FrankPro1
Contributor
With reports of good visibility and a very healthy kelp forest at Casino Point, Charlie and I decided to jump on the Express for some explorations at the Dive Park. The trip over was excruciatingly slow as a very thick fog bank had engulfed the channel. Even though we took the 0600 boat, we didn't hit the water till after 0900 hours. No matter, we had all day to enjoy the park in what turned out to be very solid conditions. Our first two dives were done on the Sue Jac Wreck in the South Eastern part of the park. The wreck of the Sue Jack is a 54' Gaff-rigged Schooner which sunk in November of 1980. Much of her super structure has deteriorated over the years, but a large chunk of her cement hull can still be seen. She lies at an angle on a rocky slope in 65-90ft of depth "Bow in 90ft, Stern in 65ft". The wreck itself was somewhat devoid of life but the surrounding boulder field had plenty of critters to photograph. Charlie and I both found two Moray Eels on the second dive. Since most of my dive history has been on the Palos Verdes peninsula, encountering two Moray Eels on one dive was a treat. Palos Verdes does offer some of the highest diversity of marine life in all of Southern California, but it does lack the presence of our long tailed friends, the Moray Eel. Other highlights on the first two dives included a Leafy Hornmouth snail, a Porter's Chromodorid, a multitude of Tree fish and a very large Abalone.
Our third dive was in the Northwest section of the park. This area includes the Kismet sailboat wreck, the sunken Swim Platform and the remnants of the Old Steel Pier. Large gatherings of Calico Bass, Half-moons and Blacksmith populated the Kelp Canopy, while Garibaldi, Kelp Rockfish and Sheephead darted here and there throughout the rocky reefs. As we came to the Old Steel Pier, I remembered internet video footage of an Octopus living inside one of the old pilings. I swam up to the first one I saw and low and behold a tiny Red Octopus was living inside. Charlie and I switched back ‘n forth, filming video and taking stills until satisfied we would come back with some decent captures. From there we moved into the shallows to see what we could find. It was here that I found the “honey hole” of the dive. Under one rocky ledge I found a California Scorpionfish, Tree fish, Rock lobster and a Two Spot Octopus. When Charlie went in for a look under the ledge he pointed out a Moray Eel which I had missed hiding in one of the corners. I took some quick captures of the Octo and Eel before heading back to the steps. Charlie on the other hand opted to stay and make friends with them at the Octopus’ Garden in the Shade.
Here are some captures from the dive:
Our third dive was in the Northwest section of the park. This area includes the Kismet sailboat wreck, the sunken Swim Platform and the remnants of the Old Steel Pier. Large gatherings of Calico Bass, Half-moons and Blacksmith populated the Kelp Canopy, while Garibaldi, Kelp Rockfish and Sheephead darted here and there throughout the rocky reefs. As we came to the Old Steel Pier, I remembered internet video footage of an Octopus living inside one of the old pilings. I swam up to the first one I saw and low and behold a tiny Red Octopus was living inside. Charlie and I switched back ‘n forth, filming video and taking stills until satisfied we would come back with some decent captures. From there we moved into the shallows to see what we could find. It was here that I found the “honey hole” of the dive. Under one rocky ledge I found a California Scorpionfish, Tree fish, Rock lobster and a Two Spot Octopus. When Charlie went in for a look under the ledge he pointed out a Moray Eel which I had missed hiding in one of the corners. I took some quick captures of the Octo and Eel before heading back to the steps. Charlie on the other hand opted to stay and make friends with them at the Octopus’ Garden in the Shade.
Here are some captures from the dive:
