Dive Report - Pt Loma, Kinane Pass 1/14/12

Mike Hallack and Red Gorgonian (Lophogorgia chilensis) in the Pt Loma kelp forest.

Date: 1/14/12
Location: Kinane Pass, Pt Loma kelp forest

Dive #1
Time in: 11:20 am
Time under: 50 min
Max depth: 77 ft
Ave temp: 57 F
Vis: Blue, clear on top, 10 ft at depth
Waves: Very small swells, glassy, but surgy at depth
Mix: 33%
Buddies: Mike H., Julie L.

Dive #2
Time in: 1:43 pm
Time under: 50 min
Max depth: 93 ft
Ave temp: 59 F
Vis: 15-20 on top, 15ft at depth
Waves: Very small swells, glassy, but surgy at depth
Mix: 33%
Buddies: Julie L., Mike H.

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20120114-Scuba-Pt-Loma/


Proliferating anemones on kelp

Highlights: Great to join David H., Mikey B., Mike H. and Julie L. on David's boat. It had been too long since diving with them. Also, it was my first visit to Kinane Pass, named in honor of NOAA Jim Kinane.

Spectactular conditions topside and good company on David's luxurious boat. Out at the dive site, we saw 4 or 5 whales passing by, fluking. Conditions at depth weren't quite as nice, with green murk and surge, but it was still a great day out on the water. For the first dive, Mike and I were shooting wide angle, while Julie was trying out her new GoPro. Mikey and David dove on the second shift, playing with a friendly seal.

During the surface interval, Mike and I switched out wide angle for macro. A small pod of dolphins passed through the area along with a couple of sea lions. On the second dive, we found the awesome wall and crevice near Kinane Pass.

Thanks to David for taking us out!


Mike Hallack and California Golden Gorgonian (Muricea californica)

Scott

Dive Report - Shaws Cove & frogfish 12/29/11

Probably a roughbar frogfish (Antennarius avalonis)

Date: 12/29/11
Location: Shaws Cove, Laguna Beach
Time in: 10:55 am
Time under: 81 min
Max depth: 40 ft
Avg temp: 57 F
Vis: 5-10 ft at depth, 15 ft in the shallows
Waves: Lake Laguna
Buddies: Mike H., Debbie K, DJ S, Cathy S

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20111229-Scuba-Shaws/

Highlights: The frogfish, of course. We also saw a nice, large moray and a large horn shark. Finally visited Shelly of Shaws.


California Moray Eel (Gymnothorax mordax)

Mike and I joined Debbie and friends to go visit the frogfish. Without a guide, I don't think we would have found it, tucked away and camouflaged. As I always do when I set up my camera before a dive, I did some test shots. Those seemed to work without a hitch. Once underwater, however, my camera wouldn't fire reliably with the strobes on (fired once or twice and then no more). My guess is either the hot shoe flash connector on the camera or the TTL cable connectors weren't quite seated correctly. So I found myself going to visit the rare frogfish with a camera that wouldn't fire with strobes.


Probably a roughbar frogfish (Antennarius avalonis) and a treefish

I remembered Allison V. and Andy S.'s recent article on doing still photography with video lights and was inspired. I cranked up the ISO a bit, opened up the shutter and slowed down the shutter speed. I was using NOAA Jim's NiteRider dual HID light (thanks Jim, still helping me out!), which is basically a video light and was determined to make lemonade out of lemons. The photos needed a little more help in the white balance department, but actually came out ok.

Scott

Dive Report - La Jolla Shores 11/27/2011

Catalina Triopha (Triopha catalinae) on Valecitos Pt.

Date: 11/26/11
Location: La Jolla Shores
Time in: 9:30 am
Time under: 57 min
Max depth: 86 ft
Ave temp: 55 F
Vis: 15-20 ft at depth
Waves: 2-3 ft, somewhat challenging
Buddies: Erin, Steve & Mike H.

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20111126-Scuba-LJS/

Highlights: Beautiful day, good visibility at depth. My first clingfish.


Juvenile clingfish on a sea hare.

Had a nice dive with Erin, Steve and Mike. Mike found a tiny juvenile clingfish amongst the scattered dead market squid. I was also hoping to find the mantis shrimp below Valecitos point, but alas, didn't find any in our short time at 80 ft. My air was running low, so we quickly looked and didn't find any holes.

