Honeymoon Cove 5.24.09

[FrankPro1]

First Scuba Dive at Honeymoon Cove. Started off at Marineland today, but conditions were not favorable. Headed up to Honeymoon to check conditions with Hammer and Charlie. Conditions didn't look that great from atop but we decided to force dive it. Started off on the far right side of the Cove, making our way across the cove and then over to the left side. Dive started off extremely shallow, but we eventually dipped below the 35-40ft mark. Lots of cool reef formations at Honeymoon, even better then the ones at Christmas Tree. Still not quite as spectacular as the Long Point Pinnacles at Marineland, but very nice in their own right. Todd spotted a Bat Ray and signaled for us to come check him out. The normal suspects were out on the reef with the exception of an unknown egg cluster and an unknown species of nudibranch or cucumber. We covered a lot of ground very quickly today, so I was not able to fully setup my shots, but I did get some alright ones to share.

Not my best work but, here are some pictures and our dive profile:

What kind of eggs are these?

Is this a type of cucumber or nudibranch?

A cropped version for closer inspection:

Profile:

 

[MaxBottomtime]

White sea cucumber, Eupentacta quinquesemita and light bulb tunicates, Clavelina huntsmani.
Vis looks great in the kelp. After looking at the muddy water of Marineland this morning I was ready to run to the nearest boat dealer.

 

[FrankPro1]

White sea cucumber, Eupentacta quinquesemita and light bulb tunicates, Clavelina huntsmani.
Vis looks great in the kelp. After looking at the muddy water of Marineland this morning I was ready to run to the nearest boat dealer.

There were these whisp like things coming out of the end of the white sea cucumber "almost tentacle like". Kind of reminded me of the crown the dorids have. That's what made me think it was a nudibranch. But the rest of the body is very like a normal sea cucumber.

So they are light bulb tunicates. Not eggs at all. Interesting.

Thanks for the ID's bottomtime.

Todd, Charlie and I were talking about boat purchases after our dive. I've been looking around on craig's list too. I could easily save up for a little skiff or zodiac to haul around a couple divers like Psycho Solo does, but I don't have anything to tow it with. More things to buy.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

There an 22 foot inflatable on Ebay with tank racks for six. It's only $35,000.

 

[FrankPro1]

That would only take me about 5 years to save up for.... I wonder if they'd hold the bidding till then. LOL..... There is a 1988 bayliner on craiglist for 3500.... very clean, but no engine. I wonder how much a typical mariner v8 cost... I've got to research.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Bayliners are the Yugo of power boats. They're relatively inexpensive for a reason. There are a lot of boats for sale in San Pedro on Ebay right now. It's tough deciding if you want to spend a lot on a fixer-upper and then a lot on repair, spend a lot on a used boat in turn-key condition or spend a ton on a new boat. Then there's the slip vs. tow vehicle costs. Stop by the 7-11 on Anchovy and 25th, get a Lotto ticket, win, then buy a new one.