Roughwaterjohn
Contributor
.....and here's the oration 
LJ Shores, North Wall Night Dive, Monday July 3rd
Info:
Calm warm evening with clear skies
3.5 tide receding on a 0.9 knot ebb
Average 2-3 waves with occasional overhead sets
Sea surface temperature 69 degrees
Bottom temperature at maximum depth was 53 degrees
Visibility ranged from 2-3 to 5-8, depending on depth, temp, proximity to Bat Rays and the whims of Neptune
Maximum depth was 80
Total bottom time was 1 hour and a smidgen
Photos: (All photos were taken by Terry / Divinman)
The link to Terrys photos is here; http://www.scubapost.net/forums/Scorpionfish/070306/
The Report:
Feeling overly smug in our lives, Terry and I decided to tempt fate and the Holiday Gods by diving at La Jolla Shores on the night before the 4th. The saying that drunks and idiots benefit from the protection of a higher power proved true in this instance, as we found a parking spot in the front row, next to the lifeguard tower. Deciding not to pick which of those two protections we would fall under, we geared up instead.
Overly red tourist still glowed in the sand as a beautiful Endless Summer sun sank hissing into the sea. We were passed the buoy, preparing to drop down just as the last sizzle was heard from the horizon. Hovering over what would have been a 25 depth if we had face planted into the bottom, rather than balancing expertly at 24 as we did, we faced West and headed towards the canyon.
During that short 24 ride from the surface, I was able to discover two things. One, my borrowed mask leaked like a sieve, keeping my eyes blinking and stinging in a sea water bath which I continued to purge throughout the dive. Two, my computer had decided that in that short drop, it had seen enough and was shutting down shop for the holiday. Explaining my woes to my intrepid dive buddy, Terry shrugged at my mask dilemma, as hed already given me the offending piece of equipment and there was nothing more he could do to make it worse. He did have a fix for my computer though, and pulled off one of what seemed like dozens of computers and gear bungeed to his forearm. I was afraid to ask for more, fearing he would open up his trench coat and try to sell me a Rolex.
Deciding I had enough on my mind, I shut my camera down, slinging it under my arm, thinking photography would best be left to the Master on this dive. There was an abundance of Swimming Crabs, Lizardfish and the occasional Sea Mouse to entertain us on our descent. Two Spot and Red Octopus were littered across the slopes in various sizes and states of repose. Most slink away into various holes after giving us a wonderful color display, but a few simply ignored us.
We saw various colors and ages of Rockfish and the usual Gobies and such. There was also a wealth of Brittle Stars holding hands and waving as we passed, along with an unexpected but welcome flash of color from a patch of Club-tipped Anemones. Even though visibility was generally much worse than at depth, we actually saw a greater variety of life in the shallows. We encountered several very large Bat Rays, some within finger grasp if we had wanted to, four or five Shovelnosed Guitarfish, herds of Croakers and Ocean Whitefish, and the ever present D. Iris.
We also cruised over an occasional Turbot and Sole, in addition to a 3 Halibut. We encountered a very lazy and uninterested 3 Horn Shark along with a number of Stingrays and a small 5 Thornback Ray. I also encountered a 10 Brown Shrimp swimming straight towards me, headlights to headlights in an apparent game of chicken. Knowing I could not face my friends as a man had I let something so oxymoronic as a large Shrimp beat me in a case of chicken, I stayed my course. With his beady little eyes glowing red in demonic fervor, I continued straight towards him, refusing to give way. He was going to have to splat against my borrowed mask like a bug on an Arizona highway before I turned, and I think the little guy could see it in my fast approaching eyes. Big brown decided to veer off at the last minute, saving his life and my reputation.
More Bat Rays and Guitarfish graced us with their presence, along with a decent sized Leopard Shark so close, Terry could have poked his spots had he the inclination, which he didnt by the way. We continued through surgy low vis until reaching the shallows, where we stood up to a welcoming party of incoming sets. Using our talents and good looks, we were able to outsmart the waves, as we had done on entry, escaping with all our equipment. It was a wonderful dive with lots of life seen, despite the limited visibility.
John A.
