Rough Riders

[MaxBottomtime]

I was ready to go back to bed after looking at the swell models and live cameras this morning. Merry suggested driving to Vet's to check out the conditions away from shore. I was still on the fence, but relented. We called Kevin and have him the "good" news.
We motored slowly toward Golf Ball Reef. I expected surge, poor visibility and a tough time climbing back aboard after aborting the dive. Much to my surprise we had decent vis and little to no surge.
I found two Doriopsilla gemela nudibranchs near each other. I had only seen two in the previous twenty-five years. Merry found a tiny Appleseed snail and a new (to us) nudibranch, Geitodoris heathi. She didn't share her find with anyone. It was nice diving with her. I'll miss her.
The water has warmed up to 55° on the reef with a surface temp of 67°.

Obligatory golf ball shot

Swell shark egg case disguised as an artificial reef

Windmill worm

Is someone on my roof?

Puffball sponge imitating a bottle cork

Doriopsilla gemela

Johnny Appleseed

 

[keithbt]

We had an open water class today at Vets and it was horrible...consistent surf hammered the student! I saw at least 4 sport chalet divers sprawled out turtuled in the waterline...Bay watch came as I was pulling one student back to shore thru the surf shakehead because he lost his mask. Someone called because they thought there was a real problem. So you were good not go there.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

We looked and saw a couple dozen gearing up. I've always been amazed that students aren't taught the most important lesson; When not to dive. When we first pulled into the parking lot at Vet's I told Merry there wouldn't be any beach diving today.

 

[godluvsall]

Cool pix. And yeah, I learned when not to dive the hard way too.

 

[drbill]

Love those windmill worms. Unfortunately I usually only see them deep (180+ fsw) and I don't do those dives any more. Or maybe it is that the depth affects my sensory perception causing me to see more clearly? Yeah, sure. Are they often seen at those shallower depths over there?

We dove the wreck of the Valiant yesterday and it was nice to see many nudibranchs again (although no Felimare).

 

[MaxBottomtime]

We find them at many sites in 48-80 feet. The rocks at Golf Ball Reef are in 50-60 feet.