The Pasley "Hurry Home" December '06 Dive Report Thread

[HBDiveGirl]

Blue Skies!
Smooth glassy water!
40-60 foot visibility!
57-59F, and no thermocline!
Thick kelp and sunbeams!
... and a boat full of friends to share it all with!

There is NO place I'd rather be .

December isn't always like this, but it sure was this time!
We piled onto the BottomScratcher, chartered by Mr. BareFootBlue, Archangel Tevis, and cruised out into the sunrise of a gorgeous winter day. Captain Greg was elated at the conditions, and eager to take us to some of the more rarely dived sites on the back side. "This swell is PERFECT for the back side! Let's go see!"

Dive #1: Cactus Cove (between Eagle Rock and the West End)
80fsw
1'15"
57F from surface to depth
50-60 foot visibility in golden sunshine.
Buddy: Ken (photomicroscopist!)
Pasley should hurry home because giant kelp is always prettier than you remember.
The surface was a tessellation of honey-colored giant kelp fronds, and the viz looked super. The water was stunning in its pure-blueness as we descended and explored the 10-foot-tall boulders on the edge of the sandy area.
Ken and I were shocked to find 6 species of nudibranchs! Not that many individuals... but WOW, great variety!! FedEX, Limbaughs Cadlina, Yellow Edged Cadlina, MacFarlands Chromodorid, Mexichromis porterae, and... the best surprise: A NewOneForTheTeam: Dendrodoris behrensi. Ken's magnificent pictures tell the tale, so I'll clam up now . There were fish galore as we cruised up into the towering kelp forest, clearly visible from the 50 fsw floor all the way to the luminous ceiling.
What a dive!!! What a place. We stayed until our SPG hoses went from al dente to pad thai noodle soft (about 400psi) and surfaced to more sunshine and Chili!! yum!

Dive #2: IronBound Cove, backside Catalina
61fsw
1'04"
59F from surface to depth
50-60 foot visibility in golden sunshine.
Buddy: Ken, ZebraGoby Whisperer
Pasley should hurry home because not all cucumbers are created equal.

Another great site that was flat and calm on this perfect day. The Cove is deep and ringed with tall vertical cliffs. We finned along the edge at around 50 fsw, all the way to the point on the west side. It was packed with life... and about 2,000 warty cucumbers. They were EVERYwhere... looking like a boat-load of potatoes had spilled here in some recent storm. It was comical!! Many were dangling down from rock edges, reaching out for the next dreamed-of surface.

And then.... glowing eerily in the sunlight... dut-dut-Duhhhh... Moby-Cuke! The Great White Cucumber!!!
WhatTheHeckISthat?? An ALBINO CUCUMBER?? Yup, hale and hearty... Mo2vation's picture tells it all. Call me Ishmael...

Ken shot the FedEx-on-a-Snowflake and the perfect Zebra Goby pictures here at Ironbound, too.
The sunrays did that "dancing-fingers-of-light-in-the-Cathedral" thing inside the thick kelp forest. Looking up through the open glassy water on the way back to the boat, I could see the golden cliffs with crystalline clarity.
Excellent dive!

Dive #3: Johnson's Rocks, farthest-out exposed rock.
90fsw
1'01"
59F from surface to depth
40-50 foot visibility as the sun lowered.
Buddy: Ken (underwater x-ray specialist)
Pasley should hurry home because Mola Mola's are un-freaking-believable!

Captain Greg, gracious and enthusiastic, hopped into Bubba and motored Ken and I out to the farthest exposed rock. We had a fantastic time diving the deep/steep walls and boulders. We searched for the farther-out submerged pinnacle, finning through nothingness at 40fsw for 6 minutes... but all we found were wacky transparent salp thingies. Underwater X-Ray pictures!! Very Cool.
Five Sleeping horn sharks, hidden like Easter Eggs, were a thematic delight. The biggest one was about 4-feet long, dozing behind a privacy curtain of burgundy-colored gorgonia. We were mobbed by Garibaldis... the place is just crazy with them! They swarmed Ken, looking for all the world like they were trying to horn in on the photographs. Very funny!!! And there were glowing Garibaldi Young'uns, ready for their close-ups. Check out Ken's picture... Absolutely the cutest thing in pixels!!

