March '05 Dive Reports

[Grey_Wulff]

Date: 3/27/05
Dive Location: La Jolla Shores North Wall
Time: 09:40am
Bottom Time: 37 mins
Max Depth: 64ft
Vis: 15ft
Wave height: 1-2ft
Temp at depth: 53F
Surface Temp: 60F
Tide information: Just approaching high tide
Comments: The first time, in what seemed like weeks that conditions were close to perfect. Hardly any surf, almost glassy surface swimming out and decent visibility in the canyon. We explored the North Wall for a while but a leaking rear dump valve started affecting my buoyancy! Somewhat miffed we headed in hoping repairs would be simple and the second dive would be more productive!

Date: 3/27/05
Dive Location: La Jolla Shores North Wall
Time: 11:49am
Bottom Time: 41 mins
Max Depth: 68ft
Vis: 10-15ft
Wave height: 1-2ft
Temp at depth: 59F
Surface Temp: 60F
Tide information: Just past high tide
Comments: A thorough cleaning of the problematic dump valve resolved any signs of the leak. We headed back out and again explored the North Wall. Not too many critters about. A few sheephead followed us along, several bass popped in for a look, banded and black-eyed goby watched us cautiously and a large bug retreated rapidly into its hole. Visibility was definitely poorer and the water a full six degrees warmer! After turning for home, played spot the baby flatfish and followed a scuttling sheepcrab across the sand dollar field. It was great to be out again!

Grey_Wulff

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

La Jolla Shores, Secret Gardens and Cabezon Cruiser, 03/26/2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIVE #1
DATE: 03/26/2005
Site: La Jolla Shores, Secret Gardens
MAX DEPTH: 112 fsw
BOTTOM TIME: 41 minutes
VISIBILITY: 10-25 feet
Temp Surface: 59 degree F
Temp Bottom: 54 degree F
Air Temp: 61 degree F
SAC Rate 0.52 SCFM

After meeting the DASC Panga operator at Mission Bay and having him cancel due to hay fever and a lack of an additional buddy for me, I gave Tyler a call and hoped we could go diving since the day way beautiful and the waves were low. After an hour or so Tyler gave me a call, and we arranged to get down to the Shores and go diving. We decided to head to the Secret Gardens and began our decent to the canyon from a depth of 30 feet. On the way down we enjoyed a nice California Halibut and child which we admired for a few minutes. We continued down the draw and noticed the light and warmth were leaving us behind. At the Gardens we encountered a few Nudis, Bay and Black-eye Gobies, some Ronquels, some juvenile rockfish, several Spanish Shawls, a Sarcastic Fringehead, a few snails and another tiny unidentified nudi at the end of the dive. The vis was nice on top, poor in the middle, and was reasonable at depth.


DIVE #2
DATE: 03/26/2005
Site: La Jolla Shores, Cabezon Cruiser
MAX DEPTH: 132 fsw
BOTTOM TIME: 42 minutes
VISIBILITY: 10-15 feet
Temp Surface: 61 degree F
Temp Bottom: 54 degree F
Air Temp: 63 degree F
SAC Rate 0.50 SCFM

Roy came down to join us on the Cabezon Cruiser. We kicked out to the buoy and after out checks we headed down in 25 feet of water. We both followed Tyler down to the cruiser, which appeared on the bottom of a silty hill. Once there Roy and I signed the slate which is on the bow, and we began to explore the cruiser. The boat is shelter for several Brown Rockfish and several female Sheephead, and we were blessed with the company of one giant male Sheephead Roy pointed out. After taking some pictures we headed back up the canyon wall and in the process were separated from our buddy Tyler. We looked for him but elected to swim north along the wall during the last 1/2 of our dive. We encountered the same suspects, and one interested adolescent Sarcastic Fringehead who appreciated the attention.
After completing our deco stop in the shallows (10 mins) we headed to the shore and exited through the very populated beach!


Thanks for the dives Tyler and Roy!

pictures:

http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/garden-cruiser03262005

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

P38 & Anchor Rock, 03/27/2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIVE #1
DATE: 03/27/2005
Site: La Jolla, P38 wreck
MAX DEPTH: 135 fsw
BOTTOM TIME: 46 minutes
VISIBILITY: 25-40 feet
Temp Surface: 57 degree F
Temp Bottom: 52 degree F
Air Temp: 59 degree F
SAC Rate 0.50 SCFM

