October 04 Dive Reports

[Diver_Jan]

Oh, forgot one thing too...I had stopped to adjust my computer and my light caught the a shimmering image in the water. A tiny jelly fish was making it's way towards my light. It's head was about the size of a small apple and it had very long tentacles. Whew...good thing I had stopped or I would have swam right into it!!! Dang...wouldn't you know that I did not have my underwater camera with me??? Choices, choices, choices...lobster, photography, or pole spear. And yes...one more thing...saw a HUGE 'male' Sheephead, one of the largest I have seen to date. Could it have been Oscar from Casino Point taking up winter residence here in Laguna???

 

[pasley]

Date: 04 October 2004
Dive Location: Corral Beach Malibu
Time: 6:58 PM
Bottom Time: 67:00
Max Depth: 15 FSW
Vis: Fantastic 20-30
Wave height: Weren’t any, just ankle slappers.
Temp at depth: 64 SUUNTO degrees
Surface Temp: 66 SUUNTO degrees
Tide information: LOW: 9:26 PM 1.2 Feet HIGH 12:42 PM 4.8 Feet
Comments:Went lobster hunting. Wavers were ankle slapper’s. Entered and went to the west near some rocks sticking up out of the surf. Worked the near shore area seeing lots of small lobsters measuring 3 inches total length or less. I call these toothpick lobsters because they are so small. Grabbed and missed at one that appeared to be legal. Swam out to deeper water, ok so it was not much deeper. Grabbed and wrestled with another that may have been legal. Lobster won that round. He was a strong sucker. Found one hiding in a hole. That was his mistake. He measured 3 3/8. Gauge stuck on horns between eyes did not drop over the back and even had a bit to spare. Had to do the triple take to believe it. He will be dinner tonight. Grabbed at another one, but he got away and every time our lights hit him, he shot off, until we lost him. Only caught one, but that is one more than the previous 3 seasons combined!

I included this photo of me measuring with the guage planted firmly against the caprice between the horns to illistrate that he was legal (barely) and how I believe (based on reading hte DFG book) the measurement is suppose to be done. If I did not do it right let me know.

 

[ryanarcher]

Congrats Pasely! I have been pulling for you ever since I saw your post about how you have spent time and money each of the last 2 years and caught none! Great job and you can only improve from here right?!!!

 

[headhunter]

Only caught one, but that is one more than the previous 3 seasons combined!

...and Pasley scores! :dazzler1:

Congratulations! You finally got one!

Christian

 

[pasley]

Date: 05 October 2004
Dive Location: Laguna Beach, Deadman’s Reef Crescent Bay
Time: 12:54 AM
Bottom Time: 51:50
Max Depth: 56 FSW
Vis: Oh, was it good! Could see bottom from the surface at Deadman’s Reef! Below the vis was a good 30 feet.
Wave height: 1 foot swell, waves, what’s that? Didn’t see any.
Temp at depth: 64 SUUNTO Degrees
Surface Temp: 66 Suunto Degrees
Tide information: Low tide: 11:03 PM 1.1 Feet High 1:49 PM 4.5 Feet
Comments:
Divebuddysean and I did a surface swim all the way out to the top of the reef. Lined up the far flag pole on top of the bluff (to the west) with the top of the right hand seal rock, and the edge of the cliff. Looked down onto the top of the reef and could clearly see the sand bottom. Dropped down and swam along the reef to the east.

Lots, I mean absolutely tons of fish were out. Clouds of blacksmith, garibaldi, barred sand bass, perch and others. Sean, my dive buddy signaled me about a lobster in a hole and something else I could not make out. I asked him to show me and he did. Two big monster bugs sitting in a hole not too deep. I stuck my face into the hole and fortunately, my light too. Then I spotted this 6 inch high green undulating pipe which of course was the body of Mr. Eel faithfully guarding his two buddies. Now I recognized that one signal, Eel! Of course. Spotted a good sized octopus sitting on top of a rock in the open with his arms laid out in a circle around him. I turned around to signal Sean to get the photo, but the octopus moved to a hole. Spotted another smaller octopus later. Just a fantastic dive.