Then... We saw a Mola Mola. Swimming by, about 20 feet away and 10 feet above us. OMG... I've wanted to see one underwater for years. It wasn't huge, perhaps 24 inches tall, but it was magically prehistoric. I got so excited I just mauled poor Ken to get his attention. It was beautiful!
Back on the boat, Tevis and Luis were equally ecstatic because they got to see it, too.

In the late-afternoon, low winter sunshine, we motored home across GLASSY water. What a magical day.
Golden. In my memory it is a golden day, forever.

Thank you, Tevis, for organizing a great day of California Diving.



Thank you Ken...this team just rules!!

'Dette

 

[riguerin]

Date: 12/30/2006
Dive Location: HMCS Yukon, San Diego
Buddy(ies): Janet
Time: 7:26 PM
Bottom Time: 66 MIN
Max Depth: 106 FSW
Vis: 20+ FT
Wave height: 1-2 FT
Temp at depth: 56 F
Surface Temp: ???
Tide information: 7:02 PM PST 3.41 feet High Tide
Gas mix: 32 %
Top reason Pasley should hurry home: You're part of tribe that shares a common passion and experiences ... that tribe is in So Cal. Hurry back, bro !

Comments: What a great way to wrap up an awesome year of diving ! I started off the day by hooking up with LAJim and Mark99 for a nice 90 min dive at Shaw's Cove. It was a nice mix of skills training and fun relaxed diving. We scored on conditions and critter sightings and were treated to a few fly-bys by someone on an X-Scooter (Note to self: Add X-Scooter to next year's diving goals). The only low light occurred early in the dive when my new 21W Salvo crapped out After the dive, we did some quick topside troubleshooting and determined that the battery didn't get a good initial charge. Mark was kind enough to loan me his for my night dive on the Yukon. Thanks, dude.

Fast forward a few hours - Hooked up with the SD crew for a 1 tank Yukon night dive on the Dn'DII organized by Tyler. This was a specially requested trip and to no surprise was heavier in tank count than people. After some last minute cancellations and gear config changes, I ended up with great match for a buddy. Janet is a local instructor with rec/tech experience. We had similar doubles configs and similar dive goals (no photography, no penetration, no/min deco).

We dropped on the mooring line attached to the forward guns. As the wreck came into view, I couldn't help but marvel at the awesome sight ! This majestic wreck takes on a whole different personality at night. It's alive ... bigger than life ... and literally crawling with it. After reaching the bottom, we followed the contour aft toward the stern. Along the way, we explored the numerous ruts and valley under the ship. We encountered loads of huge bugs, sheep crab, ling cod, etc. We made the turn at the stern, took turns poking our heads in the big opening, then made our way toward the hull. We slowly started our way to the next depth level, taking time to check out the huge metridium anemones that cover the props. We eventually made our way up and over the hull ... stopped to pear in the engine room ... then popped back over to the deck side. We slowly worked our way toward the OPs tower where we hunted around and found the Donothan plaque (a stated pre-dive goal). After spotting the mooring line, we tooled around the aft guns for while before slowly making our ascent. During our first deep stop we were treated to a neat squid encounter that ranged from gently swimming in front of the light to full on full frontal attack. Upon surfacing, we were surprised to be the last ones back on the boat.

In summary it was perfect ending to an awesome year of diving. Thanks to all who made this a great year.

 

[JMdiver]

Hi Ken,
Great pic's as usual, the first Fed Ex picture looks like he's hanging on a branch with icicles on it.

