Montage/Treasure Island Harbor seal

[rakkis]

While I was still in CA, I used to do a lot of night dives at Montage. Every so often this ~150 lbs Harbor seal with an orange tag on its rear flipper joined us for the dive and used our light to find fish.

I, of course, did not shine the spotlight on Garibaldi in order to obtain righteous orange revenge on them for my day dives. Herbie the Harbor seal just HAPPENED to eat mostly Garibaldis the nights he dove with us.

Is he still around? I'm coming for 2 weeks at the end of the year and would love to see him

 

[Otter]

Jeff R saw him last Friday night munching away on Girabaldis at Montage.

 

[shoupart]

How funny! Where is Montage?

I saw a harbor seal doing the exact same thing a few years back at Crescent Bay in Laguna... I think he was even tagged, too.... I wonder if it was your old pal?

During a night dive, he popped down in front of our faces and followed us, watching where we shined the light, and would dart off at any fish we saw. i think he only ate one during his dive with us, but it was so much fun to be around him! One of the best night dives, ever!

 

[mickeyroi]

I think that Montage = Treasure Island, no?

The site looks great from a satellite image too:

What I would like to know from the other divers, is where do you park to access the site? Last week, I considered diving it, and parked at Aliso Beach. The walk all the way to that cove seemed dreadful, especially in a dry suit, and we opted for Moss instead (where we saw two sleepy sharks!).
So do people usually access the Montage via the Aliso beach public parking, or is there a better way???

-M

 

[rakkis]

I've always parked in the underground parking structure at the end of Wesley drive. It's free at night