A School of Orangespine Unicornfish

One common fish on Hawaii's coral reefs is the surgeonfish, a member of a large and varied family of fish. And one specific species you're guaranteed to encounter is the orangespine unicornfish.

Most members of the surgeonfish family sport sharp, scalpel-like spines at the base of their tails, giving them the ability to inflict deep cuts as a defense against predators. Often brightly colored and displayed, they're more often than not used as an effective warning than as a weapon.

True-to-name, the orangespine unicornfish's spines are indeed orange, and impossible to miss when you first see him. Usually solitary, he's been a fun subject to photograph on my frequent snorkels off of Maui. And on a 4th of July visit to Kapalua Bay, I was surprised to meet a large school of maybe one hundred individuals swimming at the south end of the bay, close to the breakwater.

For a minute or so - only as long as they allowed me - I swam above and behind them, taping and photographing them with my underwater camera. With crystal clear water, gentle waves and mild temperatures, maybe their swim together was just as irresistible as my selfish tagging along.