Drifting before the storm.

[Merry]

Phil and I have had pretty fair success squeaking in a dive the day before a storm. So on Sat., we rounded up Kevin Lee and headed two miles offshore for a drift dive.

Phil's favored method is to hang off a lift bag, which allows the diver to drift at the same rate as the gelatinous animals. We let out as much or as little line according to the depth of the subjects, then get neutral so there's no tugging on the line. It's very peaceful and almost magical as the animals pulse beside the diver and/or move vertically in the water column.

Kevin and I jumped into the current line in flat seas and no wind, so the boat didn't move very far from us. We stayed within sight of each other throughout most of the dive.





Jellies were surprisingly sparce, and the water was filled with long strings of yellow, slimy schmutz. However, vis was 30'+ below the debris. Debris clung to the critters and made photography challenging.














Kevin approaching the boat. A beautiful day!

 

[bperc]

Very nice pictures. Thanks for sharing them. Would it be alright if I used your pictures in a lesson that my students are working on?

 

[Merry]

Absolutely - use anything that's helpful! What grade level are your students? They're so lucky to have a diver for a teacher; just think of the first-hand (and accurate) perspective you can give them.

This gives me the impetus to get more shots for you next time out.

 

[Leejnd]

BEAUTIFUL shots! Jellies are such gorgeous creatures when all lit up like that.

 

[bperc]

Thank you very much. I teach 7th and 8th grade. The 8th graders are doing a project where they are creating a wiki about oceanography. I will tell my students that you are going to look for more things to photograph for them.

 

[FrankPro1]

Great shots! What's the critter in the second underwater photo? Did Phil get any captures?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Phil had his drysuit on and camera in hand when Merry came up, but she said there wasn't much to see. Phil is bummed.

:frown:​

 

[Merry]

Thank you, Frank. That's the first heteropod, Carinaria japonica, I've ever seen, and the only one I saw during the entire dive. There may be some debate as to the specific taxonomy, but it's a gastropod in the phylum mollusca.

Kevin and I didn't think it was critter-rich enough for Phil to dive. We just should have moved further out to another current line! Poor Phil!