Tonga....again

[saltcreep]

Since I can't seem to find the edit button to fix a mistake I made, I'll start a new thread with more pictures from my recent trip to Tonga. I flooded a camera on one dive so I lost a bunch of pictures. However, I was still able to use my wife's camera. When time permits, I'll have the video finished of the divers collecting vanderbilt chromis.

Heading out to the collection spot.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3046.jpg

How's this for a fin???

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3122.jpg

At work under water.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3063.jpg

Some of the catch. Waiting in about 85 ft of water for the diver to change tanks and come back to get more.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3065.jpg

Coming on board.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3102.jpg

Giving a little assistance to some of the fish that were not quite adjusted. Needles are used to let the air out of the swim bladders.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3106.jpg

A nice male Watanabe angel.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3113.jpg

And a couple of corals that were picked up along the way.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3091.jpg

Back on shore. Now the task of getting the fish back to the warehouse.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3143.jpg

My wife making sure all her new friends are doing well. The 7 or 8 water changes on the way back to the wharf seemed to do the trick.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3145.jpg

The sorting process.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_3148.jpg

A less than impressed Tonga flame wrasse.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0359.jpg

Some of the corals at the facility.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0569.jpg

and more...

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0568.jpg

[Zoaelite]

Great shots! Didn't get anything sent back for you eh?

[saltcreep]

Here are a few more shots. I don't have many underwater ones, but the fish market was interesting to say the least.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0525.jpg

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0528.jpg

This is the baby humpback whale who was extremely curious about what the collectors were doing. All dive long we could here the whales and we knew they were extremely close. We didn't realize they were this close.

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0491.jpg

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0490.jpg

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0488.jpg

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0485.jpg

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/wetpets/Tonga/IMG_0474.jpg

The whale stayed with us for quite some time. The whales winter in and around the Tonga Islands. It was probably the highlight of the trip and something that won't be forgotten.

[saltcreep]

Great shots! Didn't get anything sent back for you eh?

Coming next Friday...

[reefermadness]

Freaking amazing.

[Myka]

Looks like an amazing trip! Those whales are breathtaking!

[Snappy]

FANTASTIC!
Thanks for sharing your amazing experiences.