White Point 5.21.09 "Warning Lots of Photos"

[FrankPro1]

Visibility: 15-20ft
Max Depth: 40ft
Dive Time: 55min
Water Temp at Depth: 55f

Decided to go back to White Point today for a late morning dive. Went to the far left reefs "Out off the baseball diamond" to look for the overhangs MaxBottomtime told us about. Entrance and surface swim out was made difficult due to surge and current, but was injury free. Descended right off the point and took a 120 heading out towards the outer kelp bed. We must have missed the majority of the reef structure and overhangs on the way out because all we saw were small rock outcroppings covered in bull kelp and sand. Eventually we came to some areas with Macrocystis, which also had some smaller reef structures. Even though we didn't find the overhangs or large reef structure, there were some nice photo ops on these small reefs. We encountered Yellow Dorids, Spainsh Shawls, Painted Greenlings, Various Anemones, Rockfish and the other usual suspects.

Here are some pictures from today:

What kind of fish is this? Some type of Sculpin?

What is this? Some kind of anemone?

 

[blue steal]

Great pictures. The camo on that one fish is perfect. Looks like the VIS was quite good today at WP. I am thinking of some free diving tomorrow at CTC or maybe make the trip down to shaw's as VIS in laguna is very good.
You sure are lucky to get so much diving in........I'm jealous........

 

[MaxBottomtime]

We went to Cabrillo Beach this afternoon. Vis in spots was nearly three feet. Most was much worse. We're going to Shaw's tomorrow morning to see where we're going.

 

[FrankPro1]

We went to Cabrillo Beach this afternoon. Vis in spots was nearly three feet. Most was much worse. We're going to Shaw's tomorrow morning to see where we're going.

Reports from Shaws has been really good. 25+ feet of vis. If I was off work, I would come down and join you. But sadly I have some last minute tasks to finish up in the morning and then an exam later in the day.

 

[JMdiver]

Hi Frank,

We don't have Bull Kelp down here that was either Pterygophra or Southern Sea Palms I can't remember which one is there.

John

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Reports from Shaws has been really good. 25+ feet of vis. If I was off work, I would come down and join you. But sadly I have some last minute tasks to finish up in the morning and then an exam later in the day.

Be glad you didn't go. I have over 200 dives in Laguna, and today was my worst. Shaw's Cove had very strong surge in the crevice, with 6-8 feet vis. It was a little better over the sand, maybe ten feet. Report to follow later if I got any pics.

 

[FrankPro1]

Hi Frank,

We don't have Bull Kelp down here that was either Pterygophra or Southern Sea Palms I can't remember which one is there.

John

Ahhh... Interesting. It looked very similar to the bull kelp I've seen in videos of Monterrey diving. After researching, it was most likely Pterygophora. Thanks for the heads up.

Be glad you didn't go. I have over 200 dives in Laguna, and today was my worst. Shaw's Cove had very strong surge in the crevice, with 6-8 feet vis. It was a little better over the sand, maybe ten feet. Report to follow later if I got any pics.

That's Strange. Laguna Sea Sports recorded 20-25ft of visibility today for Shaw's at 10:30 this morning. Dive Conditions in Laguna Beach California
I'll keep an eye out for your report / pics. Are you planning on diving anywhere this weekend?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I'm hoping for Marineland Sunday. We were at Shaw's at 10:30. A free diver at the surface dropped his fins and speargun, so I went to retrieve them in fifteen feet. I couldn't see them until I was halfway down. I think some divers have a different view of 20-25 feet than I do. I never saw much more than a single body length.

 

[JMdiver]

Hey Phil is Marineland open again?

John

 

[blue steal]

I was freediving at fishermans cove this morning 10:30 till about noon. I hung around the rocks just to the south side and the VIS was not 25 feet. Moderate surge, no waves to speak of. In the grass area and sand the VIS was much better. I saw quite a few variety of fish. There was one solo diver with 2 tanks and a pony between them heading from divers cove towards fisherman and maybe 4 other divers. It was good to get in the water again though.