Happy Diving
John

 

[JMdiver]

Date: 12/31/06
Dive Location: Crescent Bay both dives
Buddy(ies):Robert
Time: 9:25AM & noon
Bottom Time: 47 & 42 min.
Max Depth: 33 & 37 fsw
Vis: 20-25 ft & 5-8 ft
Wave height: 1-2 ft occ. 3ft'er
Temp at depth: 61 deg.
Surface Temp:67 deg.
Tide information: going out then low
Gas mix:air
Comments:We dove the East end first & had good vis. We had a little scare in the beginning of the dive, we were trying to go through the channels & got too close to the rocks & almost got tossed onto them but we escaped unscathed. After that we stayed away from there. We found a save cave with an entrance & an exit right around the corner. We saw an Octopus & enticed him out with a bunch of fish swiming around in front of his house. He came all the way out & changed colors & everything, it was neat. All this while he was trying to catch dinner. Then we came across a Moray that was about 3/4's of the way out of his hole & it looked like he was nipping at the fish hanging out in front of his house. We also seen a Lobster condo with about 12 Lobsters just hanging out.
The second dive we went to the West end towards Seal Rock. This dive was less eventfull & the vis went wasy down. We did get to see 2 more Morays & one of them was at a cleaning station. We also saw a Horned Sharkout in the open, as a matter of fact Robert swam right over it & didn't notice it as I almost did too but as I was passing over it I pointed my light down on him & still almost didn't notice him they blend in pretty good.

Happy Diving
John

 

[orangelion03]

I find myself looking forward to Monday morning when I can see the latest photos posted by Ken.So, today is Tuesday, first chance I've had to go online in a few days, and I get treated to this batch from Catalina. The side shot of the Zebra Goby belongs in a fish ID book!! And the Shawls with the "ice"? Got to get used to my jaw cracking on the key board...

Added notes to John's comments on our dive Sunday: 70°. sunny, gotta love California winters...a great day for our last dive of the year. John didnt say how big that Moray was on our first dive, he stuck out three feet and there was at least another foot back in the hole...the biggest one I've seen in Socal water. And I was the one that lead us into a too tight crevasse, bad judgement on my part. I was actually stuck for a few seconds and it was the most concerned I've ever been on a dive.

 

[Mo2vation]

Date: 12/28 & 12/29
Dive Location: Avalon Dive Park
Buddy(ies): Warren_L and Jaye
Time: All day Thursday & Friday
Bottom Time: Tons
Max Depth: 99
Vis: good 20 feet to surprising 30 feet
Wave height: from low to Mashing
Temp at depth: 59 at all depths above 85 feet. Then it got to 57
Surface Temp: Summer
Tide information: Whatever - stair entry
Gas mix: Goodyear
Top reason Pasley should hurry home: Our storms go away, and leave us with wonderful diving


Last Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty rotten conditions. Warren was coming south from Toronto for the week, so we arranged to go to Catalina for a couple of days (Wed & Thurs.) Only the 6:15 AM boat got out on Wed (we were on the 10:00 AM) and all others cancelled - so we moved the trip back a day to Thursday & Friday.

I called Cat Express - they said the believe they're running. Uh, OK. So Jaye and I drive down to the Long Beach landing. On the way there we were greeted by a HUGE rainbow for almost the entire drive along the 405. Pretty sweet.

I need to say right here that the Catalina Express Long Beach landing is the lamest way to get to Catalina. The parking sucks, the landing is elevated so there are stairs to climb to schlep your stuff (or a longazz ramp), the queue is an ill conceived affair that puts the line right up against the door - so you either drag your stuff with you through the maze or leave it along the window. The boat lines up OUTSIDE in another ill-conceived and very gear unfriendly queue, the ramp is long and slow going, and most of all, the people are not nearly as friendly as the much better-run San Pedro operation. I hate going out of the Long Beach landing. Hate it.

OK.

So we meet up with Warren, and despite all of their warnings about a rough crossing, it was perfectly manageable and not rough at all.

Cat Divers supply closes the Point fill station during the week in winter, so we had to cart our tanks back to the pier between dives - which effetely kills one dive of the day. We got in two on Thursday - one around noon-ish and another at twilight / sunset. The park was in prime form, but all that invasive pondweed looking algae is bringing me down.

Dive one was to the SueJac - Warren posted some pics here. We kicked out, had a blast, saw some fun stuff and mostly just enjoyed being in the water after about a 6 or 7 day layoff. To the pier for fills, and to Antonio’s for lunch!

