Catalina Visibility

[tracydr]

What are the water temps right now? We're coming next weekend. I'm finally going to have my rysuit class. (hubby teaching)
Glad to herar the vis was good. Hope it holds.

 

[fnfalman]

Low 60-Fs right now. It already warmed up, both at Catalina and the Northern Channel Island.

 

[drbill]

A wind storm dropped vis late Fri and Sat although it was reasonably good in the shallows (above 30 ft), but Sun and Mon were great (50-60 ft in some parts of the dive park and even 30 or so in the training area). Temps from about 64 surface to 57 at 100 ft.

 

[merxlin]

We had 20ft milky viz all day yesterday from Goat to Empire.

 

[fnfalman]

We had 20ft milky viz all day yesterday from Goat to Empire.

The viz turns epic at some spots where the kelps are the thickest and helped keep the particulates out.

 

[merxlin]

True. Inside the "kelp line" and on the rocks it was very nice. Good excuse to stay in the shallows and make longer dives.

 

[fnfalman]

On the second dive, I took Natalie and the other diver out to deeper water. At 60-ft depth, the viz turned bad really quick, I think we were down to a generous 10-ft horizontal viz and I really meant "generous". Got to around 70-80ft but idn't see squat except the elk horn kelps and a couple of sea hares making whoopie. Turned back and got to the shallow to enjoy the great viz.

 

[merxlin]

You may not have seen it but your last diver (not Natalie) was roto-tilling his way out there. That did not help the viz.

And a great job getting Natalie to go back out. You were the perfect buddy for that dive, as was your advise for her about her camera.

 

[Leejnd]

Is it possible you encountered a bat-ray fiesta? One time I was diving with Dr. Bill and all of a sudden the vis dropped down to practically zero - turns out there was a bat ray feeding frenzy going on, and they were stirring up the bottom so bad it was almost a total black-out.

Hard to believe one roto-tilling diver could have caused the general vis to drop that bad. (Although that certainly doesn't help!)

 

[Teamcasa]

Let's just hope it's better the weekend of June 9th! I get a free ride on the Express!