Dive Report: Long Point, Marineland 5.3.11

[FrankPro1]

Third week in a row Charlie and I dove Long Point and also the second consecutive week we entered right after a pair of spear fishermen made their exit. Today's dive was very much like last week with little fish in the shallows and only a few skittish big boys down deep. I guess our fish friends are more intelligent then most people give them credit While there were no sightings of Cabezon, Lingcod or other rarer fish, Long Point never disappoints in the invertebrate department. This week we searched in the correct area & depth for Dendronotus iris nudis but got skunked. No matter, Long Point's Pinnacles are bursting with macro subjects and despite the suspended particles, I was able to pull out some decent shots. Highlights of the dive were a breaching whale during our entry, a snail gathering w/ hitchhiker and the staggeringly cold thermo-cline "50f @ depth, 61 @ surface". After a slow start, this year finally seems to be giving us So Cal divers some half decent shore diving conditions.
Pic Highlights:

 

[MaxBottomtime]

What? No whale photo?
I love the trademark Charlie shots.

 

[FrankPro1]

What? No whale photo?
I love the trademark Charlie shots.

Until I move up to a DSLR, those quick disappearing actions shots are going to be out of reach.

Thx. I was trying to get just Charlie's mask and not his full face but it wasn't possible unless he laid on the reef. Maybe next time.

 

[fnfalman]

Damn, that's a fat San Diego dorid and nice shot of the turbot. They camouflage themselves so well. I swam right over a turbot at Casino Point and didn't even realize it was there although I was poring over the area looking for goodies. The damn thing has purple color of the purple algae on its back. My partner spooked it with his hand sculling (he's much better now) and that was how we spot that fish.