Finally got to Venice Beach

[jessecurry]

I finally got to dive in Venice on Sunday, I made my first dive about a mile north of the pier with maybe 8 ft vis.
I got to see some interesting, but small marine life including some fish that had attached crab-like legs that I've never even heard of.

For my second dive we decided to try Venice beach because we heard that it was a much shorter swim and could be a little more interesting, but by the time we got there the vis had dropped to almost nothing, I basically ended up staring at a wall of black below me and periodically checking my depth to see if I was descending at all, so we scrubbed to dive. We had hoped to make three that day, but the first one was definitely worth it. I was glad to see that there were still some parts of Venice that I hadn't explored after growing up there.

 

[H2Andy]

that sounds like an interest critter you saw ... any pics?

i've never been to Venice. have you tried the fossil diving?

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I'm betting the fish was a Searobin, they crawl around with what looks like legs, actually appendages from their fins that aren't webbed?

Something like this?

 

[jessecurry]

exactly, that's what it was... it's something that I've never seen before. I also saw something that looked like a pin fish, but it's nose bent.

 

[jessecurry]

sorry, didn't respond to andy, I was mainly cruising the fossil trail, but since it was my first time I didn't spend too much time looking at fossils, I was mainly trying to survey the area.
There were a striking amount of sand dollars in the area, and it seems that a crab was hiding under each one. And there was a lot of small marine life that made the dive a little more interesting. If I could dive there when there was a little more vis I'd be really excited, at least once so I could get a better idea of where everything is in relation to one another.

 

[ReefGuy]

Did you see some of the holes that are from 1"-2" in diameter? Those are the homes of mantis shrimp (I saw a lot of them this weekend). Really cool, but don't touch .

 

[GulfCoastdiver]

Any chance there will be anyone planning to dive Venice beach tomorrow, I want to hunt teeth but don't want to dive alone?.

 

[CBulla]

Ah.. 8' and sand dollars, you weren't out far enough.. double your depth and look for black pebbles.. then your starting to hit the right spots!

I have soooo got to dive Venice.. the water here at Lovers Key has been Carribean clear!!

 

[Soda]

Where around Lovers Key have you been diving? I wouldnt even thing to try there.

 

[GulfCoastdiver]

My wife and I are going to dive venice beach friday am, any one like to join us?