Squid at Breakwater Sunday

[Jak Crow]

We were coming back from a boat dive yesterday when we encountered a pod of risso's dolphins just outside of Breakwater. They were corralling the squid that were laying eggs at Breakwater. There were a couple large adults that kept breaching behind the boat. Very cool. I decided to do a dive at Breakwater to find the squid, which I did. Eggs everywhere, dead squid everywhere, live squid not looking so good, females coming into the cluster to lay eggs, dozens on the fringes mating and hangout around. It was all very impressive. And on my way back I came across a single strand of kelp covered in hooded nudibranchs with hoods the size of my hand. This dive made up for the lousy conditions for the boat dives.

 

[mobeeno]

Cool pics, nice ending

 

[alibi 2]

Way cool! which part of BreakWater did you see all the squid? was it a night dive? We dove breakwater yesterday. One to the pipe and the second across middle reef...only a couple of our divers reported seeing squid during the dives,,,but we were near the bottom looking at the rocks and those that did see squid reported them in the kelp...

 

[Jak Crow]

This was during the day. I started from the wall side and headed out at about 45-65 degrees from the beach. I found them at a depth of about 50ft, and before the metridiums. I assume given the activity of the animals on the surface, and the amount of eggs, I found the many cluster. Now it's a matter waiting for them to hatch, which will make for another impressive sight I think. They should start hatching the middle of next month.

 

[Rob Wilks]

I was there (breakwater) today and saw them as well. bout 40ft. just off the wall out in the sand. Lots of octopus having a feast on the dead and dying. Several Lings too, fat and happy. Had some great encounters with some sea lions a bit further up the wall. Vis was 15, maybe 20 in some spots. Fun dive. Thanks Jim and Sean!
Hope you all get a chance to check it out!

 

[NeopreneGirl]

Wow!!!

 

[norbs007]

Sounds like a good dive... great pictures too. I better come out and check them out soon.

 

[danvolker]

We were coming back from a boat dive yesterday when we encountered a pod of risso's dolphins just outside of Breakwater. They were corralling the squid that were laying eggs at Breakwater. There were a couple large adults that kept breaching behind the boat. Very cool. I decided to do a dive at Breakwater to find the squid, which I did. Eggs everywhere, dead squid everywhere, live squid not looking so good, females coming into the cluster to lay eggs, dozens on the fringes mating and hangout around. It was all very impressive. And on my way back I came across a single strand of kelp covered in hooded nudibranchs with hoods the size of my hand. This dive made up for the lousy conditions for the boat dives.
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Nice macro, but where are the Dolphin pics ?

 

[Jak Crow]

Nice macro, but where are the Dolphin pics ?

I was operating with a 9-18mm wide angle, but:

 

[norbs007]

I was operating with a 9-18mm wide angle, but:

Nice...