Could not have asked for more (well except to get a few more bugs), good dive, good buddy, and a lobster waiting at home to be cooked. Came home, bought a large pot to cook lobster in (12”x18” high) and cooked that puppy up. A good meal and sweet victory. Thank you Ryanarcher and Headhunter for the kind words of support. My first free lobster dinner and it only cost me 3 years of permits ($114), and a new pot ($44) and lots of dives (no charge, because they were fun) But hey it beats paying $30.00 for lobster at a restaurant where you can get it cooked to order any time you want.

Divebuddysean took thse photos of the dive. Video of some portions to follow.
http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/crescentbay10052004

 

[sessions]

10/06/04\
location: Thalia St/Laguna beach
Time: 1:00am
Max depth: 26 feet
Bottom time: 71 minutes
Vis: 20-25ft
Some surge

3 of us went to little corona's, only to get chased out by Newport Beach PD....so we headed for Shaws. We pulled down Thalia st....nice surprise. The walk to the sand isnt bad, 3 sets of stairs...and a sandy entry. After peddling out about 50 yard we dropped down and hit a reef that ran the length of the beach. We each got 3 nice bugs, although you had to really pick through al the juniors!....I also nailed a BIG sheepshead, which will promptly be steamed and made into sheep's salad sandwiches today. We had never dove this spot...but we really had a great dive. Lots of fish and morays. Great way to start a new weekday!!!! :11ztongue

 

[headhunter]

3 of us went to little corona's, only to get chased out by Newport Beach PD....

Why did you get "run out of town by the long arm of the law"? :11:

Christian

 

[divinman]

Date: 10/05/2004
Dive Location: La Jolla Shores/East Wall
Time: 18:44
Bottom Time: 51:35
Max Depth: 80 ft
Vis: Night but a good 10-20
Wave height: waist high but mushy
Temp at depth: 52 frigin degrees
Surface Temp: 67
Tide information: ????
Comments: Bat Rays know when you put your camera away.

Images: http://photobucket.com/albums/v109/divinman/LJShores10052004/

John A, Sean, Ryan and I met at La Jolla Shores by the main tower and suited up. We kicked out from there and made our line ups and John verified our drop in depth at 70ft. Settling near the bottom we headed north in search of the East wall. After a few minutes cruising the sand slope with its many juvenile hornsharks and tiny, REALLY TINY, scorpion fish, dorids and the like we came to the wall and explored there. Lots of fish tucked in for the night. Blacksmiths filled nearly every crevice, blue banded gobies bolted for their homes when hit with the lights. John and I found a very large male sheephead in a very small hole in. Seriously it amazes me that they can get in and out. It's head appeared larger than the opening. We were hoping to find the wolf eel tonight but no luck. We did find a plethora of red octopus though. At least 20 ranging in size from thimble to softball sized. NDL a knocking we turned back toward the beach and started the long bottom swim in. As the water got more shallow the vis tightened and even at 40ft you feel the slight ebb and flow of the surge. The usual swimming crabs were out, as were a few lobster safely tucked away in the reserve. I came upon a solo purple globe crab and snapped a quick picture. Moving along the bottom and kinda humming a happy tune in my head I nearly collided with a large horn shark. I would guess him at 3.5-4ft long and very smooth with just a few spots on him. They are quite a contrast to the dark blotchy little ones you see. I switched the camera over to video mode and followed along with him for a few seconds before moving on toward the shore. Once I got to about 15 ft the bottom was really churning as the waves rolled in over head. I kicked and drifted shallower and just as I was about to surface at 6 ft two dinner plate sized bat rays swam into view and did a quick circuit around me before vanishing in the gloom. Great way to end the dive. Standing up and removing the fins while watching the waves, I just couldn't help smiling like the village idiot. Man I love night dives at the shores.

Terry S.

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

Here are the pictures of the 2 dives I did yesterday:

Crescent Bay - http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/crescentbay10052004

La Jolla Shores - http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/shores10052004

 

[divinman]

Here are the pictures of the 2 dives I did yesterday:

Crescent Bay - http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/crescentbay10052004

La Jolla Shores - http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/shores10052004

Nice images Sean. Thanks for sharing.