Cabo San Lucas, August 2010 - Part 2

Divers under the dive boat with a sandy bottom at Pelican Rock, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

* Local dive sites - Neptune's Finger

During our surface interval after diving Pelican Rock, we motored around to the Pacific side to see the sea lion colony, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach. We decided that conditions weren't getting any better and headed to Neptune's Finger for the second dive.

Bullseye stingray (Urolophus maculatus) next to a reef with divers in the background

Neptune's Finger is another pinnacle, in the sheltered bay side. Again, we swam around the pinnacle, down into the canyon to about 80 ft and back up the other side. Near the end of the dive, conditions became rough with a large swell passing through. The large surge pushed us down into the canyon and back up again. The sand kicked up, bringing visibility down dramatically.

Pelican Rock looms above the coral reef with small fish in the background

For a little while, we lost our dive guide on the other side of the pinnacle. Our group stayed together and I helped make sure the less experienced divers didn't panic. We returned to the dive boat a little weary from fighting the surge.


Porcupine puffer fish (Diodon hystrix)

Sunset at Windansea, La Jolla CA

Sunset at Windansea, La Jolla, CA

It's been months since I've gone to shoot the sunset. With the brief storm that we had pass through this morning, the air was crisp and clear and there were large, puffy white clouds. Unfortunately, all the clouds were to the east over the mountains and there were very few clouds over the ocean when the sun went down. I was also working against a high tide, which reduces the amount of reef that is visible. Because of both of these factors, I decided to head to Windansea in La Jolla. I knew there would be sandstone bluffs and exposed reefs, even near high tide.

When I arrived, I was happy to see bright green moss on the exposed sandstone. Visibility was awesome and you could see for miles up and down the coast. The tide was receding and I had to step carefully, the damp bluff was slippery. Nearby, another photographer was shooting a model in a bikini on the beach. Must stay focused! As the sun was setting, I captured this shot of the moss covered sandstone, pock marked from erosion and covered in green moss, kissed by the last rays of the sun. I would have preferred a few more red clouds, but we work with what nature provides.

Windansea, La Jolla CA

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Scott

Dive Report - Wreck of the HMCS Yukon 10/23/10

Date: 10/23/10
Location: HMCS Yukon
Time in: 12:03 pm
Time under: 48 min
Max depth: 97
Avg temp: 57 F
Mix: 29%
Vis: 40+
Swells/surge: Minimal
Buddies: Mikey, Dave H., NOAA Jim

Time in: 2:02 pm
Time under: 41 min
Max depth: 84 ft
Avg temp: 59 F
Vis: 30+
Swells/surge: Minimal
Buddies: Dave H.

More/larger Photos: http://underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/2010-10-23-Scuba-Yukon/


The forward guns of the HMCS Yukon

Highlights: Great visibility, great company and good topside conditions. Saw my first mola mola, even though I didn't get a photo of it.

We motored out under drizzly skies to the wreck of the HMCS Yukon. When we got there, the dive charter boat Humboldt was tied up at the bow line. Fortunate for me, they left while we were suiting up, so we moved the Scuba Do over to the bow of the Yukon. I was hoping to get some more photos of the forward guns. As the Humboldt was leaving, they were kind enough to warn us that the conditions were terrible at about 5 ft vis and that it probably wasn't worth diving. Jim convinced me to ignore them and stick with a wide angle lens for the first dive. After all, I could always switch to macro on the second dive and get a few shots.


A diver hovers near the forward guns on the HMCS Yukon

When we got in the water, we could see a nice blue tint and very good visibility on the surface. Dipping my head under, I could see Jim's legs underwater 20+ feet away, where he was waiting at the buoy. That didn't mean it would be good 80 feet below us. As we dropped down the line, we could see the bow of the Yukon from about 50 ft, coming out of the darkness. It was going to be a good dive.


A pair of divers near the crows nest on the HMCS Yukon

My first target was the forward guns. I found a small patch of large white metridiums to anchor the photo and took a few photos. After that I got a closeup on the barrels of the guns and lined up another shot with a metridium. Fortunately, Dave H. swam into my shot, giving me a nice model as he swam through the frame. We all proceeded to head towards the stern of the ship, passing the crows nest and the boiler exhaust. I saw NOAA Jim flashing his lights at Mikey, but didn't think clearly enough to go investigate. Apparently, he'd found a large mola mola hanging out at the stern. I was at my turn around air pressure, so I started heading back to the bow line. On the way back up, there was a depth that you could clearly make out the bow of the Yukon and see the Scuba Do on the surface.


