A couple of weeks ago while we were in Catalina for the DiveMatrix SoCal Dive-in, we soon found the place was stupid with Janolus Nudis.
I love them. They're delicate, they're beautiful, they are animated, they are clearish (great for Light Table) and they are abundant in all sizes right now - from tiny juvi to OMG huge.
On our first dive, with the 105mm telescope attached to the Deathstar, we were scootering out to the Valiant. About a minute or so out of the park we saw our first Janolus. Then another one. Then another one.
I found a fatty on a stick - so I took some shots. See that kelp ball in the back of the frame on the left - after a few shots he got tired of going all Wallenda on the stick and he hopped over to the kelp ball to go all Moscow Circus and Dancing Bear on the thing.
What I didn't know is these kelp balls are not attached to anything - they just kind of roll around. So here's fatty, rolling on the kelp ball. Claudette comes over and sets the Nudi du Soleil aloft!
This Janny is huge. And he starts to spin on the drifting kelp ball. He's not real happy about this. The kelp ball looks a little like a potato, and when I showed the shots to Dr Bill over drinks in my office (Catalina Cantina.... he say's its his office. Its really mine) he said, "Nice Potato - what is that, SPUD-nik?
As the potato orbiter began its slow decent back towards earth, the Janolus didn't have the right stuff - he started to bob and weave, shuck and jive on the surface of SPUD-nik as it fell. Not pleased with the outcome of crashing in a fiery ball of fire, Chuck Yeagernolis begins the bailout sequence - eventually opening the pod-bay doors and getting off this wild ride. The jettison sequence is a little blurry with the 105 lens, but you get the idea... Even through the blur the reproductive stoma is clearly visible.
I'm please to say there were no Nudibranch's harmed in the making of our story.
---
Ken
.
.
.
.
I love them. They're delicate, they're beautiful, they are animated, they are clearish (great for Light Table) and they are abundant in all sizes right now - from tiny juvi to OMG huge.
On our first dive, with the 105mm telescope attached to the Deathstar, we were scootering out to the Valiant. About a minute or so out of the park we saw our first Janolus. Then another one. Then another one.
I found a fatty on a stick - so I took some shots. See that kelp ball in the back of the frame on the left - after a few shots he got tired of going all Wallenda on the stick and he hopped over to the kelp ball to go all Moscow Circus and Dancing Bear on the thing.
What I didn't know is these kelp balls are not attached to anything - they just kind of roll around. So here's fatty, rolling on the kelp ball. Claudette comes over and sets the Nudi du Soleil aloft!
This Janny is huge. And he starts to spin on the drifting kelp ball. He's not real happy about this. The kelp ball looks a little like a potato, and when I showed the shots to Dr Bill over drinks in my office (Catalina Cantina.... he say's its his office. Its really mine) he said, "Nice Potato - what is that, SPUD-nik?
As the potato orbiter began its slow decent back towards earth, the Janolus didn't have the right stuff - he started to bob and weave, shuck and jive on the surface of SPUD-nik as it fell. Not pleased with the outcome of crashing in a fiery ball of fire, Chuck Yeagernolis begins the bailout sequence - eventually opening the pod-bay doors and getting off this wild ride. The jettison sequence is a little blurry with the 105 lens, but you get the idea... Even through the blur the reproductive stoma is clearly visible.
I'm please to say there were no Nudibranch's harmed in the making of our story.
---
Ken
.
.
.
.
