divekim
Contributor
Top Reason Pasley should hurry home: E Ticket rides and diving at the same time, wooohooo
Location: Shaw's Cove
Time: 6:11pm descent
Temp: 58
Vis: 15-20 feet
Max Depth: 34 feet
Bottom Time: 82 mins
Buddies: Riguerin and KelpHelper
I've been promising to make it north to Rick's neck of the woods again for awhile and after having to pull a no show last Thurs when Rick drove all the way down here for a night dive at Scripps, I knew it was time for pay back. Shaw's Cove was pretty easy to find after I realized I had turned the wrong way and had left a VM for Rick that I couldn't find it. Silly Girl.
I was about an hour early which gave me time to eat and take a look around. The conditions looked incredible, there is no surf, well something was hitting the beach but I wouldn't call it surf. Nice calm surface conditions no wind, just incredible. After being joined by Rick and Debbie at the agreed time we geared up and headed out. We had a very nice plan, one of the swim throughs to the other side of the reef then around the outside of the reef to come back in.
As soon as we hit the entrance to the swimthrough Rick found the promised Hopkins Rose, while Debbie was taking a photo I found another sitting inside a muscle on the bottom. Tons of Urchins of course, very large Sea Stars, Garibaldi most of which were tucked away for the night. As we made our way along Rick found some honkin big Lobster and a Moray, then Debbie found a Moray, obviously they know how to find these guys. The surge got a little heavier and we went to plan B turned back the way we came and followed the reef out and back instead of around it.
Right after coming back out I floated over a little rock in the sand, there was a nice Lobster on the other side out in the open, yes I practiced my skills, and promptly handed the offering to my tour guide who apparently took the Lobster for a ride. A beautiful Scorpionfish was hanging on the side of the reef, lots of Coonstripe Shrimp or thats what I assume they are, snails in shells seemed to be mating last night, lots of Hermit Crabs, Blacksmith including a very cute baby napping inside an empty shell on the reef wall. There was a very large crevice Rick pointed out it was full of Shrimp. I have never seen that many in one spot before and later learned this is where you look for Moray's. Damn, would have taken a closer look, next time though. We hit our turn around and made our way back along the reef, just as we came to the opening of another swim through Rick was flashing his light, I looked in that direction and I could see the faint movement and shape of a Bat Ray, a large Bat Ray, it looked like it was swimming away. But, Rick didn't move and kept shining his light in that direction so I came along side shining my light as well and sure enough it came towards us, turned away, then came back out of the cloud it created in all its glory. It swam right under us close enough to touch. I've never gotten such a close and complete look at a Bat Ray.
Continuing to shore, Debbie went up in about 10 feet of water, we surfaced and having lots of air Rick and I decided to do one of the swim throughs that was right there, I had expressed a great desire to do one of them. So I followed Rick into the entrance, not too small, more than enough room to comfortably swim through. Then the surge, I watched Rick glide, or be swept, up and over a rock in front of me and then get swept back and over the next one, I thought, this is gonna be interesting. Over the next and then make the turn around the corner, and another corner, then out the other side back in the sand. Rick stopped for a minute, I looked with my are you okay look, he had a big grin on his face and gave me the That was Close signal, you know, wipe your brow with your hand. Too funny. What an E Ticket that was, I was laughing so hard my mask started to flood again. We stood up in 5 feet of water, still having 1200pds of air each but I was a little chilly so we walked ashore.
Starbucks for the only other thing I needed for the night and I was set. What an incredible night for diving with 2 great buddies. Rick, thanks so much for being my tour guide again. I'm coming back up soon, I want to do this dive during the day and when we can do all the swim throughs. Debbie thanks for joining us, it was a pleasure to see you again.
Kim
Location: Shaw's Cove
Time: 6:11pm descent
Temp: 58
Vis: 15-20 feet
Max Depth: 34 feet
Bottom Time: 82 mins
Buddies: Riguerin and KelpHelper
I've been promising to make it north to Rick's neck of the woods again for awhile and after having to pull a no show last Thurs when Rick drove all the way down here for a night dive at Scripps, I knew it was time for pay back. Shaw's Cove was pretty easy to find after I realized I had turned the wrong way and had left a VM for Rick that I couldn't find it. Silly Girl.
I was about an hour early which gave me time to eat and take a look around. The conditions looked incredible, there is no surf, well something was hitting the beach but I wouldn't call it surf. Nice calm surface conditions no wind, just incredible. After being joined by Rick and Debbie at the agreed time we geared up and headed out. We had a very nice plan, one of the swim throughs to the other side of the reef then around the outside of the reef to come back in.
As soon as we hit the entrance to the swimthrough Rick found the promised Hopkins Rose, while Debbie was taking a photo I found another sitting inside a muscle on the bottom. Tons of Urchins of course, very large Sea Stars, Garibaldi most of which were tucked away for the night. As we made our way along Rick found some honkin big Lobster and a Moray, then Debbie found a Moray, obviously they know how to find these guys. The surge got a little heavier and we went to plan B turned back the way we came and followed the reef out and back instead of around it.
Right after coming back out I floated over a little rock in the sand, there was a nice Lobster on the other side out in the open, yes I practiced my skills, and promptly handed the offering to my tour guide who apparently took the Lobster for a ride. A beautiful Scorpionfish was hanging on the side of the reef, lots of Coonstripe Shrimp or thats what I assume they are, snails in shells seemed to be mating last night, lots of Hermit Crabs, Blacksmith including a very cute baby napping inside an empty shell on the reef wall. There was a very large crevice Rick pointed out it was full of Shrimp. I have never seen that many in one spot before and later learned this is where you look for Moray's. Damn, would have taken a closer look, next time though. We hit our turn around and made our way back along the reef, just as we came to the opening of another swim through Rick was flashing his light, I looked in that direction and I could see the faint movement and shape of a Bat Ray, a large Bat Ray, it looked like it was swimming away. But, Rick didn't move and kept shining his light in that direction so I came along side shining my light as well and sure enough it came towards us, turned away, then came back out of the cloud it created in all its glory. It swam right under us close enough to touch. I've never gotten such a close and complete look at a Bat Ray.
Continuing to shore, Debbie went up in about 10 feet of water, we surfaced and having lots of air Rick and I decided to do one of the swim throughs that was right there, I had expressed a great desire to do one of them. So I followed Rick into the entrance, not too small, more than enough room to comfortably swim through. Then the surge, I watched Rick glide, or be swept, up and over a rock in front of me and then get swept back and over the next one, I thought, this is gonna be interesting. Over the next and then make the turn around the corner, and another corner, then out the other side back in the sand. Rick stopped for a minute, I looked with my are you okay look, he had a big grin on his face and gave me the That was Close signal, you know, wipe your brow with your hand. Too funny. What an E Ticket that was, I was laughing so hard my mask started to flood again. We stood up in 5 feet of water, still having 1200pds of air each but I was a little chilly so we walked ashore.
Starbucks for the only other thing I needed for the night and I was set. What an incredible night for diving with 2 great buddies. Rick, thanks so much for being my tour guide again. I'm coming back up soon, I want to do this dive during the day and when we can do all the swim throughs. Debbie thanks for joining us, it was a pleasure to see you again.
Kim