Club-tipped Anemone (Corynactis californica) and blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) on the wreck of the HMCS Yukon

After hearing about the large mola mola and seeing Jim's video footage, Dave and I agreed to take one for the team and do a second dive. Mikey was kind enough to be lending me his other tank and wasn't feeling completely better from last weekend, so he and Jim sat it out. I was on air for the second dive, so I knew it was going to be a limited bottom time dive. The plan was to head straight to the stern of the ship and look for mola molas. We headed back along the Yukon, trying to stay towards the 'top' of the ship. The visibility wasn't quite as good as the first dive, but still better than normal. After passing the crows nest, boiler exhaust and the radio tower, I was the first to the large cargo opening. Sure enough, as I'm peering into the dark rectangular opening, I see a thin, frisbee like fish swimming straight towards me. It was much smaller than the one that Jim saw, but still the first mola mola I've seen underwater. As it swims by me, it heads towards Dave, who's still over by the radio tower. I got a nice blurry photo of the mola mola swimming towards Dave, who's taking a photo of it. With the low lighting and only seconds to shoot, my camera didn't find anything to focus on. I think Dave got a good photo and will hopefully share it.


White-plumed Anemones (Metridium farcimen) and the radio tower of the HMCS Yukon

At this point, I had about 7 minutes of no-deco time (and about 2000 psi) left. I gave Dave the turnaround signal and started heading back to the bow. As I swam, I had to keep heading up to prevent going into mandatory decompression time. Fortunately, vis was really good and there wasn't a current above the wreck. Usually, the wreck shelters you from any strong ocean currents and surge, but in this case I was able to swim above the wreck without a problem. Back at the bow line, I hung out at about 25 feet until I saw that Dave was heading up as well. Since I had plenty of air left, I took my time coming up, admiring the view from the below the Scuba Do. Even after that, I still managed to get the skin bends on my now 'usual spot', covering my left shoulder.


Dave Hershman photographs the boiler exhaust

Back on the surface, the Humboldt was back with a fresh set of divers moored near us, loudly explaining how they had hot showers, compressors to refill tanks and food waiting. We just smiled and waved from the Scuba Do. While we were getting our gear stowed, a large bait ball was being attacked by sea birds nearby. We noticed that it was drifting closer, until suddenly we saw dolphins leaping out of the water and herding the fish around the Scuba Do and the Humboldt. Many divers from the Humboldt were still in their wetsuits and jumped in with masks and snorkels to look for dolphins.

It was a great day out on the water with beautiful conditions on the Yukon.

Scott


Diver Mike Bear with NOAA Jim and the Scuba Do visible on the surface

Cabo San Lucas, August 2010 - Part 1

The 'Arch' at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico


Cabo San Lucas is not the first place you'd think of when planning a dive trip to Mexico. Cabo San Lucas is better known for sport fishing and silver jewelry. There are other, more exotic places like the cenotes in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, the Sea of Cortez off La Paz, Mexico, Cozumel, Mexico or a live aboard at the Socorro Islands (which happen to leave out of Cabo). But if you do find yourself going to Cabo San Lucas, I would highly recommend bringing your scuba gear and camera. There are a few local dive shops, including Manta Scuba and Amigos Del Mar. I did my diving with Amigos Del Mar (amigosdelmar.com), based on a recommendation from another underwater photographer.

Gorgonian sea fans with a school of small fish in the background.

* Local dive sites - Pelican Rock

Right outside the Cabo harbor lies a number of local dive sites. Charter boats are there daily and get you to the dive site 5 minutes after boarding. Because the swells from the Pacific side were up the week we were there, we were limited to the more protected sites.


Panamic arrow crab (Stenorhynchus debilus)

Pelican Rock is a large pinnacle that lies on the edge of the canyon, surrounded by sand and close to shore. There were many snorkelers and other dive boats all contending for space. As we swam around the pinnacle to the canyon edge, a manta ray was visible in the distance, though too far to photograph or catch up with. There was also sand falls - a seemingly never ending underwater stream of sand, falling over the canyon edge.

Snorkelers swim around Pelican Rock, with its gorgonian sea fans and schools of tropical fish

Next I'll describe the dive at Neptune's Finger and share some more photos from the local Cabo dive sites.

