lamarpaulski
Contributor
The Park was beautiful today, esp in the morning. Viz was 60-80ft..maybe more in some places. Current pushing towards harbor on dive #1 1130am but on # 2 had seemingly reversed and colder murkier water moved in the deeper regions. Still, quite warm and viz really blue and clear for that forest effect in the kelp. Shallow waters have a great deal of the invasive seaweed. Saw all the usual suspects and also a large stingray who seemed to have no fear of me and allowed very close video. The stingray had markings on it that made you think he had been "tagged." Looked like V I or V 1. Also encountered and filmed : large torpedo ray out by small boats in 60ft and a huge overly friendly Sheepshead (no doubt Oscar III or something) who had all his formidable teeth. Place was very thick with half-sized calicos all lined up as if waiting for something. I met some friendly divers out from Houston and one from France. Played hide and seek with octopus out by Jacques Cousteau monument..one little octopus grabbed my gloved hand and seriously tried to drag it and me into its lair. Cormorants were dive-bombing the masses of small fish. Just outside the park several sea lions were doing similar things to the deeper fish. The stairs and railings really are a big assist for older/injured people with gimpy backs and knees. This is the best time of year for Catalina in most respects.
