Article: Dive dry with dr. Bill #604: Abalone smoke during, not after

[drbill]

You can view the page at http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/content.php?r=825-Dive-dry-with-dr-Bill-604-Abalone-smoke-during-not-after

 

[jpecht]

after reading this - I happened to see some abalone recently on the backside of Catalina and succeeded in feeding one some kelp - so cool for my dive buddy and me to watch! Thanks!

 

[drbill]

Sadly on my recent dives I have noticed that the rock movement in the dive park due to the surge from Hurricanes Marie, Norbert and Odile has apparently trapped some of the abalone under rock piles that further limit their ability to capture what little drift kelp may be present. I've seen a few of them buried fairly deep under the rocks that were tossed around. Very sad result from the hurricanes, especially in view of the wasting disease in sea stars and the thermal stress in sea urchins and possibly sea cucumbers.

 

[PantherDiver]

I grew up in California I remember people would have shells as decorations for rock walls etc. Sad that things have gone down hill so fast. Love the pics!

 

[drbill]

Yep, abalone used to be so abundant that I could walk down to the shore by my marine lab and collect one for dinner at low tide.