Snorkeling at the Marine Room 10/10/10

Photos:
http://underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20101010-Snorkeling-Marine/


Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata) at the Marine Room, La Jolla CA

After seeing the leopard sharks in the knee deep water last weekend and hearing from Kevin that they were still there on Friday, I decided to do what I've wanted to try for some time - go snorkeling with the leopard sharks with my camera. Unfortunately, conditions were pretty bad and I chose high tide as the time to go. The small waves were crashing up against the Marine Room and the sea walls of the surrounding houses. Visibility was maybe 10 ft in some spots, but much less in others. I made a wide loop, heading north in shallow water and then ended up well south of the Marine Room entry way, where the kelp became too thick to comfortably snorkel through. Even with all that against me, I managed to find a nice sized angel shark in about 8 ft of water. It was determined to not be disturbed, even with me swimming down to photograph it from a foot away. On my way back in, I got lucky and a couple of leopard sharks swam towards me, making a couple of passes before disappearing. Then one must have been completely oblivious and swam right underneath me in about 5 ft of water. I'll definitely be coming back next summer, when the conditions are better and there are more sharks out.


Angel Shark (Squatina californica) at the Marine Room, La Jolla CA

Scott

Dive report - La Jolla Shores 10/3/10

Date: 10/3/10
Location: La Jolla Shores, CA
Time in: 7:36 am
Time under: 74 min
Max depth: 66 ft
Ave temp: 61 F
Vis: 10-15 ft
Waves: 1-2 ft
Buddies: Spencer, Terry, Merriane


Yellow Crab (Cancer anthonyi)

More photos:
http://underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/2010-10-03-Scuba-LJS/

Highlights: Large halibut at about 40 ft, stearns aeolids, visiting Vallecitos Pt after a long time away.

We met up at La Jolla Shores as the sun was unsuccessfully breaking through the clouds. The waves were small and the water was deceptively calm. On the swim out, we quickly got caught up in a long shore current pulling south. About half way out to the drop point, the current ceased. Conditions were pretty clear (15+ ft vis) when we dropped into 60 ft of water, but didn't stay that way. 4 photographers, each shooting macro in their own little world spread out along the south wall. Some of us met up at Vallecitos Point, where the calm was invaded by new student divers.


California halibut (Paralichthys californicus)

Reaching the turn around air pressure, we started heading east, up the slope. Spencer and I found a relatively large California Halibut (~3-4 ft long). With my macro lens, all that I could get a picture of was it's misshaped face. In honor of opening weekend for lobsters, I took a couple photos of a lucky lobster, safely tucked away in the nature preserve.


California Spiny Lobster (Panulirus interruptus)

Scott

Dive Report - La Jolla Marine Room 10/2/10

Date: 10/2/10
Location: Marine Room, La Jolla
Time in: 10:47 am
Time under: 71 min
Max depth: 99 ft
Avg temp: 61 F
Vis: ~10 ft
Waves: 1-2 ft, easy
Buddies: Julie L., Mikey, NOAA Jim


Spanish Shawl (Flabellina iodinea)" alt="Spanish Shawl (Flabellina iodinea)

More photos:
http://underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/2010-10-02-Scuba-Marine-Room/

Highlights: Leopard sharks in the shallows, lots of lobsters on the canyon rim (hiding in the preserve), a couple of sheep crabs, a cormorant, tons of pipefish, lots of small nudibranchs. Oh yeah, my 200th dive and first dive with my new (used) Transpac and wing (thanks Rob!).


Three Lined Aeolid (Flabellina trilineata) laying eggs

Had a really nice dive with Julie, Mikey and Jim. Mikey and Jim headed down the hill as soon as we dropped down, so Julie and I stopped around 95 feet and hung out taking macro photos. A cormorant buzzed us at about 60 ft and there were lots of small nudibranchs in the shallows (20-30 ft), so we took our time heading in. I'm working on getting an ID on the last photo (thanks Terry, Kim and Mike) - the tiny nudibranch. The transpac worked great and keeping good trim was super easy compared to a jacket BC.


Feather duster tube worm

As we were exiting, we were surrounded by leopard sharks in ~4 feet of water. It was awesome seeing them at our feet and through the small breaking waves. One of these days, I need to snorkel at the Marine Room with them.

Scott