Another round at Golf Ball Reef

[MaxBottomtime]

Kevin Lee joined us for a return visit to Golf Ball Reef. Visibility was down from yesterday and most of the nudibranchs were in hiding but we found enough subjects to keep three sets of strobes firing away. Abalones, serpulids and a few nudis gave us enough subject matter to make the dive interesting. I even found a tiny Calico bass resting on a juvenile sea hare in kelp just below the surface.

We ended the day at Merry's Reef. Visibility was not great, but better than our last dive here. Merry even found a huge black sea hare for Kevin. He's been looking for one for quite awhile.

 

[TSandM]

Love the bokeh in the Mexichromis (I think it's a Mexichromis) photo!

 

[Peter_C]

ALL of those colorful fish make the area seem like you are diving in the tropics. After all cold water doesn't have much to see

What kind of abalone was that? My guess would be a Pinto? (We find a lot of Pinto abalone in Mendocino County)

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I think the first one is a white ab with the highly elevated holes. The second, smaller one is either pinto or threaded.

 

[FrankPro1]

WOWZERS :shocked2: Stunning Captures! Excellent variety of subjects! Are the first two shots of a Rockpool Blenny? If so, where are his cirri "whisker-like antlers"?
[h=2][/h]

 

[MaxBottomtime]

They are Bay gobies. The one in the first shot left the bottle and another quickly moved in.

 

[FrankPro1]

They are Bay gobies.

Thanks for the id. I don't think I have ever encountered them before. I knew they didn't quite fit the bill to be a Blenny, but they have similar facial structures.

 

[Albondiga]

...Are the first two shots of a Rockpool Blenny? If so, where are his cirri "whisker-like antlers"?

Not a blenny or a goby, but a Bathymasteridae (ronquils), possibly Rathbunella.

 

[Divebum Don]

What a cool collection P&M and K.L.!! Some of the best dive wonders around, Love the Zebra Goby, rare find! Not sure on that Ronquil call Albo, seems a little too far South??? But stranger things have happened, water IS a Wonder??? I too believe it's a Blenny of a sort?? Not all Blennies have 'horns"... those lips are unique???

Be Safe Out There!

 

[drbill]

Love the baby ab!