This is for Tom and Gerald

I met Tom H. again on Sunday and remembered that I had video of him with my buddy Gerald from January. Tom and his buddy kindly led us to the sunken sail boat at Starlight Cove Catalina. So here you guys are, low visibility and all.

Record Heat hits Orange County

What do you do when the air temperature is going to top out at 102 F? Why you head to the Pacific Ocean of course.

I met Ruth and shared a great dive with her April 20, 2009. We headed out to the outer area of Shaws Cove, dropped to the bottom and felt cooler as the water temperature was 54 F. Along the way we found at least 12 White-spotted Rose Anemone. I have to share photos of them. While filming one of them, a Sheep Crab was sneaking up behind me. Ruth was waiting to catch him in the 'act' of pinching me, hmm, somewhere. Luckely I turned in time to stay out of his clutches. Obviously a good time was had by all

Too Hot to stay indoors

White-spotted Rose Anemone

Catalina April 18,2009

The Southern Kelp Crab

A Navanax on the hunt
Horn Shark egg case
Swell Shark egg case

This fellow was the highlight of my day on Catalina as I had never seen one before. Now I have. He is a Southern Kelp Crab. There must have been a nest of Garibaldi eggs near by since a protective daddy kept buzzing me and at one point actually hit me on the side of my head. I just looked at him wondering what I had done to deserve this very rude treatment. I did search for the nest but failed to find it.

Catalina April 18, 2009

I found this Navanax during the third dive of the day. The Navanax is in the Sea Slug family.

Tear drop Crab

Ruth and I had a great but cold dive at Shaws Cove Friday April 17, 2009. Heather is back in town and stayed on the beach patiently waiting for us. The temperature underwater was a whopping 54F yes that was cold.
As always Ruth found the nicest creatures including this tiny Tear Drop Crab, hope you can see it, I know it is kind of fuzzy.

Tiny Spiny Brittle Star

Ruth found this very small Spiny Brittle Star

Shaws April 17, 2009

Here is a small Lithoid Crab, I am on a mission now to take a better video but here is what I have.

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

I was so happy to see another Scythe Butterfly Fish. Notice how the Juvenile Garibaldi chases him away. This happened during the second dive of the day at Quarry, a beautiful dive site.

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

This is a Round Ray, Thank you Gerald for help with ID.
The next video down is of a Giant Kelp Fish.
Having water was so clear was a real treat.

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

A Cute Island Kelp fish turning his head to get a better look at me.

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

This California Sea Hare is about 12" long and the color was very interesting. The ones I usually see are smaller with a mottled lavender color.

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009

H.T. joined me for three dives Easter Sunday. Here he is holding a California Sea Hare. It was the largest one I have ever seen.
One of three California Scorpion Fish we saw during the day

Catalina 4-10-09

Thanks to Larry I got this picture of San Diego Dorid
This gelatinous mass is called a Siphonophore. Apparently related to the Portuguese Man of War. Here is a link for more information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonophora
We found five total on these three dives and I found one on Easter Sunday.

Catalina April 5, 2009 Bat Ray

Catalina April 5, 2009 Octopus moving back to home

Catalina April 5, 2009 Turbot

Catalina April 5, 2009 Turbot swimming in circles

Catalina April 5, 2009

With such clear water, I could not resist taking yet another shot of a Garibaldi
A ten inch orange Tube Anemone
A Tree Fish out taking the sun

If it is Friday it's time to clean the house

Here is the video of the Octopus cleaning out his home. I sure got a kick out of him.

April 3, 2009 Shaws cove Laguna

White-spotted rose anemone Thanks Ruth for the find
Giant Green Anemone
Chestnut Cowrie showing odd coloring and shape

Friday 4-5-09 I enjoyed a 70 min. dive with Ruth at Shaws cove. We had so much fun just sight seeing that we never ventured lower than 30 feet. In the course of the dive we spotted three Octopus, two Morey Eels, loads of Chestnut Cowries and various types of anemones. Ruth came through with a White-spotted rose anemone for me to photograph. I also filmed an Octopus cleaning house and will get it up loaded soon.