract the fish ... the fish begin to blend in with where they swim, nest and eat. This fish is a Sailfin Tang

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • It can raise its top or dorsal fin ... and extend its anal or bottom fin and look much bigger

    It can raise its top or dorsal fin ... and extend its anal or bottom fin and look much bigger

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • Camouflage: Look at this close up to see the pattern on his nose that matches the coral.

    Camouflage: Look at this close up to see the pattern on his nose that matches the coral.

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • The pretty pockets of coral that glow on the lava rock are home and a safe haven to many small fish

    The pretty pockets of coral that glow on the lava rock are home and a safe haven to many small fish

  • Shielding them from predator fish

    Shielding them from predator fish

  • Fish like this Saddle Wrasse will also lay its eggs in these pretty clumps of coral

    Fish like this Saddle Wrasse will also lay its eggs in these pretty clumps of coral

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • Here another Saddle Wrasse is guarding its nesting site

    Here another Saddle Wrasse is guarding its nesting site

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • Meet the "Orangespine Unicorn Tang”

    Meet the "Orangespine Unicorn Tang”

  • They are plentiful and always on the move here in Napili Bay

    They are plentiful and always on the move here in Napili Bay

  • These fish are about the size of a large dinner plate

    These fish are about the size of a large dinner plate

  • Waving their flag-tipped tail as they make an exit

    Waving their flag-tipped tail as they make an exit

  • This is one of my best shots. I captured this fish with its dorsal fin raised. It almost looks like there is a person inside this fish... with its almost human-like face, eyes and distinctive mouth that looks like it has applied lipstick... and some people call it the LIPSTICK fish.

    This is one of my best shots. I captured this fish with its dorsal fin raised. It almost looks like there is a person inside this fish... with its almost human-like face, eyes and distinctive mouth that looks like it has applied lipstick... and some people call it the LIPSTICK fish.

  • This is the beautiful Hawaiian State Fish... The Humuhumunukunukuapua  .... I call it the “Humu “ for short.

    This is the beautiful Hawaiian State Fish... The Humuhumunukunukuapua .... I call it the “Humu “ for short.

  • It is in the Trigger Fish family with its geometric markings

    It is in the Trigger Fish family with its geometric markings

  • They grow to a max length of 22”

    They grow to a max length of 22”

  • And I was very happy to see a proliferation of little Humus  on the reefs

    And I was very happy to see a proliferation of little Humus on the reefs

  • Now here is another Trigger Fish called the Picasso Fish.

    Now here is another Trigger Fish called the Picasso Fish.

  • It looks very similar to the Humu and many people mix them up but this fish’s markings look like a paint brush was used to apply .

    It looks very similar to the Humu and many people mix them up but this fish’s markings look like a paint brush was used to apply .

  • It looks  like the artist, Picasso painted them.

    It looks like the artist, Picasso painted them.

  • Here is the first of my “Butterfly Fish” examples.

    Here is the first of my “Butterfly Fish” examples.

  • this one is the Ornate Butterfly. They are like jewels darting over the reef.

    this one is the Ornate Butterfly. They are like jewels darting over the reef.

  • and the Threadfin Butterfly

    and the Threadfin Butterfly

  • These fish often swim in pairs and grow to 5-6 in. There is a market for them in the large salt-water fish tanks business

    These fish often swim in pairs and grow to 5-6 in. There is a market for them in the large salt-water fish tanks business

  • This pretty fish is called The Fourspot Butterfly

    This pretty fish is called The Fourspot Butterfly

  • And I was able to photograph a pair of them

    And I was able to photograph a pair of them

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • This is the Longnose Butterfly .... aptly named

    This is the Longnose Butterfly .... aptly named

  • With its deep yellow orange color it really stands out.

    With its deep yellow orange color it really stands out.

  • Here is the Raccoon Butterfly

    Here is the Raccoon Butterfly

  • Named for their similar distinctive black eyeband

    Named for their similar distinctive black eyeband

  • And lastly the Teardrop Butterfly

    And lastly the Teardrop Butterfly

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • Ops... this pretty fish is a human example!

    Ops... this pretty fish is a human example!

  • Fun to capture her air bubbles

    Fun to capture her air bubbles

  • Now, SEE this EYE slowly floated close up to my mask and camera lens.  This needle fish is very curious about me

    Now, SEE this EYE slowly floated close up to my mask and camera lens. This needle fish is very curious about me

  • ... and soon I found myself floating in an amazing soup of striking needle fish darting all around.

    ... and soon I found myself floating in an amazing soup of striking needle fish darting all around.

  • They were everywhere with the sun playing off their slender shining bodies

    They were everywhere with the sun playing off their slender shining bodies

  • In the same category of long and skinny swims the Trumpet Fish with its funny looking head.

    In the same category of long and skinny swims the Trumpet Fish with its funny looking head.

  • It changes color to blend in with its background... this one was almost 3 ft long.

    It changes color to blend in with its background... this one was almost 3 ft long.

  • Here is a very long variety of needle fish that I snapped on the sands below me.

    Here is a very long variety of needle fish that I snapped on the sands below me.

    From Napili Maui Hawaii

  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.