Neptune's Cove with the Nordic Duo

[FrankPro1]

Third dive at Neptune's Cove. First dive with Charlie's Girlfriend "Danielle". Yes you heard that right! A woman doing Neptune's Hill. On top of that she did Neptune's hill in booties that have no tread! I won't even do that. We took the normal surface swim out towards the pinnacles and dropped down in about 20ft of water. As soon as we descended down we were greeted by a sleeping shovel nose guitar fish. Those things can really move! He let us take some pictures and observe him for a good minute or two, then took off really fast. We made our way deeper and deeper, stopping for swim arounds on the larger reef structures. Some larger Barred Bass and Male Sheephead were out today. The reefs were covered in the normal suspects, nothing too out of the ordinary. As we hit 35ft we came to a really large reef structure. It wasn't the pinnacle we found last dive, but it was almost as big. It had large overhangs, cracks and tons and tons of anemones, sponges, blobs. There was also some of the largest Spanish Shawls I've ever seen. We turned around after a few minutes of taking pictures on this structure and made an uneventful exit.

Here are some pics from today:

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I love the guitar fish!! I also love rippled water. Let's hope it stays that way for awhile.

 

[mselenaous]

Great pics Frank. Thanks.

 

[ligersandtions]

I've been out freediving Neptune's Cove a couple times with my husband recently....I actually had no idea it was called Neptune's Cove till I read your reports and looked at the map you posted on another thread. Pretty cool site....the kelp is super thick (and I find freediving in/near it to be a bit stressful).

However, it falls in the "not quite worth it" category when it comes to scuba....until I get the kayak out and dive from there. Thanks for the pics though!

 

[JMdiver]

Is Neptunes Cove the one in north Malibu where the surfers go?

John

 

[SPKelpDiver]

Not quite worth it? I beg to differ. Since Frank and I, and recently Danielle have dove it, it has become my favorite site. Its worth the death march down the hill and through the tide pools. You just have to be properly motivated. The pinnacles out off Neptunes beat Long Points pinnacles in terms of structure. I think Long Point may have more nudibrancs and macro life, but so far I have seen nothing like Neptune's Cove on the entire PV coast. Favorite dive site, hands down.

 

[ligersandtions]

Is Neptunes Cove the one in north Malibu where the surfers go?

John

It's in PV....if you turn off PV Dr W at Hawthorne and follow the road around, there's a "trail" that goes down to the water. It's cool for free diving, but for scuba, I'd much prefer Marineland.

 

[fnfalman]

Great shot of the guitar fish!!!

 

[OwenCA]

Is Neptunes Cove the one in north Malibu where the surfers go?

John

John - I think you're thinking of Neptune's Net by the county line.

 

[JMdiver]

That's what I was thinking of Owen. I've never heard of this spot I might have to try it if I can get someone with a boat to take me there.

John