Dive Report, Redondo Barge

[MaxBottomtime]

Merry and I had a quickie this afternoon. Predictions don't look good for this weekend, so we made a quick jump on the Redondo Barge after work today. Visibility was better than the last time we were here. We had twenty feet in spots. As usual, seal lions took the opportunity to cavort all around us, but never holding still for a clear picture. Even the cormorant at seventy-five feet wouldn't allow me to get close.
Fortunately, snails, slugs and gorgonians aren't as fast. Merry spotted a simnia laying eggs, while I found a couple of Cuthona divaes doing likewise.

We were all smiles after the dive.

 

[TSandM]

Oh, great pictures of the snail with the eggs!

Getting pictures of diving birds is truly just a matter of luck. Usually, they startle us so much that nobody even thinks to try to take a picture, before it's too late!

 

[ScubaSam]

Wow, simply wow!!!

Thank you for posting them.

 

[FrankPro1]

Awesome shot! What's the tiny critter on top of the gorgonian posing with his arms out for the camera?

I hiked at Ladera Linda yesterday and it was completely flat on the south end. No breakers at Archery Range or Long Point. I had to work until the late afternoon so by the time I got over there it was too late to dive Next week is showing a drop in the swell so with any luck I'll finally be able to try out my new strobe

 

[MaxBottomtime]

It's a tiny amphipod, but my photos weren't clear enough for a positive ID. The red gorgonians were covered with them.
The barge is a somewhat boring dive most of the time, but we found a few individual squid eggs there last month. Our plan was to shoot macro of the developing embryos. Unfortunately, the egg sacs were gone. I blame the fat yellow crab I saw in the sand.
We're having mechanical issues with the boat, so we may be diving Vet's and Marineland if conditions continue.

 

[ligersandtions]

Is the Redondo Barge also called the Ammo Barge? Right outside of King Harbor? We did that last year and I thought it was a neat dive. Thanks for posting the pics!

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I think the Island Diver captain is the only one who calls it that. Fish and Game added the barge in 1974 to the nearby artificial reefs.

 

[FrankPro1]

We're having mechanical issues with the boat, so we may be diving Vet's and Marineland if conditions continue.

What's acting up? Its so new I wouldn't expect any issues this soon. At least everything should be under warranty right?

If you end up planning a shore dive at Marineland or Vets, let me know the evening before. I'd love to tag along. Charlie's schedule has been crazy lately and its been hard for us to both be free at the same time for a dive.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Throttle cables, rigging hoses being too short that the throttle cables rust, heater shutting down right away, little things that add up to be a pain. I should have everything back in ship shape by next week.
Merry had to physically move one hose to get the rpm down on the starboard motor. I'm glad it wasn't raining. I'd feel bad for her.