LJ Shores, North Wall Night Dive, Monday July 3rd
Info:
Calm warm evening with clear skies
3.5 tide receding on a 0.9 knot ebb
Average 2-3 waves with occasional overhead sets
Sea surface temperature 69 degrees
Bottom temperature at maximum depth was 53 degrees
Visibility ranged from 2-3 to 5-8, depending on depth, temp, proximity to Bat Rays and the whims of Neptune
Maximum depth was 80
Total bottom time was 1 hour and a smidgen
Photos: (All photos were taken by Terry / Divinman)
The link to Terrys photos is here; http://www.scubapost.net/forums/Scorpionfish/070306/
The Report:
Feeling overly smug in our lives, Terry and I decided to tempt fate and the Holiday Gods by diving at La Jolla Shores on the night before the 4th. The saying that drunks and idiots benefit from the protection of a higher power proved true in this instance, as we found a parking spot in the front row, next to the lifeguard tower. Deciding not to pick which of those two protections we would fall under, we geared up instead.
Overly red tourist still glowed in the sand as a beautiful Endless Summer sun sank hissing into the sea. We were passed the buoy, preparing to drop down just as the last sizzle was heard from the horizon. Hovering over what would have been a 25 depth if we had face planted into the bottom, rather than balancing expertly at 24 as we did, we faced West and headed towards the canyon.
During that short 24 ride from the surface, I was able to discover two things. One, my borrowed mask leaked like a sieve, keeping my eyes blinking and stinging in a sea water bath which I continued to purge throughout the dive. Two, my computer had decided that in that short drop, it had seen enough and was shutting down shop for the holiday. Explaining my woes to my intrepid dive buddy, Terry shrugged at my mask dilemma, as hed already given me the offending piece of equipment and there was nothing more he could do to make it worse. He did have a fix for my computer though, and pulled off one of what seemed like dozens of computers and gear bungeed to his forearm. I was afraid to ask for more, fearing he would open up his trench coat and try to sell me a Rolex.
Deciding I had enough on my mind, I shut my camera down, slinging it under my arm, thinking photography would best be left to the Master on this dive. There was an abundance of Swimming Crabs, Lizardfish and the occasional Sea Mouse to entertain us on our descent. Two Spot and Red Octopus were littered across the slopes in various sizes and states of repose. Most slink away into various holes after giving us a wonderful color display, but a few simply ignored us.
We saw various colors and ages of Rockfish and the usual Gobies and such. There was also a wealth of Brittle Stars holding hands and waving as we passed, along with an unexpected but welcome flash of color from a patch of Club-tipped Anemones. Even though visibility was generally much worse than at depth, we actually saw a greater variety of life in the shallows. We encountered several very large Bat Rays, some within finger grasp if we had wanted to, four or five Shovelnosed Guitarfish, herds of Croakers and Ocean Whitefish, and the ever present D. Iris.
We also cruised over an occasional Turbot and Sole, in addition to a 3 Halibut. We encountered a very lazy and uninterested 3 Horn Shark along with a number of Stingrays and a small 5 Thornback Ray. I also encountered a 10 Brown Shrimp swimming straight towards me, headlights to headlights in an apparent game of chicken. Knowing I could not face my friends as a man had I let something so oxymoronic as a large Shrimp beat me in a case of chicken, I stayed my course. With his beady little eyes glowing red in demonic fervor, I continued straight towards him, refusing to give way. He was going to have to splat against my borrowed mask like a bug on an Arizona highway before I turned, and I think the little guy could see it in my fast approaching eyes. Big brown decided to veer off at the last minute, saving his life and my reputation.
More Bat Rays and Guitarfish graced us with their presence, along with a decent sized Leopard Shark so close, Terry could have poked his spots had he the inclination, which he didnt by the way. We continued through surgy low vis until reaching the shallows, where we stood up to a welcoming party of incoming sets. Using our talents and good looks, we were able to outsmart the waves, as we had done on entry, escaping with all our equipment. It was a wonderful dive with lots of life seen, despite the limited visibility.
John A.
Now, THIS is diving!)
Kudos to crew of the Sunfish for enabling this memorable experience.
