Snorkel pics

These photos were taken by the ship's photographer:

Found a great beach

One of the mom message boards turned me on to this great beach park just north of where we were staying. There are 2 lines of reefs along the shore. The first one blocked the waves and the second kept some of the high tide water closest to shore. Ellie had a blast playing in those large "puddles" and there were so many little minnows swimming around.

The first day we found this beach we only stay about an hour. But we returned the next day with the whole family and our snorkel gear. Because the first reef kept most of the waves back, it created a great place to snorkel between the 2 reefs. Check out the video, I think it explains what I'm trying to describe:

So we took turns watching & playing in the puddles with Ellie while the rest of us snorkeled. I wish I had a waterproof camera because I counted 12 different kinds of fish in that little reef including Rock Goby, Reef Triggerfish, Butterflyfish, Trumpetfish, and something that looked like a Scorpionfish.

"Mama! Come play!"

"See? It's so fun!"

Do you see the little minnows?

And sea urchins too!

Playing in "puddles"

There were 15 sea urchins in this crevice. Can you see them all?

Ellie sees a dog

Christmas Day

Morning:

Living room of our rental house

"Back yard" of rental house is the golf course! Too bad we don't play golf

First beach outing:

 Ellie loved to command us to bring her more water in the pails. Think Micky Mouse in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" hauling buckets of water back and forth.

Another Hawaii day

 Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium)

Mama's Fish House, Paia, HI

Stuffed Mahi

Seared Ginger Mahi

Ellie LOVES pineapple