Dive #1500, finally!

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MaxBottomtime

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
Messages
10,686
Reaction score
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Location
Torrance, CA
# of dives
2500 - 4999
I made dive number 1500 today, just as the conditions were worsening around Palos Verdes. We've had such nice conditions all week that I was hoping for one more clear dive. Today's dive was also my 350th Marineland dive.
Merry and I headed for Buchanan's Reef but wind, swells and a fishing boat on our spot forced us to seek shelter behind Long Point. We anchored less than a foot from the north air tank of the platform where we found our first Aegires albopunctatus nudibranch earlier this month. I quickly spotted a mating pair. When I downloaded my photos I noticed a worm on the nudi on the left. I also found a worm on a Polycera tricolor.
The highlight of the dive, however was finding our second new nudibranch of the month. I noticed a tiny white speck next to a corynactis anemone. It appeared to have rhinophores, so I fired off a few shots. It turned out to be a Ring-tailed dorid, Diaphorodoris lirulatocauda.
The visibility was down to ten murky feet, but it was one of the best low vis dives I've had. We even had two jellies float by during our ascent. The water temperature was still 50F.
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Despite the nets that surround the platform, life flourishes here.

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Every section of rope has several California scorpionfish resting nearby.

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Diaphorodoris lirulatocauda

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Diaphorodoris lirulatocauda

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Facelina stearnsi

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Janolus bararensis

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Mating pair of Aegires albopunctatus

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The worm has turned

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Polycera tricolor with worm

Merry's photos;
Diaphorodoris800.jpg


Aegires800.jpg


Dolphin_at_Rocky_Point_800.jpg


Feeding_frenzy_800.jpg
 
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So many Scorpionfish! There one of my favorite fish and I've only seen them twice, both solitary individuals and both at Honeymoon Cove. Also, great shot of the Janolus. I've never seen any first hand, so they are very high on my list for must-photo-specimens. Congratulations on 1500! I can't imagine the adventures you've had underneath the ocean. Someday we need to sit down over a meal and a bottle of good red and talk about them.
 
We were discussing today that we need to find a large float and 80 feet of thick rope so we can set a float on the platform again. My last three were cut within a day or so. It is a really different dive when you enter the cove and make an 80 foot dive on a fuel dock, find several dozen fish and nudis you wont find near shore, then end the dive cruising the 120 reef.
Marineland.jpg
 
Congrats, Max! I love your photos. :)
 
Wow Phil, congrats! Are you doing these dives off a boat? you mentioned anchoring? The dolphins are great, how lucky you were!
 
Merry and I got a boat earlier this year. She turns 62 on Sunday and I didn't want to make her do the Marineland entry forever.
 
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Wow, what a wonderfully nudibranch-rich dive! Congrats on 1500.
 
Congratulations, Phil... the next 1,500 are even easier (except for the walkers and canes we will need to do them)!
 

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