Dive # 305

Date: January 28, 2007
Time: 7:30am
Location: Shaw's Cove
Depth (feet): 40
Dive Time (minutes): 42
Surf (feet): 1-2
Surge (feet): 2-4
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 59
Visibility (feet): 20-25+
Visibility Description: Nice and clear
Notes and Highlights: Paul's triumphant return to the Mother Ocean! Small surf on the way in made it easy. Dropped down pretty early - by the tunnel swim through, and worked our way slowly up the outside of the reef. Surge on the inside made the interior a no-go - but we enjoyed a very leisurely swim out past Turn-Around Rock, into that canyon on the right, and back around. Not a lot of critters out - but an extremely relaxing, great way to start the Sunday off...played with the still camera a bit more - not much to shoot, but just messing with settings...the stuff below is mainly just because I'm proud they are in pretty good focus.


Welcome back Paul!

Just a shot to give an idea on the visibility...





Paul must have seen the same starfish

Dive # 304

Date: January 24, 2007
Time: 7:15pm
Location: Fisherman's Cove
Depth (feet): 37
Dive Time (minutes): 44
Surf (feet): 1
Surge (feet): 1-2
Water Temp (fahrenheit): Still don't have my temp gauge fixed...cold enough for a hood - but certainly bearable.
Visibility (feet): 20
Visibility Description: Pretty clear
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Patrick - what a difference a mile or so makes...much easier in and out with virtually no surf. Minimal surge unless right over the top of rocks...didn't see a whole bunch - some out-of-bounds lobsters, a sanddab, and a sheep crab which I shot some still-camera video of (see below). A much more enjoyable dive than the previous at Wood's due to the vastly improved conditions. Patrick lost a weight pouch though...so if you come across one in the area I'm sure he'd appreciate hearing about it.

Dive # 303

Date: January 24, 2007
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Wood's Cove
Depth (feet): 24
Dive Time (minutes): 47
Surf (feet): 1-3+
Surge (feet): 3-6
Water Temp (fahrenheit): Not sure - not warm...but I was not frozen
Visibility (feet): 5-5 1/2
Visibility Description: Surge kicked up TONS of sand/crap...
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Scott - had been hearing about great conditions in Laguna - so thought that Wood's would be nice...not so pretty...swell was bringing decent sized waves every so often - but avoidable for the most part so we went on in...Dropped down pretty quick and into a brown-out of sand flying around. Pushed on into slightly deeper and calmer water and just kinda putzed around looking for things to take pictures of. Towards the end of the dive we came across several octopi...Scott had his camera too - so if he posts anything I'll link later. I got a few decent (for me) pics - check 'me out below...


For most of the dive - this was the most exciting thing we saw...and then we started finding octopi...

Dive 302 - Happy New Year!

Date: January 10, 2007
Time: 5:45pm
Location: Shaw's Cove
Depth (feet): 30
Dive Time (minutes): 50
Surf (feet): 1
Surge (feet): 1-2
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 57
Visibility (feet): 15
Visibility Description: a little murky/particles - overall good
Notes and Highlights: Happy New Year! Dove with Scott, Erik, Mike and Marshall...nice easy in with minimal surf...although some surface chop on the swim out. Dropped down pretty quick and made our way over to the reef before the Arch. Surge wasn't an issue inside the reef so we did a run through the main passage over to Crescent, and back by way of the "Window", and another inner passage. Went past Turn-Around Rock and swam back casually over the sand looking for rays and other critters. Overall not too many critters out tonight - had my video camera and came away with some sting ray, swimming crab, turbot and Hopkin's Rose footage...overall a good time had by all and enjoy the video!

2006 in review...

Just for kicks - I figured I'd review 2006. I had 76 logged dives in 3 different countries. I've compiled the list of my most frequent dive buddies during 2006 - and how many dives I did with each of you...check out the list:


Thanks to everyone for a great year with lots of great dives, and I'd like to challenge everyone to try for even more in 2007!