KRL1973
Contributor
Had a chance do dive on Wed. Didn't have very high expectations but ended up having an amazing dive.
Fog started lifting just as I was entering the water. Entry was easy with knee high surf. Wind waves and swell made for slightly unpleasant surface swim with the occasional splash over the face but I endured it all the way out to the "11" on the jetty where started to get some sea lions parked on the rocks. Dropped into a pleasant 15-20ft vis and not too much surge at all. Enjoyed numerous perch of every variety as well a numerous opaleye, more than I'd ever seen in a single dive. Looked up at one point into a large school of small blue rockfish swimming and darting in unison. As if on queue the sea lions arrived. First a few curious fly-bys followed by an all out swarm making passes and occasionally blowing a bubble burst with close passes. I knelt in a shallow worm patch and just took it in and deserately tried to catch them on film as they buzzed all around. Spent a good 15 minutes watching them before heading back along the wall. On the way back starting to feel a bit cold I spotted segment of the tell tale rippled smooth body I came to recognize of moray eels on my trips to the caribbean. Huh? that doesn't belong. Investigtion revealed a brown spotted ribbon like fish totally unknown to me but after seeing the head looks just like a wolf eel only smaller with a totally different color/pattern. I strongly suspect it is a juvenile wolf eel and am hoping someone familiar with them can confirm. Filmed him quite a bit and have posted the video for review.
YouTube - ‪juvi wolf eel‬‏
Surfaced to bright sunny sky and vivid blue water. Magical and memorable dive.
BTW not a single nettle seen, they all vanished
Fog started lifting just as I was entering the water. Entry was easy with knee high surf. Wind waves and swell made for slightly unpleasant surface swim with the occasional splash over the face but I endured it all the way out to the "11" on the jetty where started to get some sea lions parked on the rocks. Dropped into a pleasant 15-20ft vis and not too much surge at all. Enjoyed numerous perch of every variety as well a numerous opaleye, more than I'd ever seen in a single dive. Looked up at one point into a large school of small blue rockfish swimming and darting in unison. As if on queue the sea lions arrived. First a few curious fly-bys followed by an all out swarm making passes and occasionally blowing a bubble burst with close passes. I knelt in a shallow worm patch and just took it in and deserately tried to catch them on film as they buzzed all around. Spent a good 15 minutes watching them before heading back along the wall. On the way back starting to feel a bit cold I spotted segment of the tell tale rippled smooth body I came to recognize of moray eels on my trips to the caribbean. Huh? that doesn't belong. Investigtion revealed a brown spotted ribbon like fish totally unknown to me but after seeing the head looks just like a wolf eel only smaller with a totally different color/pattern. I strongly suspect it is a juvenile wolf eel and am hoping someone familiar with them can confirm. Filmed him quite a bit and have posted the video for review.
YouTube - ‪juvi wolf eel‬‏
Surfaced to bright sunny sky and vivid blue water. Magical and memorable dive.
BTW not a single nettle seen, they all vanished