Dive two (the twilight) was to the Swim platform, then to the three wrecks center park, and then I took us to Octo Rock - where there are always an Octo or two. I wanted to show Warren some of our SoCal Octos. It was a great dive by all objective measurements. We saw one Octo on the platform, got buzzed twice by a fatty harbor seal, the trio of wrecks (Pieces, Kismet and the sailboat) were beautiful in the fading light, we saw my fav Octo on the way to Octo rock (he has moved out of his hole and found another one... this is the guy with who carries around the giant snail shell as a door) and Octo rock gave up 3 more Octos. This dive was Octo mania.

Dinner at the country club, catchin' up, yakking, good wine, a walk through town and bedtime!

Dive three - Friday morning we got to the pier for fills, and as the tanks we're fillin' and warren was chillin', I went to the Harbormaster and signed us up for a Valiant dive. We got geared up and kicked over. The kick was mellow and easy, as the conditions were improving by the hour, and Friday diving was much smoother than Thursday diving, etc. We drop right on the wreck, and its Nudi-mania. Limbaughs, Fed Ex, Mexichromis, etc. Not as many as fall, but still a lot. No Octos ( ) but an excellent, slow, mellow dive. On the way back to the park we found an Octo on some rocks in the sand flats. Easy exit, off to lunch and back to the pier for fills (point fill station was also closed on Friday.)

Dive four - back to the SueJac. I wanted to shoot a Mexichromis I found there on Thursday's first dive, and them spend some time in the shallows for some citrus diving - show off some of the fishies for Warren. We got into the water at the perfect slack tide. I mean nothing was moving. No current, no surge, just perfect stillness. Kind of cool. Kind of creepy. I can't remember the last time I dived in the park and everything was perfectly vertical and not even waving a little. I combed the 'Jac... my Mexi had vamoosed. We hit the shallows and I deployed the lime and the lemon. The Garibaldi's have seen my act and are no longer impressed. I drew a very modest crowd with the citrus... nothing like the summer. Warren snapped a few shots. I put the fruit back in my pocket and started looking for fishies to shoot. Got some excellent Goby macros, a Juvi Gari and played peek-a-boo with an adult Gari that was having too much fun with me. We got out, packed up and headed into town for Mohito time before the boat was to leave.

Two days of excellent diving and a great hang with one of the finest people I know. If you get the chance to dive with Warren_L, you need to. He's an excellent diver and one of the sweetest, kindest people I know. Thanks for a great trip!

Here are some pics. Enjoy.

---
Ken



Peek-a-boo Gari. He and I played for several minutes. Full size here.

One of our 5 Octos on the twilight dive.

Valiant Mexi. I love the all the sponges and stuff he's motoring over! Cool full size of Mexi's world is here.

Valiant Rush Nudi. I love that all of these guys have one white flare on their gill ring. Full size of this little guy is here.

Juvi Gari shot in about 8 feet of water at the base of the steps.

Stumbled onto this little flatty on the way from the swim platform to the three wrecks.

Goby Macros!!! I've always wanted to shoot some blue banded goby macros, and seeing as the fish weren't responding to the citrus parade, I thought I'd leave them and head over the the rocks at the base of the buoy ropes and give it a try. Here are a couple of the better ones from dive 4. I had no idea they had spots, or that their stripes had black lines, etc, etc. I love macro.... so much to learn.

Super baby goby - this one was maybe 1/2" long. He just posed for me. I love the full size of this, as you can see his sad little face...

Adult goby streching out between some CTree Worms. He was maybe 2" long. Check out the spots on his head and body in the full size here... who knew?!?!

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If you get the Red X of death, right click and select "Show Picture". Do it a couple of times and it should come up. If not, hit f5 and reload the page. Be sure to check out the full size images linked... there is so much life in our SoCal oceans you'll never see unless you get really, really close!
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[Warren_L]

Some reaaaaallllyyyyy sweet shots there Ken! You're the macro king. Nudi love at the edge of the world. I love it!

Great dives for sure - we'll have to repeat sometime soon!