Date: September 19, 2007
Time: 5:15pm
Location: Shaw's Cove
Depth (feet): 33
Dive Time (minutes): 60
Surf (feet): 1-3+
Surge (feet): 2-5
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 64
Visibility (feet): 15-20
Visibility Description: nice - clear
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Josh - first dive in over 2 months! Herniated a disk in my back 2 months ago, and along the way we also welcomed our new daughter, Samantha, (kid #2). That combined with other, lesser events, caused my hiatus. Very good to be back, and from the looks of the storm forecast - good timing as well. Eventful pre-dive - everything from a slow leaking valve on the tank I let Josh use, to my significantly worse, and non-field-expedient fixable first stage. I ended up renting a reg setup from LSS just as they were closing. So back to gear setup, and heading to the water...
Pretty easy in - there were 1-2's with sets that got bigger - but no issues. Dropped down pretty quickly - shallow and well before the Arch. Very nice, clear water. Within only a couple of minutes, we came across a medium-sized bat ray which was eating something (never did see what) in the sand/kelp next to the reef. It was not spooked or concerned with our presence, and switching to video mode, I was able to get a nice clip (see below). I've got a soft spot (ok - lots of soft spots) for bat rays in particular, and this was truly a wonderful welcome back gift.
We spent the rest of the dive heading out on the reef - turning around just short of Turn-Around. The rest of the dive was relaxing - surge was intense near the spanish shawls - and octopi, garibaldi, a couple of Cockerell's Dorids which still manage to elude my macro lens. and the rest of the usual suspects rounded out the animal sightings. Easy out after letting a larger set pass, and overall a good time had by all...Great to be back!
Bat Ray
Spanish Shawl
California Spiny Lobster
Juvenile Garibaldi
Two-spot Octopus
Time: 5:15pm
Location: Shaw's Cove
Depth (feet): 33
Dive Time (minutes): 60
Surf (feet): 1-3+
Surge (feet): 2-5
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 64
Visibility (feet): 15-20
Visibility Description: nice - clear
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Josh - first dive in over 2 months! Herniated a disk in my back 2 months ago, and along the way we also welcomed our new daughter, Samantha, (kid #2). That combined with other, lesser events, caused my hiatus. Very good to be back, and from the looks of the storm forecast - good timing as well. Eventful pre-dive - everything from a slow leaking valve on the tank I let Josh use, to my significantly worse, and non-field-expedient fixable first stage. I ended up renting a reg setup from LSS just as they were closing. So back to gear setup, and heading to the water...
Pretty easy in - there were 1-2's with sets that got bigger - but no issues. Dropped down pretty quickly - shallow and well before the Arch. Very nice, clear water. Within only a couple of minutes, we came across a medium-sized bat ray which was eating something (never did see what) in the sand/kelp next to the reef. It was not spooked or concerned with our presence, and switching to video mode, I was able to get a nice clip (see below). I've got a soft spot (ok - lots of soft spots) for bat rays in particular, and this was truly a wonderful welcome back gift.
We spent the rest of the dive heading out on the reef - turning around just short of Turn-Around. The rest of the dive was relaxing - surge was intense near the spanish shawls - and octopi, garibaldi, a couple of Cockerell's Dorids which still manage to elude my macro lens. and the rest of the usual suspects rounded out the animal sightings. Easy out after letting a larger set pass, and overall a good time had by all...Great to be back!
Bat Ray