Kelly picked us up at the La Jolla boat launch, and after loading the boat we headed out to the P38 wreck. Using the sonar and GPS we were able to see the wreck and dropped anchor nearby. Kelly the DASC boat operator went down 1st to locate the wreck for us. He told us later the boat was 30 feet off of the plane, and he dragged the anchor over near the plane in the current and made it very easy for us to find the wreck. Terry, Tyler, Paul and I then descended down the line, and after a descending 3 minutes we neared the bottom and trimmed off. The P38 wreck is covered with growth, and the site is covered with huge fish including Canary rockfish, Treefish, massive Blacksmith, Lingcod, and more. The interior of the plane has a few wolf eels which Terry saw, but the others only saw one. We explored the wreck for about 15 minutes, and after racking up 16 minutes of deco time, we headed up the line, slowly. We did some deep stops, and longer stops as we ascended. After many minutes my tank was empty and I had 1 minute left of deco, so my buddy Terry gave me his reg and I finished my time. The current on the way up was very strong and the vis was pretty low. Terry and I had seen a batray over 100 feet away swimming along on a previous dive, so the vis was less than spectacular at shallower depths. We all exited the water and headed over to the next site, Anchor Rock.

DIVE #2
DATE: 03/27/2005
Site: La Jolla, Anchor Rock
MAX DEPTH: 66 fsw
BOTTOM TIME: 46 minutes
VISIBILITY: 25-40 feet
Temp Surface: 59 degree F
Temp Bottom: 54 degree F
Air Temp: 63 degree F
SAC Rate 0.55 SCFM

Anchor Rock is 1/4 - 1/2 of a mile off of the La Jolla Cove. The site is between 2 pinnacles from 60-80 feet or so. The vis was very nice, and we had kelp mixed in throughout the dive. As we swam along we saw a Giant Sea Bass (Black) swimming by. We saw the usual suspects, but the structure was very beautiful. After 40 minutes we ran out of bottom time and we headed up the line. A friendly Sea Lion bombed us a few times as we help on, and then he moved on. We exited the water and motored over to the Boat launch where Kelly dropped us off at about 11:30am. I REALLY want to go out and dive these spots again.

Thanks for the dives Terry, Tyler, Paul, and special thanks to Kelly!!!

Pictures:

http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/p38-AnchorRock03272005

 

[scottfiji]

Dive #1, 3/27/2005
Location: Point Dume Pinnacles
Bottom Time: 52 min
Max Depth: 60ft
Vis: 15-20ft
Waves: 1ft

Had a great dive at the pinnacles, the water was very calm. current was very small. Lots of fish and sheep crabs were out. We fleetingly saw a very large unidentifed object. William from the sandeaters joined me. marineland and point dume in one weekend makes for a great diving weekend!!

Picutres: http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/PointDume20050327

Dive #2
Location: Malibu Road
Bottom Time: 55 min
Max Depth: 38ft
Vis: 6-14ft, variable
Waves: 0-2ft

William and I did a second dive, saw dozens of spanish shawl, several horn sharks, lots of lobster, a few schooling leopard sharks, octopus, many rockfish.

Scott

 

[HBDiveGirl]

Date: March 27, '05
Dive #1 Farnsworth Banks
Time: 10:10 AM
Bottom Time: 49 minutes
Max Depth: 109
Vis: 40 feet
Wave height: 1-2 foot swells, smooth surface
Temp at depth:57 F
Surface Temp:60 F
Comments: Joined Ross-O, Beth, and Scott R. for some Catalina exploration. San Pedro Channel was flat and sunny: A beautiful day. Very little boat traffic, but crossing required slowing for 2 huge pods of common dolphin, with groups of about 10 riding the bow waves. Rounded the West End to find the rippled surface had smoothed to blue/green glass. "I get bigger waves in my bathtub!" said Scott as he splashed into blue water with only one other boat around. Beth and Ross had planted the hook exactly on a Farnsworth pinnacle at 95fsw, and 40 foot viz welcomed us to the fairyland of purple hydrocoral and walls of multicolored corynactis anemones. Encrusted fishing nets added to the fantasy landscape. Nudibranchs, tree fish, gorgonia, lobster, vertical walls and sandy flats gave us plenty to play with. We gleefully crisscrossed the multiple pinnacles enjoying the sights in misty blueness. Ross & Beth apparently did a textbook anchorline ascent while Scott and I experimented with nitrogenous communication (...later, in the car..."So Scott, what did LANDIS mean?" "I wrote what? Let me see that.. Oh, "LANDIS where the current is going"" "What??" "Oh Man, it seemed to make sense at the time!!"...followed by helpless laughter to the point of tears....) Our zig-zags had induced alternate-reality bearings, but quick/correct decision making in lieu of an anchorline had us doing a satisfactory mid-water ascent with deco stops in a modest current. I thought he was a little TOO excited when he pointed out a beautiful sea lion at our 50fsw stop, but the excitement was at seeing the anchorline with our two dear friends moving smoothly up it. "BAD wandering divers...do I have to put you on a reel next time???" seemed to be the look in Ross's eyes, but we really all had a great time and I learned more...again! Sunshine and smooth water made for a lovely cruise to our second spot.

