Date: 11/11/04
Dive Location: La Jolla Cove Rock Pile
Time: 1330
Bottom Time: 52:40
Max Depth: 43
Avr Depth: 30
Vis: 5-20
Wave height: flat in the cove, mild swells outside
Temp at depth: 59
Surface Temp: 64
Tide information: LOW, very Low
Comments:
Ryan, Jessica, George and I met at the Cove for a nice afternoon dive to the rock pile. All present and accounted for, we quickly suited up and before you could say Garibaldi we were kicking out from the stairs to the rock pile. Usually we like to hop in over at Alligator Head as the swim is shorter but the tide was sooo low that all the rocks in the cove were exposed and the eel grass was drying in the sun. Anywhooo, we kicked out at a leisurely pace until we got into the kelp and decided twas better to swim under than kelp crawl the rest of the way. Final checks done we dropped down to the bottom at about 27ft. Visibility was a milky 15-20ft. Turning our compasses almost due North we started toward our destination. As we proceeded a harbor seal joined us and stayed with us all the way out to the rock pile. Like a speckled ghost he would appear and then fade away again, curious to watch our clumsy attempts at transversing the undersea realm. Many large sheephead were seen at the pile today. Also a small Kelp crab, still young and yellow. LOADS of lobster, mostly shorts, were seen. Their size an obvious effect of the multitude of lobster traps strewn across the bottom.
We fanned out over the pile and explored the nooks and crannies while schools of mackerel, senoritas, blacksmith and zebra perch shimmered in the kelp around us. I was hoping to photograph an eel or two but they proved elusive today. However, while on my quest I did come across a large red octopus out of its home and perched on a rock watching our procession go by. He was quite calm as I approached and I took many pictures hoping to capture his "good" side. He did not retreat more than a few inches when I approached and if I ducked below the ledge, his eyes would appear above me, curious as to what I was doing. I said my bubbly good-byes and moved on.
Island kelp fish were seen to day, as was a single thorn-back ray in a sand channel. Life was everywhere.
Eventually we made the turn back south and finned slowly into the cove. When the surge picked up, we surfaced and kicked the rest of the way in as the gulls and pelicans sored over head. The tide was still low and made for a tricky walk out of the surf. Many hidden boulders and cracks to catch and twist an ankle here. We all made the exit safely and were soon climbing the stairs back to the cars and dry warm clothes.
It was a good day to dive.
Terry
Dive Location: La Jolla Cove Rock Pile
Time: 1330
Bottom Time: 52:40
Max Depth: 43
Avr Depth: 30
Vis: 5-20
Wave height: flat in the cove, mild swells outside
Temp at depth: 59
Surface Temp: 64
Tide information: LOW, very Low
Comments:
Ryan, Jessica, George and I met at the Cove for a nice afternoon dive to the rock pile. All present and accounted for, we quickly suited up and before you could say Garibaldi we were kicking out from the stairs to the rock pile. Usually we like to hop in over at Alligator Head as the swim is shorter but the tide was sooo low that all the rocks in the cove were exposed and the eel grass was drying in the sun. Anywhooo, we kicked out at a leisurely pace until we got into the kelp and decided twas better to swim under than kelp crawl the rest of the way. Final checks done we dropped down to the bottom at about 27ft. Visibility was a milky 15-20ft. Turning our compasses almost due North we started toward our destination. As we proceeded a harbor seal joined us and stayed with us all the way out to the rock pile. Like a speckled ghost he would appear and then fade away again, curious to watch our clumsy attempts at transversing the undersea realm. Many large sheephead were seen at the pile today. Also a small Kelp crab, still young and yellow. LOADS of lobster, mostly shorts, were seen. Their size an obvious effect of the multitude of lobster traps strewn across the bottom.
We fanned out over the pile and explored the nooks and crannies while schools of mackerel, senoritas, blacksmith and zebra perch shimmered in the kelp around us. I was hoping to photograph an eel or two but they proved elusive today. However, while on my quest I did come across a large red octopus out of its home and perched on a rock watching our procession go by. He was quite calm as I approached and I took many pictures hoping to capture his "good" side. He did not retreat more than a few inches when I approached and if I ducked below the ledge, his eyes would appear above me, curious as to what I was doing. I said my bubbly good-byes and moved on.
Island kelp fish were seen to day, as was a single thorn-back ray in a sand channel. Life was everywhere.
Eventually we made the turn back south and finned slowly into the cove. When the surge picked up, we surfaced and kicked the rest of the way in as the gulls and pelicans sored over head. The tide was still low and made for a tricky walk out of the surf. Many hidden boulders and cracks to catch and twist an ankle here. We all made the exit safely and were soon climbing the stairs back to the cars and dry warm clothes.
It was a good day to dive.
Terry
