Photos up from 5 day Channel Islands trip on the Vision Aug. 12-17

[Tjack]

Got to love those SoCal liveabords! I was doing the math, for the number of dives you get in they are a great deal. Too bad they don't run boats like the Great Escape, Peace or Vision overseas. If bunk room living can bring the price down its all good.

San Clemente, Farnsworth, Catalina and Santa Cruz Is. 5 days for $850, 24 dives and could of done more. The Vision's crew were awesome. Is August the best month to dive SoCal? Sure seemed that way on this trip Aug. 12-17

San Clemente had schooling Leopard Sharks and amazing topography. Farnsworth was a treat with great conditions and deep purple Hydrocorals. Catalina is always good with Horn Sharks and Mackerel galore. Santa Cruz was a critter freak show, Rainbow Nudibranch and them vampire (sheep) crabs.

Here are some photos...

Chanell Islands, SoCal, August 2012 - - ScubaBoard Gallery

 

[drbill]

The Truth Aquatics boats have always been favorites of mine dating back to when I used to teach at UCSB. The Vision is a favorite among the three. This year August has proven to be a great month for visibility here in SoCal... except during the periods of strong swell. We've had up to 80 ft vis in the Casino Pt Dive Park which is pretty darned awesome! Winter is generally considered to be the period of best visibility, although that has changed somewhat with the appearance of the Asian exotic seaweed Sargassum horneri in our waters back about 2006.

 

[Tjack]

Hey Dr Bill, it was great rapping with you at Casino point during shore leave. I kept an eye out for Great Whites after that conversation!? At Ship Rock I got a start when a Cormorant came flying by underwater, good thing it wasn't a Great White.

 

[KevinG58]

I'll be headed out on Conception next Sunday. Thanks for the great "previews"!

 

[runNEOrun]

I did my first liveaboard with Truth Aquatics' Vision this past July and it was fantastic! In the 2.5 days, we racked up 13 dives (Santa Catalina Island, Santa Barbara Island and Santa Cruz Island). I am already looking forward to going back but maybe next time doing the northwest section of the area. On that topic, which (southeast or northwest) provides the best diving for photography not hunting?

 

[Tjack]

Seems like the vis tends to be better down south, more macro up north. If you get a chance do San Clemente.

 

[fnfalman]

San Clemente definitely seems to have the best viz on the average.