Photos from catalina island today (7/17)

[scottfiji]

Had 3 good dives at Catalina today, nice vis and beautiful kelp. Here's some photos - enjoy!

Complete photo set from today:
http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/Catalina20050717

Giant Kelpfish, out of the kelp

Horn Shark in flight

Teeth of the Moray Eel

Largest Sea Hare ever to live (yes, it was that big)

Curious Young Kelp Bass

Very pretty today!

 

[drbill]

OBVIOUSLY you weren't diving at Casino Point where effective vis by my definition dropped to about 5' making anything but macro very difficult!

The large sea hare is probably a different species (Aplysia vaccaria) than the one normally encountered (Aplysia californica). A. vaccaria is sometimes commonly referred to as the black sea hare because its coloration tends to be very dark. It is hard to tell from the image, but it looks like there is some pattern in the body appearance, but the size certainly indicates A. vaccaria. I ran into two smaller individuals in the Casino dive park yesterday, but they were mating and I didn't want to disturb them.

 

[scottfiji]

OBVIOUSLY you weren't diving at Casino Point where effective vis by my definition dropped to about 5' making anything but macro very difficult!

The large sea hare is probably a different species (Aplysia vaccaria) than the one normally encountered (Aplysia californica). A. vaccaria is sometimes commonly referred to as the black sea hare because its coloration tends to be very dark. It is hard to tell from the image, but it looks like there is some pattern in the body appearance, but the size certainly indicates A. vaccaria. I ran into two smaller individuals in the Casino dive park yesterday, but they were mating and I didn't want to disturb them.

Good observation, it was an Aplysia vaccaria. Here's another one I saw at marineland a couple weeks ago.
http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/Marineland20050703/Marineland20050703_039

We were diving around two harbors, great vis there. Sorry to hear you couldn't join in the mating, I thought I've seen requests from you for that kind of thing before, but I could be wrong.

Scott

 

[SNOBORDJON]

nice shots scott!
I need to get backin the water!

 

[drbill]

Scott... I only mate with my own species!!

I had heard the vis at that end of the island was fairly good.

Bill

 

[underwaterangel]

Scott... I only mate with my own species!!
Bill

I could have sworn I read that your mating was a mystery...
yes I am sure I read that somewhere...
now I remember...

http://www.starthrower.org/products/DDDB/DDDB_100-149/DDDB_148 zebra perch.htm

can't argue with the author....

 

[scottfiji]

nice shots scott!
I need to get backin the water!

thanks alot jon!

As those of you who dive with me know, I try to be environmentally conscience & a tree hugger, volunteering for heal the bay, saving baby seals from being clubbed, not taking lobster/scallop, and sending spearfishers in the wrong direction (no offence snobordjon/phototj/other spearfisher, we can still dive together on no-take missions!)

However, it light of the sea-hare photo, I must proclaim myself now an official Sea-Hare hugger. After the photo was taken, I gave the sea hare a big hug, and he+she (they are hermaphrodites) laid a big kiss on me. It was a moving experience for me and the sea-hare.

Scott

disclaimer: no sea hares were taken home and eaten for my pleasure on these dives. All sea hares continued to mate in orgiastic circles, produce thousands of eggs, and chomp on kelp until their stomachs were content.

 

[underwaterangel]

however, it light of the sea-hare photo, I must proclaim myself now an official Sea-Hare hugger. After the photo was taken, I gave the sea hare a big hug, and he+she (they are hermaphrodites) laid a big kiss on me. It was a moving experience for me and the sea-hare.

Scott

As long as it was a platonic love... I would hate to think of the logistics of anything else.

 

[HBDiveGirl]

...I gave the sea hare a big hug, and he+she (they are hermaphrodites) laid a big kiss on me. It was a moving experience for me and the sea-hare.

I just know I'm going to regret asking this, but.... what was your physical evidence that it was a "moving" experience for the little Sweet-Hare??? This may result in more inter-species relationship information than I'm really ready to hear.... :60: .