Dive #2 "Dragon's Breath Point"
Time: 12:39 PM
Bottom Time: 45 minutes
Max Depth: 81
Vis: 40 +
Wave height: 1-2 foot swells
Temp at depth:59F
Surface Temp: 60

Comments: A fishing boat was already on Whale Rock, so Ross picked a gorgeous little point several hundred yards West of it...with a great whooompphhhhingg blow hole gusting out emphatic exhalations with each glassy swell. The mist shot out horizontally about 15 feet and drifted cinematically away. "It sounds like a Dragon!"...and in we went. Perfect anchor in deep sand, and a short swim to gorgeous vertical walls covered with overlapping gorgonia in three colors. Two BIG white dorid nudibranchs were laying eggs (Happy Easter!), many tree fish, little lobsters, a moray, and beautiful sponges and encrusting invertebrates. Young Garibaldi swarmed densely, boldly fending off the territorial threat of my orange safety whistle. Wonderful terrain to wander over, with deep vertical cracks and sand-floored overhangs. Sun was pouring down through the silvery surface and honey-colored kelp fronds. Some stronger surge at the point made the thick tree trunks of kelp seem to hula, with flapping white fronds at the base. Four big holdfasts had come loose and were hanging 15-25 feet from the kelp ceiling, looking like chandeliers waiting to be lit. We hung for many, many minutes of extra safety-stop time under the kelp because it was just too beautiful. What a great spot!

Dive #3 Johnson's Rock, probably...
Time: 2:15 PM
Bottom Time: 40 minutes
Max Depth:48 feet
Vis: 30-40 feet
Wave height: smooth
Temp at depth:59F
Surface Temp:59F
Comments: Final dive of the day, frontside just around from the West End, wind coming up, sun thinning with high clouds...brrr. Even dry-diving Ross said he got a little cold, but that was due his patience with our low-slow-look-in-every-crevice mode...I was really hoping for octopus, sharks or bat rays, but none to report. We found some cool vertical boulder canyons to swim through, and blue spotted juvenile garibaldi, tree fish, lobster, and old wreck debris here and there. It's always fun to explore a new spot, and the alternating tall-boulders-and-sand topography was very alluring. (There shoulda been bat rays...). Thanks to terrific friends Ross, Beth and Scott for a Very Happy Easter!

 

[HBDiveGirl]

Wow! Mot2vation 7 I did three awesome dives at Catalina yesterday.

Thanks for the nice dive report, Laurel. And Congratulations on dive #450!:dazzler1:
Keep on Diving Happy!
Claudette

 

[Stryker]

HBDiveGirl,

I have never read a more detailed and in-depth account of anything in my life.... nice work....So when's your first novel coming out? haha

 

[scubainspired]

Date:03/26/05
Dive Location: Redondo Sub-Canyon
Time: 6:50 pm
Bottom Time: 37
Max Depth: 37
Vis:15'
Wave height:.5 - 1 foot
Temp at depth:
Surface Temp: 60
Tide information: low
Comments:
sea lion, Spider Crab, squid eggs, squid boat (with sea lion charges),

 

[HBDiveGirl]

HBDiveGirl,

I have never read a more detailed and in-depth account of anything in my life.... nice work....So when's your first novel coming out? haha

Hi Seth, and thanks for the kind words... I've heard of "conciseness", but I still have to look it up in the dictionary! It's all so much fun to experience, and then the words to describe it just surround me like eager puppies begging to be organized.
So...four months and counting, eh? When are we going diving?... 'cause you need lots of beautiful UW Pacific memories to take with you and return to. Dive California (Carlos) and I try to beach dive every weekend unless the weather orders us out of the pool. Let's connect for weekend dives? Could you join us at the April 9/10 Wrinkles dive at Leo Carillo? Campground is booked solid, so I'll be driving up Saturday and Sunday to dive. Let's talk..if you haven't met the Wrinkles gang, you are in for a treat!
Cheers,
Claudette

 

[headhunter]

Hi Seth, and thanks for the kind words... I've heard of "conciseness", but I still have to look it up in the dictionary! It's all so much fun to experience, and then the words to describe it just surround me like eager puppies begging to be organized.
So...four months and counting, eh? When are we going diving?... 'cause you need lots of beautiful UW Pacific memories to take with you and return to. Dive California (Carlos) and I try to beach dive every weekend unless the weather orders us out of the pool. Let's connect for weekend dives? Could you join us at the April 9/10 Wrinkles dive at Leo Carillo? Campground is booked solid, so I'll be driving up Saturday and Sunday to dive. Let's talk..if you haven't met the Wrinkles gang, you are in for a treat!
Cheers,
Claudette

I'm with Claudette in thinking that you need to come out and dive with us at the Wrinkles Dive and BBQ! I'm still looking into a solution for the overnight challenges that we've been presented with, but it's still a great location to just drive out for each day. I hope your schedule will allow you to join us.

Christian