Merry and I came down to La Jolla for the San Diego Underwater Film Exposition this weekend and got in a quick dive at the Shores this morning. We arrived very early, but not by Vallecitos standards. Street parking was gone before sunrise and the main lot was filling up fast.
Surf wasn't bad. A few three footers with no power behind then, but vis in the canyon was only about ten feet with a lot of sand stirred up. I hadn't dived here in a few years and was surprised at the lack of life along the wall since the last big storm rearranged everything.
We looked for wolfeels in the holes, but only Sarcastic Fringeheads stuck their ugly mugs out. There were no gorgonians at Vallecitos Point, and the Sheephead Family left as well.
Heading back to the beach, a small lobster took a keen interest in Merry's camera. Just before surfacing, I saw a possible large shark or Giant Sea Bass, but the vis was so poor I couldn't make it out. Temperature in the canyon was a toasty 51F. While hauling gear back to the car I had four people ask if we were leaving. At least some things at La Jolla Shores never change.
Anemone and brittle stars on the wall
Brittle Star
Stars and Eggs
Mating Doriopsilla albopunctatus
Sarcastic fringehead
Lobster in a sandstorm
Surf wasn't bad. A few three footers with no power behind then, but vis in the canyon was only about ten feet with a lot of sand stirred up. I hadn't dived here in a few years and was surprised at the lack of life along the wall since the last big storm rearranged everything.
We looked for wolfeels in the holes, but only Sarcastic Fringeheads stuck their ugly mugs out. There were no gorgonians at Vallecitos Point, and the Sheephead Family left as well.
Heading back to the beach, a small lobster took a keen interest in Merry's camera. Just before surfacing, I saw a possible large shark or Giant Sea Bass, but the vis was so poor I couldn't make it out. Temperature in the canyon was a toasty 51F. While hauling gear back to the car I had four people ask if we were leaving. At least some things at La Jolla Shores never change.
Anemone and brittle stars on the wall
Brittle Star
Stars and Eggs
Mating Doriopsilla albopunctatus
Sarcastic fringehead
Lobster in a sandstorm