Dive Report - Scuba Pt Loma 1/30/11

Date: 1/30/2011

Dive 1
Location: Pt Loma Kelp Forest - Gayle's Spot
Time in: 9:51 am
Time under: 52 min
Max depth: 85 ft
Ave temp: 59 F
Vis: ~10-15 ft
Waves: 3-5+ ft swells, surge
Mix: 33%
Buddies: Mike H and Steve M

Dive 2
Location: Pt Loma Kelp Forest - Gayle's Spot
Time in: 12:08 pm
Time under: 51 min
Max depth: 84 ft
Ave temp: 59 F
Vis: ~10 ft
Waves: 3-5+ ft swells, surge
Mix: 33%
Buddies: Mike H and Steve M

More photos: http://underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110130-ScubaPtLoma/


Mike Hallack on the reef off Pt Loma

Highlights: Another day on the water with beautiful reef structure, tons of gorgonians and lots of nudibranchs. First time photographing a white dendronotid (Dendronotus albus).


White dendronotid (Dendronotus albus)

We did two dives at Gayle's Spot, which Steve chose due to the weather conditions. The swells were large and choppy and the wind was blowing out of the south. On the first dive, Mike and I were rigged for wide angle. Conditions were borderline for wide angle, with lots of material in the water. There was a fair amount of surge and Steve taunted us by finding a red tipped dorid and a white dendronotid.


Spanish Shawl (Flabellina iodinea) and Club-tipped Anemone (Corynactis californica)

For the second dive, we switched to macro and went looking for Steve's nudibranchs. Visibility was less than the first dive, so I was happy I switched. We managed to find a couple of white dendronotids and Steve found the red tipped dorid at the very end. Unfortunately, it lept off the reef into the deep and I was running low on no-deco time, so I missed getting a shot of it. I think Steve found it again before he came up, so hopefully he got a shot of it. There's always next time for me!

Scott


Orange Cup Coral (Balanophyllia elegans)

Dive Report - LJS 1/23/2011

Date: 1/23/2011
Location: LJS
Time in: 7:50 am
Time under: 62 min
Max depth: 70 ft
Ave temp: 54 F
Vis: ~10 ft, less in the shallows
Waves: 2-3 ft, not a big deal from the Lifeguard tower to Vallecitos. However, a bit of surge and a strong south current in the shallows.
Buddies: Marla & Spencer


Aeolidia papillosa

More photos: http://underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110123-Scuba-LJS/

Highlights: Spencer found a large Aeolidia papillosa in the sand. I found a Panamic Arrow Crab on the south side of Vallecitos Pt, which I've only ever seen in Cabo San Lucas. We also found a couple of large Diomedes Tritonia.


Panamic Arrow Crab (Stenorhynchus debilis)

Despite the large surf advisory, we showed up to La Jolla Shores at 7 am to check it out. The surf was large to the north of the lifeguard tower and we could see it breaking in the cove, but it was pretty small in between. Kicking out, there was a strong southerly current in the shallows. We entered the water near the lifeguard tower and by the time we got out of the current, we were lined up with Vallecitos. We dropped down and headed north, hoping to reach the crap patch. Instead, we made it to Vallecitos Pt and a little further. The water was pretty silty, though doing macro photography, we didn't mind. On the swim back in, we encountered the current and a possible outgoing rip starting about 15 feet deep. We kicked hard and made it in just a little south of the lifeguard tower.


Diomedes Tritonia (Tritonia diomedea)

Overall, a really nice dive, considering the dire predictions. It was good that we left plenty of air for the kick in however...

Scott

Dive report - Pt Loma 1/16/11

Dive #1

Date: 1/16/11
Location: Pt Loma
Time in: 10:20 am
Time under: 52 min
Max depth: 83 ft
Ave temp: 55F
Vis: 20-30 ft
Waves: glassy, w/ occasional set. Some surge at the bottom.
Mix: 33%
Buddies: Mike Hallack and Steve Murvine

Dive #2 - 'Main wall'

Time in: 12:51 pm
Time under: 54 min
Max depth: 84 ft
Ave temp: 55F
Vis: 40 ft+
Waves: glassy, minimal surge
Mix: 32%
Buddies: Mike Hallack and Steve Murvine

More photos:
http://underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110116-ScubaPtLoma/


Rockfish, red gorgonian and a school of sargo (Anisotremus davidsoni) in the kelp forest.

Highlights: Back in the water after more than a month. Beautiful topside conditions and good conditions underwater. 2 sea lions frolicking on the first dive and the shear size and life on the giant wall on the second dive.

Had two great dives. It was my first time on the Submariner, even though Steve has been inviting me for the last 6 months. Steve definitely knows the spots out there.


Giant Acorn Barnacle (Balanus nubilus) and Club-tipped Anemones (Corynactis californica)

First dive
- Shot wide angle. A bit of surge, but still beautiful structure, with gorgonians, sargo, sheephead and rockfish. 2 sea lions buzzed us throughout the second half of the dive over the deeper area. They didn't get close enough for a good shot, but as Steve so eloquently put it - Allison has spoiled that closeup sea lion shot for the rest of us anyways. :)


Gopher Rockfish (Sebastes carnatus) on a reef.

Second dive
- Switched to macro, but should have also switched camera batteries. Gorgeous wall, ~50 ft tall and stretching as far as I could see covered in life. There was so much to look at, like a kid in a candy store I had trouble focusing on any one part to look for nudibranchs and other macro subjects. About 10 minutes into the dive, my camera informed me that it was done for the day. I spent the rest of the dive enjoying looking at the scenery without the distraction of the camera and even tried a little bit of modeling for Mike, who was still shooting wide angle.


Blood Star (Henricia leviuscula) and Club-tipped Anemones (Corynactis californica)

Scott