Went to the bridge for diving on Friday and Saturday. Visibility on Friday was better than Saturday. 50+ on Friday, something a little less than 50ft on Saturday. There were more clouds on Saturday, so that might have had an effect. Sea temp on both days was 82f. And in a 3mm with a hooded vest by the end of the dive I am shivering, seriously considering going back to 5mm.
For a 0927 high tide on Friday, I started snorkeling at 0700, and the water was blue. Did a REEF Survey while snorkeling the trail. I believe these early morning snorkels when nobody else has entered the water are the best opportunity for something unusual like a Hammerhead, Bonnethead, or a Smooth Butterfly Ray. Seen a few Smooth Butterfly Rays in this fashion but no Hammerheads or Bonnethead. Retruned from snorkeling and entered the westside on scuba. Current was ripping which seemed to keep other divers away for the first 70 minutes I was in the water. Did a REEF survey, concentrated on wide angle "stuff". Was taking so many images managed to freeze the sealife app. Found a total of five Lionfish in the first hour of diving. Three larger ones in the same spot. Notwithstanding their destructive nature, they still make great photographic subject matter.
Saturday was very similar to Friday. While snorkeling I picked up my own personal pilotfish/jack. Not in the habit of takin selfies, but it was the only way I could an image of the fish. Again after snorkeling entered the westside early into a ripping current. The current is not really an issue if you know how to use the bridge pilings strategically. There are dead spots with no current, and areas with counter currents. So you can use the tidal current, and then get it to countercurrent to loop around if there is something of interest.
Both days I spent a lot of time in the vicinity of the rubble pile underneath the fishing pier. Those of you familiar with the area will recall a giant truck tire, 20 ft to the north. I usually inspect the outside of the tire to find Tiger Gobies. And take a quick peak inside usually to get a Cardinal of Flamefish. Yesterday, when I peaked inside there were a lot of Hermit Crabs all sporting Fighting Conch Shells. I guess I have looked and not necessarily seen this, or taken note of it before. It reminded that on reefs I often find conch shells inside Barrel Sponges. The outside of the sponge is rough so the Hermit Crabs can climb the vertical side easy. However was they climb inside they sometimes have a difficult time getting out again. And then, if another one climbs in it makes more difficult to get out. The shape of the tire is different and there is a lot more space inside. But I believe Hermit Crabs climb the sides and then drop into the middlle, and there is no way for them to climb out, first vertically and then upside down to escape the tire. I thought about it for a while. To an extent they are somewhat more protected in there. But it just rubbed me the wrong way that they are trapped in there, even if the there is enough food. Yes it is an anthropogenic intervention, but so is the the giant truck tire. I removed at least a dozen Hermit Crabs placing them outside the tire. They were all the same species Bareye Hermit Crab, with two exceptions, a Blue Eye Crab and White Speckled Hermit Crab. Going forward I will make it a habit to remove all the Hermit Crabs I see inside that tire. Respectively, Barbfish, Dog-head Triton, Pilotfish Selfie, Spadefish, and Wide Angle
