Ace I Wreck

[Rainer]

After Blackwood and I dived the UB88 (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/socal/357996-chris-marc-dive-ub88.html), we headed over for a dive on the Ace I. She's a WWII LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) that was later converted to a fishing barge, before soon sinking off San Pedro, CA. She rests upside down in about 120'.

Conditions were decent on the bottom. The wreck is covered in gorgonia and metridiums (one of the shallower SoCal wrecks to see so many). Large schools of blacksmith and vermilion rock fish dot the site. We saw 6-7 large lings just hanging out in the sand. A very pretty wreck.

[vimeo]16408565[/vimeo]

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The first time Merry dived there, she called the large lings there "sentinels" because they look as if they are guarding the wreck.

 

[Rainer]

Really appropriate description: seems there was a "guard" posted at every corner! Would probably help, though, if they weren't so easy to scare off.

 

[Mochosla]

Nice video. Looks like a fun dive.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Really appropriate description: seems there was a "guard" posted at every corner! Would probably help, though, if they weren't so easy to scare off.

You have to move very slow and spend a lot of time near them. It helps if you tickle their belly.

 

[Rainer]

I managed to get quite close to a pair (one is in the video), but if you try, they certainly go a swimming. Not exactly ferocious guard dogs.

Great shots by the way!