Diving Big Sur on the Conception

[bperc]

On Thursday, May 31, my friend Larry and I joined a group from SLO Ocean Currents dive shop on a trip from Morro Bay up the Big Sur coast. Our first stop was at Tide Rock near Lopez Point. It is a pair of pinnacles with lots of life on them. I got to see Purple Hydrocoral for the first time at this site. Our next stop was at Prewitt Canyons. Lots of nudibranchs at this site. The last stop was at Plaskett Rock near Jade Cove. There was a lot of bull kelp at this site. The most I have seen at a dive site. I have some pictures that I need help IDing.
Thanks

1. Is this Dendronotus albus?

2. ???

3. A Dorid?

4. Snail?

5. The tan ball?

 

[Ben_ca]

Here's my guesses
1. Albus Dendronotus albus
2. Lacy Bryozoan Phidolopora labiata - Bing Images

4. Leafy Hornmouth Prosobranchs
5. Grey Puffball Sponge Gray Puffball Sponge

 

[bperc]

Thanks Ben!!! Those are some great reference websites. I think the 3rd picture is a Leopard dorid from what I found on seanet.stanford.edu.

 

[TSandM]

That is a leopard dorid, Diaulula sandiegensis.

 

[bperc]

Thanks for confirming that it's a Leopard Dorid TSandM.

 

[fnfalman]

Leopard Dorid? We just called them "San Diegos". Sounds less fearsome and more...cute.

 

[FrankPro1]

Very cool bperc! Every time I camp up at Big Sur I gaze off those cliffs and lust for some diving. Were you diving wet? What were the temps at depth?

 

[bperc]

Two other divers and myself were diving dry, but 29 other people were diving wet. The water temp was 47 at depth. The visibility was very good at all three sites. I would really like to return to the Lopez Point area again. There was so much life there. I saw several animals that I had not seen before. It was definitely worth the 5 hour boat ride. I look forward to next year's trip.
Which campground do you stay at? Looking at Google Earth, I see a couple that look like they have good shore access.

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Here are a couple of my favorite photos from the trip.

My first sighting of Purple Hydrocoral.

A fish-eating anemone.

Orange Cup Coral

And a Rock Scallop

 

[FrankPro1]

Love the anemone shot! 47 at depth is pushing it for repetitive dives when diving wet "for me". Looks like I'll be waiting a bit before heading up that way for diving. I've stayed at Fernwood campground and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Out of the two I've stayed at, I much prefer Burns State Park. It has less amenities and is a pack-in / pack-out camping area, but some of the sites on the river are stunning. Much of Big Sur is steep cliff side, so access to shore can be quite harrowing. There are a few places which offer direct access but I haven't found any which allow overnight camping.

 

[bperc]

Thanks Frank. The anemone is my favorite too. The campground I was looking at is Kirk Creek Campground. It looks like it has decent beach access.