Incredible, exceptional, awe-freaking-some conditions off catalina

[drbill]

Went out yesterday for our first day of diving to film giant sea bass (GSB) with the crew from NHK (Japan's public TV station, like PBS).

There are few words to describe the conditions yesterday. Among the best I've ever seen in 43 years of diving Catalina. I estimated vis at 100 ft (and I'm conservative due to my filming). Eric Mahan, manager of Catalina Diver's Supply, estimated it at 120 in an adjacent part of our dive site. And we had plenty of giant sea bass to film. The NHK film crew returned from our first dive with HUGE smiles on their faces.

When I got back to Avalon, one of the Island Company boat captains told me he had done an around-the-island trip in a RIB and conditions all the way around the island were incredible.

Sure hope this holds for the rest of the week. We'll have a TON of incredible GSB footage for the documentary. I shot 67 minutes of EDITED footage alone on the three dives.

As I expected, the GSB were at some depth (65-80 ft). I attribute that to the very warm temperatures in the upper water column, driving the thermocline down to about 65 ft at the site.

 

[blue steal]

Missed you yesterday drbill:
You are right the conditions at the dive park were the best I have ever seen, lots of schools of fish, saw morays, abalones, lobster holes with non shy lobsters, (they must know they are protected), large numbers of Calico bass some huge, just lots of life everywhere you look. Heck the temp was 72-73 at the surface and 70 at 50'. Looking up I could see the surface clearly and felt I could touch it, then looking down another 20+ feet easy. Wow! Heck you probably could do it with no wetsuit! Did see a guy in a shorty though.
Even saw a large American Flag fairly close to the Jacque C. monument. It was tied off on some kelp stalks. ( 9-11 I guess).
:salute:

When I surfaced I could hear the bells playing God bless America. What a day.

 

[Lopez116]

You guys are making me jealous!

 

[lordhelmet]

c'mon now, don't tease us and show us some footage

 

[merxlin]

Grrrrr. I'm going to have someone film me and see if i just bring bad viz with me because I swear I hear about these conditions and then when I hit the water - POOF! - 20-25ft and milky. Get out there and enjoy it everyone while you can.

 

[Mark Guccione]

Viz dropped to about 30-40 feet this afternoon at the park.

 

[TSandM]

Oh, that's so sad! I'm going to be there the end of the month; I was hoping the "freaking awesome" conditions would hold . . .

 

[merxlin]

Oh, that's so sad! I'm going to be there the end of the month; I was hoping the "freaking awesome" conditions would hold . . .

By then they could be back. And you are lucky, I can't dive that weekend so the conditions should rock!

 

[Thiad]

Let's hope they hold for the Channel Islands further north. Looking forward to a spectacular weekend of diving. I missed diving last weekend. I was horrible.

 

[drbill]

Conditions have been deteriorating to the south of Long Point due to yet another south swell (are the monsoons this summer due to climate change???). Grrr. At the site where we had 100-120 ft vis two days ago, the water was a bit green, full of particulates and I felt the surge at least to 85 fsw. North of Long Point we ran into winds and strong currents but visibility was still pretty good there.