Dive # 361

Date: February 29, 2008
Time: 8:30pm
Location: Shaw's Cove
Depth (feet): 37
Dive Time (minutes): 49
Surf (feet): 1-3
Surge (feet): 4-6
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 55
Visibility (feet): 7-10
Visibility Description: poor
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Len - had tried to get out earlier in the day, but ended up making a night dive. The conditions are sub-par...but divable. There is a lot of water movement - so surge is up and vis is down. We got in without incident - there are some decent sized waves, but they are pretty few and far between - easily timed. Dropped down pretty quick at the beginning of the reef, and did a leisurely (albeit surgey) tour of the outside. A large female bat ray by the arch was cool and there were tons of Chestnut Cowries out on the reef. We saw a few small round rays on the sand next the reef - haven't seen any of those in many dives - was beginning to wonder where they all went. The surge increased to unenjoyable by Turn-Around Rock - so we passed on saying "Hi" to Shelly. On the way back we saw several Sheepcrab...two were "involved"...should be more soon then...Well-timed (lucky) exit was uneventful, and a good time had by all.

California Scorpionfish
Spanish Shawl
Chestnut Cowry
Two-spot Octopus

Dive # 360

Date: February 10, 2008
Time: 10:30am
Location: Diver's Cove
Depth (feet): 25
Dive Time (minutes): 63
Surf (feet): 1
Surge (feet): 1
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 54
Visibility (feet): 10-12
Visibility Description: medium murky
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Josh, Erik and Papa Wade...first 2008 dive with either of them. High tide, and no surf made entrance extremely easy, and we dropped down quick and shallow - looking for bat rays. Only took about 1 minute to find the first of several large females. I did have my still camera with me, and there is a quick clip of video below...

At about 20 minutes into the dive, Erik and Papa Wade signalled they were going to split off and Josh and I continued looking over the reef for interesting things and potential photo subjects...the better shots are below. Water is technically cold, but didn't seem to bother me as much as the dive on Friday. A leisurely swim back to standing-depth, surf-free exit and a good time had by all.

Hermit Crab
Painted Greenling
Juvenile Garibaldi
Sea Hare
These welks must not have seen the video...

Dive #359

Date: February 8, 2008
Time: 6:00am
Location: Shaw's Cove
Depth (feet): 40
Dive Time (minutes): 50
Surf (feet): flat
Surge (feet): 1
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 52-54
Visibility (feet): 10-12
Visibility Description: medium murky
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Frank - been a long time...dive #2 for the year...figured I'd get a before-work dive in - glad I did. Water is cold, but extremely flat and calm. Dropped down pretty quickly, and well before the arch. Cut through the large passageway - the "Rose Garden" ...hundreds of Hopkin's Roses as usual, but still enjoy seeing them. Went deeper into the reef between Shaw's and Crescent and spent about 20 minutes poking around in all the crevices and caves...several lobster, octopi, garibaldi, blacksmiths, treefish and senoritas - unfortunately no morays that I was able to find which surprised me.

I enjoy the night/day dives, and cutting back through the reef we came back past turn-around rock, and said "good morning" to Shelly. A leisurely swim back towards shore, and a few very large Spanish Shawls (no surge, and Shawls large enough for even my poor macro skills..."no camera" remorse setting in pretty heavy). A few black-eyed gobies, and a flat exit rounded out a good time had by all.

Dive # 358 - Dive #1 for 2008!

Date: Feb 1, 2008
Time: 10:00am
Location: Diver's Cove
Depth (feet): 25
Dive Time (minutes): 46
Surf (feet): 1
Surge (feet): 1-2
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 54
Visibility (feet): 10-15
Visibility Description: murky but nice
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Len - First dive for 2008! "Use it or lose it" vacation time from work...maxed out vacation is one reason I haven't been diving...been workin' instead. But finally got a break and it's very nice to be back. Very low tide with basically no surf and little surge made getting in and getting out easy...water is COLD! Still felt better than not diving...

Saw several large female bat rays right in the first minutes of the dive. They were calm - and calming to watch. Spent several minutes putzing about in the shallows - finding a few more bat rays along the way. Picked up a loosely held 240 back over to the reef and poked around in the rocks for a bit. We found a Spanish Shawl, Hopkin's Rose and Cockerell's Dorid all within the same area...senoritas, garibaldi, blacksmiths were present in good number too. In the shallows we also found 2 extremely large sea hares...they'd squeeze into a paper grocery bag...looked possibly amorous as well...great to be back in the water and a great time had by all!