Dive Report - Pt Loma Birthday Dives 9/23/11

Spencer photographing the reef near Train Wheels in Pt Loma

Date: 9/23/11
Location: Train Wheels, Pt Loma
Time in: 9:18 am
Time under: 44 min
Max depth: 90 ft
Avg temp: 54 F
Vis: 15+
Swells/surge: Calm swells, some surge
Buddies: Spencer, Marla, Kim, Mike H

Location: Lazy Days Wreck, Pt Loma
Time in: 11:17 am
Time under: 50 min
Max depth: 79 ft
Avg temp: 54 F
Vis: 5-10 ft
Swells/surge: None/none
Buddies: Mike H, Marla, Kim, Spencer

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110923-Birthday-Dives/


Mike H in the gloom off Pt Loma

Highlights: Fun day out on the water on the Humboldt. We were spoiled by Anita and Ryan and I had the pleasure of finally meeting Bethy. It was Kim's, Mike's and Marla's birthday and we gorged on cake, fruit, beer (root and otherwise). For the second dive, when I got in the water, I noticed a cold feeling around my waist and quickly realized water was coming into my drysuit. I quickly got my fins off and climbed back onto the boat, but the damage was already done. Apparently, my drysuit zipper was just about 1 inch away from actually being zipped shut. Oops. I completed the second dive, but was pretty cold, so I decided to sit out the third dive soggy and take photos of my dive buddies instead.

Scott

Birthday cake!

Dive report - La Jolla Cove 7/9/11

Diver Julie Lorenzen in the murky kelp forest.

Date: 7/9/11
Location: La Jolla Cove
Time in: 8:56 am
Time under: 36 min
Max depth: 33 ft
Avg temp: 59 F
Vis: 5-10 ft
Waves: 1-3 ft, some breaking in the cove
Buddies: Julie L., Mikey B.

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110709-Scuba-La-Jolla-Cove/


Diver Mikey Bear in the kelp forest.


Highlights: Getting out and diving!

It was great to get out and dive with Julie and Mikey. Conditions were less than ideal underwater, but pretty darn nice above. We went searching for sevengills, but had to settle for just enjoying getting wet. I got to practice my closeup, wide angle diver shots (since vis was pretty bad).


Mikey Bear and Julie Lorenzen after the dive.

Tribute to 'NOAA Jim' Kinane

I met Jim Kinane in 2008, when I went out diving on the Scuba Do. Jim was always there, ready to assist. He was always ready to give advice when asked and was always concerned with the safety of other divers. He would rarely ask for any help himself. He always kept us entertained above water with stories about technical dives he'd done in the past or stories about work. Jim was my favorite diver photo subject.



This past weekend (6/25/11), Jim joined Mikey, Barbara, Marla, my parents and me for a dive trip to the Pt Loma kelp beds on my parent's boat. Jim had a great day with us out on the water.



He passed away on Saturday, 7/2/11 due to health issues while on the surface, above the HMCS Yukon. He will be missed immensely by a great many people. This photo album is my tribute to him.

http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Underwater/NOAA-Jim-Kinane/17856086_XHKVsJ

Dive report - La Jolla Shores 7/2/11

Yellow Dorid (Acanthodoris lutea)

Date: 7/2/11
Location: La Jolla Shores
Time in: 6:56 AM
Time under: 64 min
Max depth: 86 ft
Min temp: 54 F
Vis: 20+ below 60 ft and the thick green soup
Waves: 2-3 ft with some energy.
Buddies: Kim, Terry & Marla

More photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110702-Scuba-LJS/


Mating White spotted porostomes (Doriopsilla albopunctata)

Highlights: Nice relaxing dive at the old standby, LJS. My first photos of a Acanthadoris lutea (yellow dorid). Lots of juvenile octopi.

Met in the parking lot at 6 AM, trying to beat the Independence Day weekend crowds and got front row parking. Got out through the largeish surf and many surfers spread south past the life guard tower. Dropped down into the green gloom, the type where you can't see your fin tips very well from the surface. As we continued dropping past 60 feet, the visibility opened up into a dark expanse. We hit bottom around 85 feet and slowly made our way back up to the wall at 60 feet. Visibility wasn't as good along the wall, but not terrible either, probably 10-12 ft. Flashlights were handy for keeping track of dive buddies.


Mating San Diego Dorids (Diaulula sandiegensis)

There were many juvenile octopi out below the wall and at Vallecitos Point. Lots of mating nudibranchs and I saw two different yellow dorids. The point is also covered in various colors of spiny brittle stars. We exited closer to Vallecitos St and avoided the surf and surfers. Breakfast at Starbucks topped off the morning.


Sculpin

Scott