Mike in the Wild

The pursuit of eels is not usually a high priority when I snorkel.  However after four days in the water in northwest Maui, at a diverse range of locations like Honokeana, Honolua, Kapalua, Kahekili, and Napili, and with mostly excellent water conditions, I hadn't seen any of the slithery fish.  My travel companion, on the other hand, had encountered several, even identifying two species, the snowflake and white-mouthed moray eels.  I guess you could say I was experiencing a bit of eel envy. Eels are usually easy to find because when they're not swimming close to a reef or amid rocks, they are quite still, their heads protruding from a safe, protected hole or cavity, with their long, mostly finless bodies hidden.  Only appearing intimidating to humans, their mouths slowly open and close, actively passing water into their gills. Of course I had witnessed an abundance of other marine animals like green sea turtles and surgeonfish.  I had even found two separate ba...