SoCal Dive Reports - Let us know about your dive!
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A few small patches of eggs were found in Redondo Canyon today but no squid.
I saw exactly one squid on a night dive 2 weeks ago at Vet's Park, and have heard that a few more have shown up since. I'm hoping to go out next week; I'll try to remember to update.
Friday 1-3-2020 we did a two dive trip on the Giant Stride to the African Queen and the twin oil rigs. Surface conditions were truly off the hook. We started out with a bit of wind chop but it tired out and by 11:00 AM things are looking glassy.
The AQ was typical, I’ve never had good viz on that wreck. The Wolf Eels dodged us but there were lots of other fish to make up for their absence. Viz was 5-10’ with a low grade surge. 61F@85’.
Dive 2 was on the twin oil rigs, only a short cruise from the AQ but in another world visibility wise. Glassy calm on the surface, we could see the first set of cross beams 55’ below the boat. Our divers reported viz at 50’-60’. (No temps recorded).
Jeff "J." Reeb on Instagram: “Capt. Jim Simmerman briefs divers on the deck of the Giant Stride prior to their dive on the oil rig. Photo 2: glassy surface conditions…”
Jeff “J” Reeb
Dark-Thirty Divers
The Giant Stride
The AQ was typical, I’ve never had good viz on that wreck. The Wolf Eels dodged us but there were lots of other fish to make up for their absence. Viz was 5-10’ with a low grade surge. 61F@85’.
Dive 2 was on the twin oil rigs, only a short cruise from the AQ but in another world visibility wise. Glassy calm on the surface, we could see the first set of cross beams 55’ below the boat. Our divers reported viz at 50’-60’. (No temps recorded).
Jeff "J." Reeb on Instagram: “Capt. Jim Simmerman briefs divers on the deck of the Giant Stride prior to their dive on the oil rig. Photo 2: glassy surface conditions…”
Jeff “J” Reeb
Dark-Thirty Divers
The Giant Stride
So it looks like dive conditions are starting to turn for the better, we dove three sites off Catalina Island yesterday and conditions were pretty good everywhere. What we're seeing is an influx of clean blue water diluting the green water that's been hanging out here all year long, resulting in varying levels of visibility, but trending towards improved conditions.
Our first stop yesterday was the Midnight Hour Wreck off the Westend of Catalina Island. This commercial squid boat sank in 2011 and lays on its side on a 100' sand bottom. I went down solo to verify that we had accurately hooked the wreck and found the anchor sitting about 50' short. Fortunately the hulk of the wreck loomed nearby in the early morning gloom so I stretched a reel line from the Giant Stride's anchor to the bow of the boat and placed a strobe light at the attachment point so our divers would be able to navigate easily to the wreck. With a bread crumb trail in place, I returned to the anchor and used my 40 cuft stage bottle to send a 3 second blast of air to the surface as a signal that diving could commence. Viz on the wreck was 40', 60F. Not bad.
Dive 2 was Farnsworth Bank, first dove by recreational divers in 1959-1960, many consider this to be one of the finest dive sites in all of Socal. Surface conditions were spectacular, beautiful blue skies and gentle swells made for an easy entry. Down on the reef viz was 25', pretty blue, with a moderate surge.
Dive 3 was Nick's pinnacle near Johnson Rock. Here the green water was still holding fast somewhat, but it was fairly clean so viz was 20+'. Temps are holding everywhere at 60F.
Departure at 0630: Jeff "J." Reeb on Instagram: “View from the Giant Stride wheelhouse as we head out for the Westend of Catalina Island. Yesterday was spectacular, what will we find today?”
Returning at 5:00PM: Jeff "J." Reeb on Instagram: “The run home after a day of diving at Catalina Island.”
Jeff "J." Reeb
Dark-Thirty Divers
The Giant Stride
Our first stop yesterday was the Midnight Hour Wreck off the Westend of Catalina Island. This commercial squid boat sank in 2011 and lays on its side on a 100' sand bottom. I went down solo to verify that we had accurately hooked the wreck and found the anchor sitting about 50' short. Fortunately the hulk of the wreck loomed nearby in the early morning gloom so I stretched a reel line from the Giant Stride's anchor to the bow of the boat and placed a strobe light at the attachment point so our divers would be able to navigate easily to the wreck. With a bread crumb trail in place, I returned to the anchor and used my 40 cuft stage bottle to send a 3 second blast of air to the surface as a signal that diving could commence. Viz on the wreck was 40', 60F. Not bad.
Dive 2 was Farnsworth Bank, first dove by recreational divers in 1959-1960, many consider this to be one of the finest dive sites in all of Socal. Surface conditions were spectacular, beautiful blue skies and gentle swells made for an easy entry. Down on the reef viz was 25', pretty blue, with a moderate surge.
Dive 3 was Nick's pinnacle near Johnson Rock. Here the green water was still holding fast somewhat, but it was fairly clean so viz was 20+'. Temps are holding everywhere at 60F.
Departure at 0630: Jeff "J." Reeb on Instagram: “View from the Giant Stride wheelhouse as we head out for the Westend of Catalina Island. Yesterday was spectacular, what will we find today?”
Returning at 5:00PM: Jeff "J." Reeb on Instagram: “The run home after a day of diving at Catalina Island.”
Jeff "J." Reeb
Dark-Thirty Divers
The Giant Stride
I haven't seen any wolfies on the AQ, or the Tammy as it likely is since the last net removal. Someone also removed the bronze propeller, which was probably pretty noisy. The wolf eel pair used to live just below the propeller. I believe they got tired of the intruders and skedaddled.
Great images Phil, Thanks for sharing!
I've heard there are some up in the bay. I might go on a friend's boat tomorrow to check it out. The waves aren't looking good.
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