Dive #1

Date: 8/29/09
Location: Mikey's Secret Spot off La Jolla
Time in: 12:06 pm
Time under: 36 min
Max depth: 101 ft
Min temp: 55 F
Vis: 15 ft on the bottom, 30 ft between 0-40 ft deep
Waves: None to be concerned about
Current: Strong southerly current, 1-2 knots in the top ~20 ft of water
Buddies: Mikey Bear, NOAA Jim

Highlights: Thick elk horn kelp forest from 20 ft to the bottom at 100 ft. Ripping current on the surface, it was a struggle just to swim to the anchor line. Fortunately, Mikey put out a long line from the boat that we used (with Jim helping) to pull ourselves back to the boat. On our way up through the kelp, we got circled by a nice 4 ft giant sea bass that startled Mikey..


Dive #2:

Date: 8/29/09
Location: God's Rock, La Jolla
Time in: 3:04 pm
Time under: 43 min
Max depth: 72 ft
Min temp: 58 F
Vis: 10-15 ft
Waves: swells from the south
Buddies: Mikey Bear, NOAA Jim

Highlights: Switched to my macro lens and descended on a reef area off of downtown La Jolla. Mikey waited by a nice sized cabezon, but unfortunately, I couldn't get a good shot off before it swam away. We found lots of spanish shawls and a few hermissendas. I also found my first mating nudibranchs - a pair of porter's chromodorids (one of my favorites).

Overall, a beautiful day on the water, with good company.