Muck diving, Southern California style

[MaxBottomtime]

Kevin Lee joined me for more muck diving on Golf Ball Reef this morning. Last week I was surprised to see a fish larger than a goby when a Giant Sea Bass came by to check me out. Today I had the three foot horn shark who seemed extremely interested in my camera. I would take a shot each time it settled on the bottom, only to have it swim toward my face.

Among the other unusual sightings were a few small fried egg jellies and three Felimida macfarlandi on the same rock. I believe Kevin was about to eat them.

 

[FrankPro1]

Impressive series! Golf Ball Reef has quite a variety of critters. I was surprised you didn't get out earlier in the week, Tuesday - Thursday had epic conditions on the south side. Sadly I was stuck on land with a severe head cold. Got to love getting the grunge from Arizona Familia

 

[MaxBottomtime]

It's a strange dive site. It's like a breakwater in 58-63 feet, except the rocks rise less than five feet at the highest point. Any large swells would bury the reef in sand. The biggest rocks are the size of a steering wheel. You wouldn't expect to see much, but it's loaded with macro subjects. There is sparse kelp with even more tiny life on the fronds. Other than the big horn shark and a GSB last week, the biggest fish I've seen is a three inch juvenile calico rockfish. Not a single garibaldi, kelp bass, sheephead or senorita in sight. It's a half mile from shore, so unless Tiger Woods moved to Haggerty's I think the golf balls came from the stern of someone's yacht.

 

[FrankPro1]

Sound's like an awesome site Especially for my current Sigma 70mm macro "105mm equivalent with cropped Sony A65v sensor".

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I like what Scott Webb says. Never tell your secret spots, and there are no secret spots.

 

[thez_yo]

Oh, nice dive! Horn sharks are so friendly.

 

[fnfalman]

What the heck is that furry thing on the nudi?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

It is eating a brittle star. I had never seen that until I first dived this reef. I've seen it on every dive here.