Today was the most exciting day we have had in a long time. Merry Passage and I shared her 1500th dive. I timed it to coincide with our 1300th dive together.
We visited the barge at the Redondo Beach Artificial Reef. I found the usual critters, so I thought Merry was having a boring dive for #1500. Little did I know that we were in for two first-time sightings today.
Midwater Merry was trying to photograph a Mola Mola being cleaned when a Hippopodius hippopus floated by. She had never seen one and got a few beautiful shots of it.
We then made a second dive nearby to look for cabezon nests. I found one but didn't get the eggs in focus, so we'll return later in the week. I swam toward our anchor and saw my first Popeye Catalufa Soldierfish, Pristigenys serrula. I also spotted a Mola Mola. Merry saw eight and a large Giant Sea Bass.
Popeye Catalufa Soldierfish, Pristigenys serrula
Octopus rubescens
Hermissenda opalescens
Anteaeolidiella oliviae, Olive's Aeolid
Pleurobranchaea californica
Watersipora subtorquata
Enchiridium punctatum
Metridium exile
We visited the barge at the Redondo Beach Artificial Reef. I found the usual critters, so I thought Merry was having a boring dive for #1500. Little did I know that we were in for two first-time sightings today.
Midwater Merry was trying to photograph a Mola Mola being cleaned when a Hippopodius hippopus floated by. She had never seen one and got a few beautiful shots of it.
We then made a second dive nearby to look for cabezon nests. I found one but didn't get the eggs in focus, so we'll return later in the week. I swam toward our anchor and saw my first Popeye Catalufa Soldierfish, Pristigenys serrula. I also spotted a Mola Mola. Merry saw eight and a large Giant Sea Bass.
Popeye Catalufa Soldierfish, Pristigenys serrula
Octopus rubescens
Hermissenda opalescens
Anteaeolidiella oliviae, Olive's Aeolid
Pleurobranchaea californica
Watersipora subtorquata
Enchiridium punctatum
Metridium exile
