Long Point Marineland 1.12.11 Report

[FrankPro1]

With the swell down below ankle height I was determined to get wet today. Sent texts out to all the dive buddies but everyone was working, so I opted to solo dive. I originally planned to dive the 120 reef but conditions were so good that I couldn't resist entering at the point. Visibility was easily 20ft horizontal and at 40ft I could clearly see the surface. It was my first time out with 2 strobes so I spent the beginning of the dive familiarizing myself with my increased lighting power. As I made my way around a larger pinnacle in about 40ft of water I noticed that the schools of blacksmith around me began darting back and forth like they were being hunted by something. Being alone, I immediately thought shark! but my rationality kicked in I began scoping for a sea lion. After seeing a quick blur to my right I spun around and was extremely surprised to see two Cormorants at waist level darting between me and the pinnacle chasing fish. I frantically changed my camera's settings to wide angle and began firing off shots. No luck, my strobes were set to low power and everything was way to under-exposed. I saw them diving down twice more but this time they were above me in the water column so I decided to shoot a quick video. Critter Highlights: San Diego Dorid eating nudi eggs, diving Cormorants, Tree fish and a Scorpion fish

Video & Stills:

Look at those Lips!:cold: It must be winter

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Did you exit at the point with two strobes as well?
Excellent camera work.

 

[Merry]

How neat! That's so cool. Your quick thinking paid off with that terrific video. I'm glad you got in a dive when Marineland was at its best. How I wish we could have joined you!

Wonderful images, too. Curious about the Diaulula eating other nudi eggs. By any chance, did you get a shot of that? We might be able to identify the species.

 

[Rainer]

Nice shots (and video)! How'd you like the second strobe?

 

[FrankPro1]

Did you exit at the point with two strobes as well?
Excellent camera work.

At about the 1500psi point I headed to the cove for my exit. On my way there I kept on getting held up by more and more interesting critters. The shallows of the "garden" area are a safe haven for a myriad of rockfish juveniles, as well as scorpionfish, garabaldi and different wrasse species. I ended up surfacing just past the final drainage structure with 650psi.

Wonderful images, too. Curious about the Diaulula eating other nudi eggs. By any chance, did you get a shot of that? We might be able to identify the species.

I did get a shot of the San Diego Dorid eating the nudi eggs. It has some backscatter in it so I didn't post it. In the pic it looks like some globular masses are coming out of him. Is that eggs? excrement? or a hitchhiker? Here it is:

How'd you like the second strobe?

It will definitely allow me to fill wider areas with light but also enable me to do some cool back lighting, as well as other "artistic" lighting styles. I'm excited to get back out there and see what I can conjure up. I currently have the 2nd strobe's arm hooked up to a tri clip which has a focus light attached. While it does work, it is a bit cumbersome and I think I'm going to get rid of the tri clip and mount the focus light somewhere else.

 

[jenth]

Great shot of the diver! Looks like it'd be a great photo for a scuba diving ad!

 

[H2Ocean]

Frank hi, that was me with the older guy walkin up. nice to meet you. howd you do the last one? if we go to long point we always go from the point no matter how big the surf is because of the treasure she holds., I'm usually going as much as whenever anyone is off work to go with me..weekends weekdays or nights. tomorrow were gonna go to malibu. try point dume. saturday maybe the same? I should start asking who's who on the trail. ok see you

 

[FrankPro1]

Hi H2Ocean.
On this dive I entered at the point but exited at the cobblestone beach. I saw you guy's exiting farther down then any of my "known" point entries. You'll have to show me where your's is. The point is really the best spot at Marineland but the area between the cove & point isn't half bad either. It doesn't have the spectacular invertebrate covered pinnacles like the point but it does have some cool reef structure and interesting critters. I am usually hard strapped for dive buddies during the week. Maybe we can get a dive in together sometime.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The easiest point entry I've done is still Lee's Rock. I like that the bottom drops off quickly behind it so there's nothing to trip you up in small surf.

 

[drbill]

Usually when I see schools of blacksmith acting like that, I think cormorants... and am usually right. I've gotten a fair bit of my UW cormorant footage by noting changes in blacksmith behavior.

Here's my short contribution:

YouTube - Cormorants: Birds That Swim

You guys (and gals) that dive beaches like that on the mainland impress me... I'll take the stairs at Casino Point any time, but then I'm a senior citizen!