July 7th urchin dive report.

[Eric Sedletzky]

We had twelve divers show up to the 7/7 dive at Stillwater. And four or five for shore support.
We collected 1277 lbs. of purple urchins!
We had a great day!
The water was calm, the cove was virtually flat.
Vis was a little milky but good enough to bag purps.
I worked the zombie zone and packed four green bags over two dives. Everyone seems to be getting good amounts of urchins, and a few guys got four bags too. Multiple bags help. We’re getting better.
The water temp was about 53ish? It felt warmer than the 45 we had a few months ago.
I was diving wet in a 7mm and only began to feel a slight chill at the end of the second dive.
We filled every container I had and my truck was completely full!
Super job everyone !!!

Best part: BULL KELP IS GROWING IN THE COVE!!! We did it!!!!
Yes, bull kelp has spouted and taking hold in the center of the cove.
There is also an abundance of ribbon kelp, sea palms, sea lettuces and various other weeds growing that would not be there if it was not for our efforts!
Stillwater would still be an urchin barren and an underwater waste land if we did nothing. So everyone who volunteers. this is a direct result of all your hard work, and I thank you!!

 

[rob.mwpropane]

We had twelve divers show up to the 7/7 dive at Stillwater. And four or five for shore support.
We collected 1277 lbs. of purple urchins!
We had a great day!
The water was calm, the cove was virtually flat.
Vis was a little milky but good enough to bag purps.
I worked the zombie zone and packed four green bags over two dives. Everyone seems to be getting good amounts of urchins, and a few guys got four bags too. Multiple bags help. We’re getting better.
The water temp was about 53ish? It felt warmer than the 45 we had a few months ago.
I was diving wet in a 7mm and only began to feel a slight chill at the end of the second dive.
We filled every container I had and my truck was completely full!
Super job everyone !!!

Best part: BULL KELP IS GROWING IN THE COVE!!! We did it!!!!
Yes, bull kelp has spouted and taking hold in the center of the cove.
There is also an abundance of ribbon kelp, sea palms, sea lettuces and various other weeds growing that would not be there if it was not for our efforts!
Stillwater would still be an urchin barren and an underwater waste land if we did nothing. So everyone who volunteers. this is a direct result of all your hard work, and I thank you!!

That's awesome!

 

[Brown River Mermaid]

We had twelve divers show up to the 7/7 dive at Stillwater. And four or five for shore support.
We collected 1277 lbs. of purple urchins!
We had a great day!
The water was calm, the cove was virtually flat.
Vis was a little milky but good enough to bag purps.
I worked the zombie zone and packed four green bags over two dives. Everyone seems to be getting good amounts of urchins, and a few guys got four bags too. Multiple bags help. We’re getting better.
The water temp was about 53ish? It felt warmer than the 45 we had a few months ago.
I was diving wet in a 7mm and only began to feel a slight chill at the end of the second dive.
We filled every container I had and my truck was completely full!
Super job everyone !!!
Best part: BULL KELP IS GROWING IN THE COVE!!! We did it!!!!
Yes, bull kelp has spouted and taking hold in the center of the cove.
There is also an abundance of ribbon kelp, sea palms, sea lettuces and various other weeds growing that would not be there if it was not for our efforts!
Stillwater would still be an urchin barren and an underwater waste land if we did nothing. So everyone who volunteers. this is a direct result of all your hard work, and I thank you!!

I saw one solitary mature bull kelp in the process of sending spores. Nearby was a cluster of purples with baby bull kelp in their spines. Of course I removed those purps.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I passed by Stillwater today (business in Gualala) and took some shots of the cove from the overlook.
In the first photo you can see some kelp forming where I have it circled.
The second photo shows a wide angle shot. The red circle is where we saw the lone bull kelp growing. The purple circle is where I want to target our next clearing session (conditions allowing),
And the orange arrow is where the first photo is showing another bull kelp forming.

 

[happy-diver]

You can't beat that with anything

 

[Jeff_O]

Since about 5 months now since my cubital tunnel surgery I started using my drysuit to snorkel. The getting in and out of a drysuit using the San Diego wiggle method, when drysuit gloves are used, I was able to do OK. Location Hearn Gulch snorkeling only.

Gualala River just a few weeks ago saw a couple small steelhead trout juveniles. For the river, not like in the winter though, I used just caplin undergarment and that was enough to keep warm.

Taking on this urchin harvesting, or just using tank and lead, I am seeing about getting there.

Why does fixing hand nerve pain from elbow ulnar nerve impingement, mean there is issue with pain in elbow now, when not there before the surgery. Oh, maybe something to do with a four inch scar from the surgery. Time I heard varies for both hand and now arm, 3, 6, 9, month, or over a year after surgery.

Vis snorkeling was not very good, but being in the Pacific was good, a very calm day til winds picked up. I was already done snorkeling, now suit is drying after cleaning. Palm kelp and eel grass kept moving with ground swell in rocky area with better vis. Can't say I could spot anything to write home about.