RickCollier > Turtle Cleaning Station.  Two massive Hawaiian green sea turtles take their turns and circle over a patch of reef that serves as a cleaning station.  Fish school here to clean small animals and parasites off the huge turtles.  The turtles in turn come here to be cleaned.  Protected by law in Hawaii, swimmers can collect massive fines for interfering with these turtles.  Though they can stay underwater for very long periods, the sea turtles do breathe air, so have to periodically surface for breath.




Hawaii Oahu green sea turtle open ocean sea reef cleaning station fish underwater u/w scuba dive snorkel snorkeling
RickCollier > The Spanish Dancer nudibranch is so named because they ruffle the edges of their bodies when swimming, in a way that resembles the hem of a Spanish dancer's red skirt.




Hawaii scuba snorkel snorkeling underwater u/w fish Spanish Dancer nudibranch swimming
RickCollier > A Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle comes to the surface for a breath of air.  Protected by law in Hawaii, swimmers can collect massive fines for interfering with these turtles.  Though they can stay underwater for very long periods, the sea turtles do breathe air, so have to periodically surface for breath.




Hawaii Oahu green sea turtle open ocean sea breath breathing surface reflection underwater u/w scuba dive snorkel snorkeling
RickCollier > Silverside minnows school in the turbulence created by waves breaking against the rocky shore.  Shark Cove, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii.




Hawaii Oahu Shark Cove minnows silver side silverside wave surface rocks waves underwater u/w scuba dive snorkel snorkeling
RickCollier > Shark Cove, Oahu, Hawaii.  Fish avoid eating the Spanish Dancer nudibranch, even when they come across one swimming in open water.  The bright coloration warns that this is not good to eat.




Hawaii scuba snorkel snorkeling underwater u/w fish Spanish Dancer nudibranch swimming
Turtle Cleaning Station. Two massive Hawaiian green sea turtles take their turns and circle over a patch of reef that serves as a cleaning station. Fish school here to clean small animals and parasites off the huge turtles. The turtles in turn come here to be cleaned. Protected by law in Hawaii, swimmers can collect massive fines for interfering with these turtles. Though they can stay underwater for very long periods, the sea turtles do breathe air, so have to periodically surface for breath.




Hawaii Oahu green sea turtle open ocean sea reef cleaning station fish underwater u/w scuba dive snorkel snorkeling
RickCollier > Turtle Cleaning Station.  Two massive Hawaiian green sea turtles take their turns and circle over a patch of reef that serves as a cleaning station.  Fish school here to clean small animals and parasites off the huge turtles.  The turtles in turn come here to be cleaned.  Protected by law in Hawaii, swimmers can collect massive fines for interfering with these turtles.  Though they can stay underwater for very long periods, the sea turtles do breathe air, so have to periodically surface for breath.




Hawaii Oahu green sea turtle open ocean sea reef cleaning station fish underwater u/w scuba dive snorkel snorkeling
Turtle Cleaning Station. Two massive Hawaiian green sea turtles take their turns and circle over a patch of reef that serves as a cleaning station. Fish school here to clean small animals and parasites off the huge turtles. The turtles in turn come here to be cleaned. Protected by law in Hawaii, swimmers can collect massive fines for interfering with these turtles. Though they can stay underwater for very long periods, the sea turtles do breathe air, so have to periodically surface for breath.




Hawaii Oahu green sea turtle open ocean sea reef cleaning station fish underwater u/w scuba dive snorkel snorkeling
See photo in original gallery.

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