Casino Point conditions?

[scuba_star]

Does anyone know what the conditions at the Dive Park have been like this week?

 

[drbill]

I haven't dived it since last Sunday (but am heading down today). Weather here has been gorgeous although the seas have been whipped a little by wind. I'm guessing at least 30 ft visibility.

 

[scuba_star]

Thanks Dr. Bill,

I will be there on Sunday to try to sneak in a few dives.

 

[FrankPro1]

Reports of only 10ft for today! I've never heard of Casino Point having such dismal conditions. I wonder whats up?

 

[drbill]

I went down yesterday and after hearing reports of 10 ft (or less) in some areas, I aborted my planned dive. Not sure what the reason is since I didn't submerge. The invasive Sargassum is dying off which may be releasing organics and particulates. Water temp dropped about 6 degrees from a week ago so cold water richer in nutrients may have caused a pulse of phytoplankton given the beautiful sunny weather of last week.

I'm going to try again today in case conditions have changed.

 

[fnfalman]

Slightly off topic but horrible viz at Coronado Islands too. We're talking about less than 5ft viz and I even hit a spot with temp as low as 49-F while the average runs around 52-F and the depth is not much more than 40-ft.

 

[seansrs36]

It is the damm invasive seaweed. I won't even dive from a boat off of Catalina until it gets better.

 

[drbill]

I think the cold water pulse that hit us last week brought more nutrients into surface waters (temp dropped from 61 to 55 for a while) and may have also triggered a phytoplankton bloom due to the week of sunshine. However, I agree that the major contributor was probably the Sargassum. I spent my only dive this past weekend filming the detritus it releases and the poor visibility it creates.

 

[merxlin]

20-30 ft at Little Geiger and Quarry on Sat. Toasty 59 degrees though. Damn Sargassum was everywhere. Tried taking new OW students on a reef tour and through the edges of the kelp bed but had to stay out. The sargassum was too thick for newbies!

 

[k374]

Slightly off topic but horrible viz at Coronado Islands too. We're talking about less than 5ft viz and I even hit a spot with temp as low as 49-F while the average runs around 52-F and the depth is not much more than 40-ft.

That water was facking freeeeezing :shocked2:

The site itself may have been better if not for me being in hypothermic shock for the entire dive