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MaxBottomtime

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
Messages
10,588
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12,907
Location
Torrance, CA
# of dives
2500 - 4999
For only the third time in four years we were able to dive the Pt. Vicente Pinnacles this morning. The ocean was calm, there was no current and we had decent visibility. The only thing missing were the rockfish. I guess the warmer 57° water drove them to deeper spots. There were a few Kelp rockfish and one Black & Yellow, but for most of the dive I photographed sponges and tunicates. They don't swim away when we approach.


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Garibaldi nests were found on nearly every pinnacle. It seemed as if I was attacked every time I rounded a corner by an over-protective guardian.


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After relaxing on the boat for a half hour the visibility seemed to be even better. Alas, Pt. Vicente is not known for its nudibranchs so we left for Golf Ball Reef. As we turned the corner at Rocky Point the swells began picking up. It was still diveable and the surface water at GBR looked clear. As we descended the clarity was soon replaced by sandscatter. A large bat ray was digging a hole to China just a few feet from the barrel. The visibility on the reef must have followed him as we went from twenty-five feet plus at Pt. Vicente to under five feet at GBR.


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Out here on the island the best rockfish to photograph are often at depths in excess of 100 fsw, at least on the warmer southern half of the leeward coast. Since I'm no longer doing my deep (180-200 fsw) dives, I don't see them (or many nudibranchs) much these days. Sponges are cool... and you're right, Phil, they rarely try to escape!
 

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