Dive #390

Date: June 27, 2009
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Deadmans Reef
Depth (feet): 44
Dive Time (minutes): 65
Surf (feet): 1-2+
Surge (feet): light
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 58-62
Visibility (feet): 15+
Visibility Description: some murk - good
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Jeff - first dive to Deadmans in a long while...dropped down past the point and took a heading straight up Deadhenge...low tide made it a bit shallower than normal. Lots of fish out on the reef - we stayed pretty high on it - in the 30 foot range for most of the dive. A couple of morays, and a whole bunch of Spanish Shawls. We were shadowed by a coupole of sea lions towards the end of our time on the reef - took Deadhenge back and saw a medium sized sheep crab at the very end of it...had read a dive report from earlier that mentioned a sheep crab in that area - maybe the same one? An uneventful swim back over the sand and up just outside the surf zone...overall a good time had by all.

Dive #389

Date: June 26, 2009
Time: 9:30pm
Location: Wood's Cove
Depth (feet): 37
Dive Time (minutes): 87
Surf (feet): 1-2
Surge (feet): 2-4
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 61-63
Visibility (feet): 10-15
Visibility Description: good
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Jeff - alot of surge and disorienting sea grass and kelp in the beginning, but the reef structures are worth it. Long, easy dive with many lobster, stingrays, blacksmiths, garibaldi...a small plainfin midshipman - unfortunately no camera as it was photogenically sitting on the rock reef (I find them more often buried in the sand). A 2 1/2 foot horn shark and many scorpionsish, and a large cabezon were also found. Surfaced a bit north of the beach, but a quick surface swim and easy exit - a good time had by all.

Dive #388

Date: June 24, 2009
Time: 9:30pm
Location: Shaw's Cove
Depth (feet): 47
Dive Time (minutes): 73
Surf (feet): 1-2
Surge (feet): 2-6 - strong push away from shore
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 64-66 (Cobra)
Visibility (feet): 10-15
Visibility Description:
Notes and Highlights: Lots of animals and very active - first night dive this year...dove with Jeff. Many stingray, a couple of eels, octopi, nudibranchs (see below), and, unfortunately for the camera, a lot of plankton (small animals) in the water as well - very attracted to our dive lights. Warm - no hood...much warmer than the 50 degrees of Tasmania last week. Took a look at Shelly - she's nearly indistinguishable as Shelly with the growth. Long, slow dive around the reef...a good time had by all.