Molokini snorkel: Black Durgon, Yellow tang, and parrotfish eating coral

I discovered why coral reefs are endangered; it's because the darn fish keep eating the coral! Just kidding...

Went to Molokini June 10, 2010 on the Lani Kai out of Maalea Harbor. Am editing the other video segments but wanted to post this one quickly without editing or titles. This video shot around 9:45am Hawaiian time.

0:00 Black Durgon near the surface.
0:04, 0:46, 1:15, and 1:43 various Snorkelfish
1:25 1:36 & 2:08 Pinktail triggerfish (closeup at 1:36)
1:45 close-up of Pool Noodle Snorkelfish
1:57 Diving down for a closer look.
2:35 Two bikinifish
2:40 Pair of yellow tang then I "zoom in" for a closer look
3:12 Following blue-green parrotfish, perhaps a Bullethead or Spectacled parrotfish
4:11 Zoom on blue-green parrotfish, now eating coral
4:44 Following some kind of wrasse
4:55 Different parrot or triggerfish eating coral

For the last parrotfish (or triggerfish, not sure what it is) you can hear it crunching on the coral! Those are not added sound effects; it's the actual sound of the fish chomping on the reef.

Trip by Friendly Charters, camera is GoPro Hero, snorkel gear is US Divers. Trip booked through Snorkel Bob. Bought the camera, SD card, and snorkel gear at Costco. If you would like to book a trip with Captain Marc on Lani Kai, visit their web site at http://www.mauisnorkeling.com/

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Molokini
• Maui
• Hawaii
• snorkel
• snorkeling
• reef
• parrotfish
• Yellow Tang
• Lani Kai
• Black Durgon
• coral
• Friendly Charters
• pinktail triggerfish
• pool noodle

[acrobat123456789]

I think it is those bikini-fish that are, most likely, endangering the coral reefs!

[LivesNearCostco]

@acrobat123456789 Only if they step on the coral!

[blankmj91]

lol at the description

[Gitsie007]

Underwater, I often hear this snapping sound and it is the fish eating. Chomping on the coral, digesting it, pooping it out.

[ellalombardi]

that right there is a lot of coral