Really Lucky

 I went swimming this morning hoping once again to see manta rays, but instead I got really lucky and swam with Mermaids, Green Sea Turtles and lots and lots of fishies.

Finishing Flights

 It was another normal morning at the beaches today with oceanfront yoga, numerous photo shoots, and hang gliders finishing their flights from up high on the mountain.

Manta Madness

 What could be better than encountering one Manta Ray during an ocean swim? Why, two Mantas, of course.

And I was lucky enough this morning to not only see two Manta Rays, but also to spend time swimming with them. They most definitely were not shy and seemed to enjoy the company.

And as the final photo shows, they were thoroughly happy to receive the cleaning services of various fish near the reef.

Jaw Dropper

 Saturday evening we debated skipping the sunset. The sky had been dark and cloudy all day, and was still so, but we decided it would be nice to sit by the pool anyway.

The actual sunset was a bust, and then THIS (top photo) happened after the sun had been down for a bit. It was a jaw dropper.

Last night was much gentler in a pastel kind of way (bottom photo).

Janet's Birthday Swim

The Maui Pink Cap Swimmers celebrated Janet's 36th birthday with a lovely ocean swim this morning.

We saw lots of Green Sea Turtles, fishies and several Manta Rays. What a treat!

Click HERE for a few more photos from today's adventure.

Droplets

What with all the recent cloudy skies, I'm beginning to feel like I've been transported to the Pacific Northwest. Making the most of the weather, I enjoyed a walk in the rain this morning with lots of droplets adorning every flower along the way.

Farewell Rob & Julie

Mermaids and Spinner Dolphins said farewell this morning to Rob and Julie on their final day on Maui.

After a moving chant performed out at the Aquarium, even the wind quieted and waves calmed to wish them a tranquil bon voyage.

Click HERE for several more photos from today's ocean swim adventure.

Plain Old Boring Maui

Sometimes, like today, I look around and all I see is plain, old, boring Maui.

These photos were taken Friday and Saturday and they help remind me that beauty is always there, surrounding me. Yes, they are the same old boring mountains and beaches, but the light is a little different as are the people along the way.

Bruce the Shark and More

 I had loads of fun with the Maui Pink Cap Swimmers yet again this morning.

We saw lots of critters and, once again, faced a real challenge against wind and waves to make it back. But we all survived - and thrived. It was great.

Click HERE for lots more photos from today's ocean swim.

Another Photographer

It was fun getting out into the ocean with another photographer this morning, even though the only shots I got were of him and Rosanne.

Convey a Fraction of the Impact

 Here are a couple of sunsets from this week.

Why photograph sunsets? Because they are breathtaking to witness in person, and there is a challenge to conveying even a fraction of the impact they had on me at the time.

Oh, and the other photo is yet another of the many people who love to dance with fire batons at sunset here on Maui.

Hooray for Mermaids and Dolphins

I went out into the ocean for my usual Tuesday swim group and was met by 21 Spinner Dolphins. The dolphins were mostly in rest mode, but did play the Leaf Game from time to time. A few of them were repeatedly leaping and spinning in the air.

Click HERE for lots more photos from this morning's adventure.

Bye Bye Maggie

The Maui Pink Cap Swimmers gathered to wish (again) a fond farewell to Maggie, and a hearty welcome to Julie.

Lucky us, the fast swimmers did a different route this morning, and got badly stung by jellyfish, while we escaped completely unharmed. Well, except for all the water we swallowed fighting rough seas on our return.

Click HERE for more photos from Sunday's adventures.

No Blood Today

The ladies believe that an ocean swim is only fun if life and limb are at risk - and they stayed true to form this morning. But unusually enough there was no blood in the water today.

Click HERE for more photos from our Friday swim.

Stuck with Sunsets

Sorry, but I haven't been inspired by my recent daytime photos, so you're stuck with sunsets from the past few evenings.

Pretty Much Anywhere

We had another glorious morning for a swim . . . pretty much anywhere here on Maui.

Coming and Going

 This morning the Maui Pink Cap Swimmers said farewell to Bonnie and hello to Rob as they ended and began their all-too-brief stays on our island.

We also greeted turtles and a big Manta Ray, and fought rough conditions on our return.

Click HERE for more photos from today's adventures.

and Dolphins Too

 I saw one of my favorite kinds of jellyfish this morning and stopped to take several photos of it.

I jumped when I unexpectedly noticed shadows approaching, only to find they were some of my spinner dolphin friends coming by to say hi.

Click HERE for several more photos of each.