Species sighting at Casino Point

[Frank O]

I had just finished up a two-hour freedive at Catalina's Casino Point this morning and was heading up the walkway toward town when I noticed a fellow wheeling a cooler of dive gear in the opposite direction.

First my eye was caught by the Harvard t-shirt.

As he passed, I glanced back at the cooler and saw a sticker that read "Dive dry with ..."

Yep, a positive species identification ... Billius doctorus himself.

Casino Point, by the way, was "okay" -- vis 10 to 20 ft in different areas mid-morning, ~64 F in the top 25-30 ft. Saw the usual reef fish (including some pretty big calicos), a cruising bat ray, and a whopper giant kelpfish with interesting marking (all lime green but for a white stripe down the center of its face).

 

[sapphire]

Frank O once bubbled...
I had just finished up a two-hour freedive at Catalina's Casino Point this morning and was heading up the walkway toward town when I noticed a fellow wheeling a cooler of dive gear in the opposite direction.

First my eye was caught by the Harvard t-shirt.

As he passed, I glanced back at the cooler and saw a sticker that read "Dive dry with ..."

Yep, a positive species identification ... Billius doctorus himself.

LOL, looks like a species I saw (and dove with) last Monday! Did he look like this?

 

[Frank O]

sapphire once bubbled...
LOL, looks like a species I saw (and dove with) last Monday! Did he look like this?

Roger that, a definite ID match on the cooler. (Oh and the fellow standing next to it is the same too.)

By the way, ladies, I have to mention that one thing you don't get on the Internet is that the good doctor has what I would call a rather deep and pleasantly rich voice. Check it out! (Have to do my part to help along the 'Permanent dive buddy' thread ...)

 

[sapphire]

Frank O once bubbled...


By the way, ladies, I have to mention that one thing you don't get on the Internet is that the good doctor has what I would call a rather deep and pleasantly rich voice. Check it out! (Have to do my part to help along the 'Permanent dive buddy' thread ...)

definitely on the voice , and I have to apologize to the good Doctor because the photo I posted does not do him justice, either . He is very nice-looking, to match the voice!

sapphire

 

[RichLockyer]

sapphire once bubbled...
definitely on the voice , and I have to apologize to the good Doctor because the photo I posted does not do him justice, either . He is very nice-looking, to match the voice!

Heck, he's got hair... that's got me beat!

 

[Mo2vation]

2 hour freedive...? That has to be some kind of record, man.

K

 

[Sea_Nymph]

I have not seen that species here in N. Ca., but now with your excellent description and corresponding photos, if it migrates North I will be sure to spot it. Although, that cooler is like so many others in this area, it will definately have to be accompanied by the fellow.

Are they known to be aggressive, the pleasanty rich voice may be to lure in his prey?!?



Dive safe, dive often.

 

[Frank O]

Mo2vation once bubbled...
2 hour freedive...? That has to be some kind of record, man.

Well, I cheated, I came up for air. (Ninety-five times, according to my Suunto ...)

 

[kelpmermaid]

I encountered a similar specimen at Casino Point in about 15 feet of water slightly before noon on 10/4... does that qualify as "endemic?"

 

[drbill]

FrankO- That shirt was in Chinese, how did you recognize it? Oops, I just looked at it and it does say Harvard in English. The Chinese translates as Smiling Buddha which is the Chinese phrase for my alma mater. Nice meeting you by the way.
That big giant kelpfish has been interesting to watch. I've seen it (or several?) many times.

Sapphire... is that really what I look like? I only see myself in the mirror in the morning before my coffee. Glad you amended that to say it doesn't really capture me.

A rather deep and pleasing voice? Jeez, when I hear myself on a tape recorder it sounds like someone scratching their fingernails on a chalkboard. Of course deeper voices carry further underwater.

Sea_Nymph- my guess is that the Igloo coolers you see up there contain beer (or better yet, abalone!). You'll find neither in mine... I use it to carry my video camera and housing.

Kelpmermaid- Hope I waved back at you when you saw me. I was trying to figure out just who had located me and may have forgotten my manners.

To everyone... I sure hope this month's long curse on the visibility in the Dive Park ends soon. With any luck it won't last as long as the goat curse on the Cubs... yeeha, go Cubbies!

Dr. Bill