Monterey Pics 8-11 & 8-12

[Larry C]

Got in a couple of fun dives after working an open water class this weekend, one each day. Water cleared up nicely, finally. We had about 35ft. at 55-65ft. Saturday on Shale Island and a solid 50ft. at 75-80ft. on the Steam Engine on Sunday afternoon. Seems to be an Octopus population explosion. We've seen them on our last four dives on the shale, at least two per dive, some out in the open. Lots of Nudis and other little critters out as well. Still have issues with a big spot at the upper 1/4 of my pics, so I PS'd it out as best I could.

Lingcod were out on both dives

Adorable, playful little Octopi have been making our day!

Heading back in the hole.

Cadlina Flavomaculata

Peltodoris Nobilis

Tritonia Festiva

Clown Dorid

Clown Dorid Porn

...and some fish. Rockfish on a shelf full of Corynactis

Heading for the Channel Islands on a live-aboard on the Vision tomorrow morning. See ya next week!

 

[SeaYoda]

Very nice.

What is the composition of the sea floor where you dive?

 

[Larry C]

These pics were all on the shale. It's a base of shale, covered with silt, algae and critters. There are raised shelfs of shale, and most of the animals hang out under the shelf or in holes in it. The edges, as you can see, are covered with a variety of Anemones, nudibranchs, snails, sponges and colonies of microorganisms.
Most of the other dive sites are sand with rocky reefs. The kelp grows from the rocks, and most of the life is in the kelp or hiding around the rocks. The sandy areas are full of clams, sand dollars, Sand Dabs, tube anemone and the nudis that eat them, plus the occasional Halibut, Bat Ray, Pacific Electric Ray, etc. The squid and Octopi generally come out at night, and there are local populations of Harbor Seals, Sea Lions and Sea Otters. (all protected and well fed). Generally, the only Sharks we see are the occasional Leopards, although last week we had a rare close to shore visit from a Great White near Point Pinos. They generally stay out in the open Bay, farther from shore. We also get a wide variety of Rock Crabs and Sand Crabs.

 

[alcina]

Love the colours on the first occy

 

[Todd128]

Seems to be an Octopus population explosion

Thank you for posting these excellent photos. RE: Octopus population, I've been seeing many of them as well...perhaps 5 or 6 on a single recent dive. Todd

 

[Larry C]

Thanks, Yoda, Kristin, Todd. Kristin, they're really hard to shoot, because they change colors to match the surroundings. A lot of times, you think the picture's out of focus, when it's really the animal that's blurry.

 

[Gilligan]

Nice collection Larry. I especially like the red octo shot.

 

[RoyN]

Hi Larry, finally got my camera back and the aimming light so wish me the best of luck that the pictures turn out good like yours.

 

[Larry C]

Thanks, Jim & Roy.
Roy, just keep shooting. The more pictures you take, the better you'll get.

 

[Fastmarc]

Very nice, Larry.
Good job.