I know that it's been beat to death, but Farnsworth is so awesome!

[fnfalman]

Is there any better diving in SoCal than Farnsworth other than possibly oil rig dive?

I got my Farnsworth cherry popped in the most wonderful fashion. We were very lucky and the wind was down, hardly any wave and current, visibility was 100ft+. The magnificent purple hydrocorals, the colors, the clarity, the rays, the eels, the big lobsters!!!

Now I can understand why people speak of this dive site with such reverence.

 

[runway1]

When did you dive that? I'm going this Sat and was wanting to hear some reports.

P.S. Might want to watch the metaphors. Ladies are present

 

[fnfalman]

When did you dive that? I'm going this Sat and was wanting to hear some reports.

P.S. Might want to watch the metaphors. Ladies are present

I just went yesterday 26 OCT 08. The morning dive was PURRRRFECT. By noon, just a hair of wind picked up and a bit of current came in and churned the water, yet the visibility was easily 80-ft plus.

Unless the weather changes by the end of this week, it might still be good. Lots of fogs in the morning right now with nary a breeze. We had fog all the way out to Catalina and the sun only came out about maybe 11 AM.

I don't know what it is about Farnsworth but the scenery was just spectacular. I have never dove the tropics but I snorkeled a lot and am no stranger to the explosions of color from the coral reef, the various fishies, anemonies and other sealife. But Farnsworth was special. The purple coral seemed to just brightene verything up against a fairly stark background of rock & sand. When you get closer, you see smaller anemonies (or whatever those soft thingies are - I'm not a good marine biologist) with beautiful orange/red/pink accents. The whole effect was very subtle.

I'd brave seasickness and low visibility just to go back to Farnsworth again.

 

[drbill]

I can't think of a better site in all of SoCal... but then I may be a bit biased.

 

[runway1]

That's awesome. Conditions look good and I'm ready for Saturday on the Magician! Looks like a swell is building but we should beat it.

 

[drbill]

Here's my newspaper column on Farnsworth Bank (with a few pix):

Star Thrower Educational Multimedia (S.T.E.M.) Dive Dry Column

It is such a great site!

 

[runway1]

Very cool, Doc. I appreciatre the info!

 

[mark99]

Yes, great day at Farnsworth. Here are a couple videos.

YouTube - Farnsworth on a clear day
YouTube - Farnsworth Banks, Nick on the DPV

Mark

 

[runway1]

Very cool....just not fair of you guys to tease me days before the trip.

Swell looks to be about 4'. Hope this doesn't contribute to any strong currents.

 

[runway1]

WOW - it was no less than stunning. By far the best socal spot I've ever dived (dove?).

At the surface, we took at look down and the bottom was visible at 120'! NOT an exaggeration. Crew said it was an unusually good day. 2' seas and incredible viz. Corals, electric rays, wow!

Went to Whale Rock for the third dive and it was well worth it. Capt. Jerry and the Magician are tops!