Where am I?
It feels like Southern California but looks like Hawaii

Scyth Butterfly Fish

Diving off of the Magician Dive Boat at Catalina Island September 12, 9008.

I received a shock. I was sure I had not returned to Kauai. Was I seeing things? No this is a resident of Catalina, the Scyth Butterfly Fish. They tolerate the temperature shifts we have here from 70 F. in the summer to, well lets face it, just now the temperature is topping out around 54 F and lower, Burr.

Going backwards in time

Mantis Shrimp

I found this guy at Catalina Island January 31, 2009. I was on the Challenges charter of the Sundiver Express boat. It was a wonderful day with many diverse divers and best of all the Challenges group which included Veterans and volunteers who taught and or helped with classes and certification.

While zig zaging in the sand trying in vain to locate a sunken sail boat, I spied a suspicious curled tail. Little did I know, as I happily followed along, the Mantis Shrimp can be a 'tad' aggressive.

They can actually break aquarium glass. Glad this one was mellow and was kind enough to just out swim me.
They also have four way vision. An intriguing creature, here is a link for more info.

Mantis Shrimp facts: ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis_shrimp


"these two weapons are employed with blinding quickness, with an acceleration of 10,400g and speeds of 23 meters per second, from a standing start. About the acceleration of a .22 caliber bullet.

Thank you Gerald

During our dive at Shaws cove February 26, 2009 Gerald spied this Thornback Ray. I am very pleased with the video and hope you enjoy it.

I was using my Sony Cybershot in the Sony housing set on fine quality video.

This was my first sighting of a Thornback Ray.

Colorado!! ??- quick dive trip. Part B

Dry-Suit option. Full Vest with attached Hood, just perfect for the heavy surges at 10,000 + feetNo expense spared. .. inside joke :) :)

Colorado!! ??- quick dive trip.

Trying out my new new Dry-Suit at: 10,450 feet ... cold but dry, visibility 20 miles plus

Descending to 8,600 feet: ...Had to pass up on the Ice Dive:....Elk in search of Kelp ????

Catalina Island March 5 and 8, 2009

Horn Shark, Catalina.Californian Scorpion FishGaribaldi, ready for his screen test:..3-5-09
Complete Report: http://robin-seahunt.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Robin.
Boat: Sundiver II, Catalina

Dive: # 1
Site: Lulu
Start Dive: 10:38 am
Visibility: Fair, 15-20ft.
Surge: light
Max Depth: 54 ft.
Bottom Time: 45min
Temp: 57 F

Dive: #2
Site: Little Gyger
Start Dive: 12:20 pm
Visibility: 20-40 ft.
Surge: none
Max Depth: 41 ft.
Bottom Time: 60 min.
Temp: 55 F

Dive: #3
Start Dive: Lions Head
Start Dive: 2:15 pm
Visibility: 15-20 ft.
Surge: none
Max Depth: 51 ft.
Bottom Time: 45 min
Temp: 57 F

Headed to Catalina on the Sundiver II with Captain Ray. With only three divers the trip was very low key and mellow. Thanks to Ray I dove two new sites.
Dive 1, Lulu, was a new site for me. Found 4 Morey Eels and a nice 12” Green Kelp fish. The viz was fair.
Dive 2, Little Gyger gave noticeably better viz and I explored new territory for me. The highlight was finding a swim through big enough to get out the other side. A 2 ½ ft. Kelp bass was hanging out in it. He took off so I took his place. Glad I did, as the overhanging ledge was covered with Corynactis. The pix will be posted to my blog latter in the week. See link above. Near the end of the dive I saw a large 18” Brown Rockfish. He was not only large but very dark in color. Thank you to Gerald for the ID.Dive 3, Lions Head, again a new site for me. I got just a glimpse of a 5 ft. Plus Leopard Shark but it was too fast for me to get a pix. Next time.
3-8-09 Complete Report: http://robin-seahunt.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Robin.
Boat: Sundiver Express, Catalina

Dive: # 1
Site: Isthmus Reef
Start Dive: 9:27 am
Visibility: 20-30 ft
Surge: none
Max Depth: 44 ft.
Bottom Time: 57 min
Temp: 55 F

Dive: # 2
Site: Indian Rock
Start Dive: 11:12 am
Visibility: Good 20-35 ft.
Surge: none
Max Depth: 31 ft.
Bottom Time: 59 min
Temp: 55 F

Dive: # 3
Site: Starlight Cove
Start Dive: 1 pm
Visibility: Good 20- 30 ft.
Surge: light
Max Depth: 41 ft.
Bottom Time: 45min
Temp: 59 F

Glad to be on the Sundiver Express Sunday morning. Captain Derek put us on the Isthmus Reef for dive 1. The Viz was much better than Thursday. I dove with Eagle, his new buddy was getting her last checkout dive completed. I spotted another Leopard Shark but Eagle didn’t see it. I was feeling kind of frustrated with the large amount of invasive plant that just seems to get thicker by the day. I took a pix of a, possibly Spotfin or Threadfin Sculpin. New for me, so exciting. Dive 2 at Indian Rock new site for me. Nice 12” Horn Shark, Pink Abalone, Feather Duster, worms that I don’t know the name of and a Norris Top Snail munching away at my safety stop.
Dive 3 at Starlight cove. I was here for three dives on the Challenges trip and was happy to dive it again. The viz again was much better and I have saved 50 Stills and Video’s for a 45 min dive. Yes it was a good day.
Pix will be on blog latter this week.
Robin

Sunday 3-1-09 Crescent Cove Laguna Beach

Sunday 3-1-09

Dive: One
Dive Site: Cresent to Deadmans reef
Start Dive: 8:08am
Bottom Time: 62 min
Max Depth: 48'
Temp at Depth: 54 F
Surf: 1-3'
Visibility: 10-15'
Surge: light
Current: none
Dive Buddies: Santiago P.

Met up with Santiago at 7:30 am. We looked at the conditions which were fine. Suited up and headed down the stairs, in the water and descending at the end of the exposed reef west end of Crescent by 8:08 am. Santiago was the designated leader with his compass in hand we arrived at Deadmans reef by 8:30 or so.

On the way I noticed many anemones of varying sizes and colors of green. Purple urchins, and three or four small Greenlings. Once at the reef we had about 10 min. to explore. Saw the pinicle covered with Corynactis -- club tipped anemone of varying colors. There were lots of cracks and holes to peek in. I am looking forward to diving this site off of a boat. More time at the site.

We kicked back again underwater without problems. ie. Santiago got us right back to the sand out of Crescent without hitch. Way to go

Robin

Thursday 2-26-09 Shaws Cove Laguna Beach

White Tipped Rose Anemone
Moonglow Anemone
2-26-09 Thursday afternoon

Dive Site: Laguna Beach, Shaws Cove.

Dive: One
Start Dive: 1:30Pm
Bottom Time:
Max Depth: 65 feet.
Temp:55F
Surf:1-2'
Visibility: 10-15'
Surge: light
Current: none
Buddy:Gerald W.

Gerald and I had a great dive at Shaws in the afternoon. Viz is low in spots. We dropped down at the Foyer and headed for turn around rock. On the way stopping for all interesting creatures we could find. Tree fish, White tip Rose Anemone, Painted Greenlings including a matting pair, Orange puff ball sponge.
For sure the highlight was a nice 18" Thornback Gerald found on the way back in. The video will be posted as soon as I learn how.

The two posted pictures are of a White Tipped Rose Anemone and the second is a Moonglow Anemone which Gerald pointed out to me.
Robin


Dive Buddies: