Monterey pics 12-4-10

[Larry C]

We had two dives yesterday. First dive was Ballbuster. The highlight of the dive was a pair of Wolf eels. Originally, I thought it was only one, but when I processed my pictures I found his mate was in the hole next to him. Second dive was Steam Engine 3 on the shale. Sea nettles top to bottom, billions of them. Lots of different nudis and juvies.

Wolf Eel with mate

Wolf Eel eating a crab (I thought it was a jelly when I saw it, but the picture tells the story.)

Clown Dorid (Triopha Catalinae)

Juvenile Blue Rockfish

Cadlina Leuteomarginata (Yellow margin nudibranch)

Adolescent Blue rockfish with Peltodoris Nobilis (Sea Lemon)

Onchidoris Bilamellata orgy

Berthella

Juvenile Vermillion? rockfish

Sea Nettle with a crab hitchhiking under the bell

 

[fuggler]

Nice set as usual! My favorite is the wolf eel eating a crab. I appreciate catching fish behavior; it's a lucky moment. How's it been in Monterey/Carmel? I was hoping the nettle invasion has subsided by now.

 

[Larry C]

They've spread to Carmel. Last week we were going to do our second dive at Monolobo, but there were so many big nettles that we pulled the anchor and headed to Jawdropper instead. Our first dive yesterday, they were thick at Ballbuster, but you could get through them without wearing them. On the shale, they were top to bottom, with some all the way down to 70 feet, and billions of tiny ones literally covering the surface. The big ones were breaking the surface and laying there on the glassy water. No stings, but there was so much in the water that my face started stinging when the raindrops hit it and set off the nematocysts I had picked just getting in and out of the water.

 

[FrankPro1]

Really like the soft lighting on the Sea Nettle. The spiral pose on the Cadlina is awesome, Nice set.

 

[deeper thoughts]

nice pix

 

[Bogie]

Great pictures.

Wolf Eels are sure handsome creatures.

Thanks for your photos.

 

[fuggler]

They've spread to Carmel. Last week we were going to do our second dive at Monolobo, but there were so many big nettles that we pulled the anchor and headed to Jawdropper instead. Our first dive yesterday, they were thick at Ballbuster, but you could get through them without wearing them. On the shale, they were top to bottom, with some all the way down to 70 feet, and billions of tiny ones literally covering the surface. The big ones were breaking the surface and laying there on the glassy water. No stings, but there was so much in the water that my face started stinging when the raindrops hit it and set off the nematocysts I had picked just getting in and out of the water.

Yikes! Nettles are photogenic but I hate those stinging little bastards.

 

[j1rubin]

great pics

 

[Larry C]

Thanks FrankPro, Fuggler, Bogie, Deeper Thoughts and J1Rubin.

 

[Peter_C]

Wolf Eels are always a treat to see. The biggest one I have ever seen was way outside Still Water Cove in Sonoma County. We headed towards Ballbuster Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend but it was too windy, at least for my little boat (I think that was when we passed you in the harbor). The jelly with the crab is way cool! Well they are all nice, but jellies with hitch hikers are not common or at least noticeable.

FWIW we dove the North Coast last weekend and saw a total of three jellies in Gerstle Cove and non where we wound up diving at Still Wate Cove. Vis was pretty good too.