Channel Islands on Sat., 1/7

[EricJ]

I'm scheduled to go out on The Conception to the "Outer" Channel Islands this Saturday (1/7) I looked through dive reports for Jan. '06 and was pleased to see that conditions in Catalina were O.K.

Anyone have an idea about what the conditions have been like in the northern/outer Channel Islands (Santa Cruz, San Miguel)?

Things have been calm recently, so I'm hoping for a nice day of diving!

 

[LAJim]

Sounds like fun if your thermal is up to it (although your profile suggests you have anti-freeze in your veins). Please post your dive report - I've never been to the outer islands but I hear that when they're good they're great.

Jim

 

[EricJ]

"The sea was angry that day, my friends, like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli."
- George, in "The Marine Biologist"

Large swells prevented us from getting out to San Miquel of Santa Rosa.

We ended up diving the south eastern area of Santa Cruz. The crew worked hard to get find suitable dive sites, but we had to stay in a relatively small area of the Santa Cruz Island. One of the sites was Coopers something or other. They didn't give names to the other sites close by.

The visibility was about 20 to 30 feet. Temps ranged from 56 to 58 at depth. Lots of sheepshead, and calico bass. We also saw a very large cabezon and a variety of nudibranch.

All in all it was an O.K. day of diving.

The crew was great. The captain on the Conception at the time usually works on the Vision. The second captain said he normally works on The Truth. Most of the divers were advanced photographers and avid lobster hunters. The photographers seemed to get some great shots; two divers each caught one lobster a piece...not the best day for the hunters.