Went to LBTS for diving yesterday. Arrived at 0830 and entered the water at 0910. Windfinder had predicted very light wind for the whole day, and was correct when I got there, but by the time I was leaving about 1230 the 1-2ft seas had become 3-4ft seas with a concurrent washer machine feel while submerged. Visibility was 15ft on the first reef, 35 feet on the second reef, and 45 the third reef. Sea temp was 77f. For those interested, I am in 5mm Bare, with just my nylon hood (no thermal protection). One less degree and I will put a more substantial neoprene hood on. Since the visibility was less than stellar on the first reef, I did not loiter there, and headed to the second reef. Also since there was little to no current and wave action was slight when I started, air consumption was good so I headed out to the third reef. The third reef is shallow (8-10ft), is hard bottom with tons of Staghorn Coral and soft corals. It ends at an eastern facing ledge a half mile from the beach. There is a set of mooring balls directly off Datura Ave on the ledge. For me the mooring balls are a 45 minute swim underwater using the frog kick the whole way. In the past the parking meters took quarters and the limit was four hours. Now with the pay by phone, or the digital pay machine the limit is three hours, so I don't do the ledge anymore because it is too much time commuting back and forth,. Maybe if I got the Divevolk housing for my phone instead of the Sealife Sportdiver I could surface and add more time to the meter while I was out in the ocean? I didn't see anything particularly unusual, however I was able to get close to an Atlantic Bluespotted Cornetfish (
Fistularia tabacaria) as opposed to the Bluespotted Cornetfish(
Fistularia commersonii) found in the Pacific. The Cornetfish usually doesn't allow a close approach but this one just hovered in place, without moving away. One other strange encounter was with a group of three fish. A Gray Triggerfish, Red Grouper, and Gray Angelfish. I have encountered each of species 100's times, and they all can have a curious streak not seen in a lot of other fish, especially the Gray Triggerfish, especially the Gray Triggerfish when it comes to giving one of my ear's a painful taste test (thusly the nylon hood). Anyway the three of them arranged in a little group, I was so surprised I didn't think to take an image until the group had broken up and only got an image of the Red Grouper. Respectively, Simon Says Wave to the Right, Simon Says Hands Up, Simon Says Wave to the Left, Atlantic Bluespotted Cornetfish, Atlantic Blue Spotted Cornetfish, Red Grouper, and Sea Condition Before the Dive.
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