Went to the bridge for diving yesterday, Thursday 3/20/25. Arrived at 1100 for a 1250 high tide. There were was still parking available, however there were many divers present with their gear already set up. Parking spaces disappeared rapidly thereafter, a crew of tree trimmers blocking off 15 spaces did not help matters. The center row for boat trailers quickly became utilized by overflow cars without trailers. When I finished the dive there was a sheriff handing out parking citations to said overflow cars. It has been my observation that trailer only parking is only enforced on the weekend, not during the week. Maybe there has been a policy change. The parking citation is $40.00.
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Water conditions were similar to Wednesday, 76f with about 20ft of hazy visibility. I did notice that at 1220 there was a little more blue water pushing in with an increased visibility to 35ft close to boat channel.
Entered the water at 1140 on the west side. Immediately heard a tank to regulator leak that I did not hear above the surface. It was a small leak, certainly not big enough to affect air consumption. However I did not want to listen to that added noise during the dive. Exited the water doffed all gear and left it on the piling. Walked to the truck grabbed an o ring pick, and o ring. Walked back replaced the o ring and started the dive for the second time. Headed south and slightly west. Then turned west parallel to boat channel. From there headed northwest intercepting the submerged telephone. Headed west to the channel barrier and returned following the cable that runs perpendicular to the bridge pilings.
View attachment 889271Octopus were out in force. I stopped counting after I reached fifteen. Most were in hidey holes like the one in the bottle above. But a few were out on the prowl. The one pictured to the right was hunting in a bryozoan patch, and had two Dwarf Sand Perch following along as shadow hunters. I shadow hunted for a while as well. However my hope was that the Octopus would flush out a Dwarf Frogfish, as opposed to small crustaceans that the Dwarf Sand Perch were hoping for.
Not far from the Octopus I observed a Feather Hydroid. Feather Hydroids often have small nudibranchs attached to them. Nudibranchs eat hydroids. Some species of nudibranchs transfer the nematocysts (sting cells) of their prey to cnidosacs on cerata located on their backs. The cnidosacs can be released for defense.
View attachment 889275 The stored nematocysts are referred to as Kleptocnides stolen stinging cells.
I did not observe any nudibranchs. Instead the branches of the hydroid were covered with tiny Skeleton Shrimp. The Skeleton Shrimp move like inch worms. Unfortunately I do not know the exact species only the family, Caprellidae.
After leaving the hydroid I noticed a small group of squid floating next to my flag line. They unfortunately were not having any of the close approach that the octopus are willing to provide.
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Lastly on my way back to the exit point I ran across a Lined Seahorse, not positive but think it is a pregnant male.
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