EASTER ISLAND - JANUARY 9-15, 2011
All pictures © 2018 by Ken Kurtis
For those interested . . . 
Underwater: Nikon D200 in full manual mode in an Ikelite housing,
dual Nikon SB-105 strobes at 1/4 & 1/16th power, generally 400 ISO, 10-24mm, 18-70mm,  and 28-105mm (macro 50-105mm) lenses
Surface shots: Nikon D7000 mainly in "Program," 100-800 ISO, 10-24mm, 18-70mm, and 70-300mm lenses.
(Left-click on any picture for a full-screen image of that shot.)
(Click here to read the written trip report.)

TOPSIDE TEASERS (MORE BELOW)
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I thought they'd be taller . . .
(this was actually decoration at the hotel)		 The first moai we saw, at the harbor Everything is moai-themed So we had some mo-ice-cream
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Tahat Archeological Complex,
first moais to be restored		 Ahu Akivi The quarry at Rano Raraku 15 moai at Ahu Tongariki
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THE DIVE SHOP
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ORCA Dive Center Owners Henri & Michel Moving gear to the boat Let's go diving!!!
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EASTER ISLAND UNDERWATER
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Easter Damsels . . . . . . were everywhere. Easter Island Butterfly . . . . . . endemic to the area.
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Trumpetfish . . . . . . everywhere . . . . . . you . . . . . . looked.
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Healthy coral reefs Not too many varieties But massive And big individual formations
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Urchins everywhere Many different colors And types Some with juvies hiding in the spines
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Goatfish schools . . . . . . were abundant. Longnose Butterflies . . . . . . were also common.
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Scorpionfish . . . . . . staring you down. Some coral bleaching evident . . . . . . but not extensive.
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Moral eels . . . . . . were all over . . .
(Easter island Moray)		 . . . the place.
(Mosaic Moray)		 Don't try this at home.
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Small puffer Large Guineafowl Puffer Linespot Hogfish Hawkfish
(Itycirrhitus wilhelmi)
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Lobsters . . . . . . were seen on occasion. Teardrop Butterfly . . . . . . and a buddy.
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Sunset Wrasse (adult) Same, IP (Intermediate Phase) Pale-Barred Coris (??) These guys were all around too
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Crosshatch Triggerfish Chub or Drummer Locally, called a Triangle Fish Curious Cowfish
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Glasseye/Bigeye Brick Soldierfish
(no white margins on fins)		 Cave-dwelling . . . . . . blue Pufferfish.
(Canthigaster cyanetron)
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Hardest fish to shoot all week
(Orangehead Pygmy Angelfish)		 They would always flee But patience . . . . . . pays off
(Also known as Blackear Angelfish)
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THE MOAI OF EASTER ISLAND
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Not sure if this one's authentic or not,
at the harbor entrance		 Ahu Vai Uri, first one restored
by William Mulloy		 Ahu KoTe Riku,
only one with topknot & eyes		 Josie Nahoe at Grandpa Mulloy's grave,
Tahat Archeological Complex behind them
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Ahu Akivi, only major inland ahu Doing our best moai imitation Rano Kau crater at Orongo,
home of the Birdman cult		 The Birdmen swam from here
to those islands (motu)
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Motu Iti from the sea Birdman petroglyph Fallen (toppled forward) moai Topknot in search of a head
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Ahu Tongariki, home to 15 moai Tallest of the bunch Silhouetted against the sea Ahu Anakena, best-preserved of the moai
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Most topknots, too Approaching Rano Raraku volcano,
the quarry where the moai were all carved		 The requisite group shot Impressive
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Many are buried,
but there's a complete moai underneath		 Gives you a perspective on size Path was used to slide moai down from cliff Josie gives us some background
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Paying homage to a fallen moai This was my mental image of the moai I'm in seventh heaven Sunset and great memories

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