Ocean Safari Blog

Location: Anacapa Island

Charter Master: Thomas Templar, staff: Megumi Itoh and Tony Hong

Boat: Peace (Capt. Steven; DM Steve, Cody, Ryan; Galley Bree), Ventura Harbor

 

Most people boarded the night before, and few came in the morning. The boat departed the harbor at 7am and returned before 5pm. It was sunny, but chilly day - water temperature was around 54F. Choice of dive sites was limited due to the recent rainstorm (low visibility from water run-off) and current.

 

Dive #1 at Goldfish Bowl - Marine Protected Area (lobster taking is allowed during lobster season).

Double anchored – 15ft at stern anchor, 35-37ft under the boat; sandy bottom under the boat, rocky reef with giant kelp beds starting about halfway between the boat and the island. Visibility was relatively low – about 15ft. There were clearly noticeable amount of sargassum patches, but not quite displacing all the giant kelp. We saw a few lobsters and a variety of fish including sheephead, calico bass, garibaldi, blacksmiths, opal eyes and senoritas. The sheepheads and calico bass were very large. There were many sea cucumbers and sea urchins. Some divers saw abalones and blue banded gobies. A young sea lion was swimming around the anchor area. The photographers were out looking for nudibranchs, but only a few were observed.

 

Dive #2 at Rat Rock - Marine Protected Area (lobster taking is allowed during lobster season)

Double anchored – 20ft at stern anchor, 56ft under the boat; wind blowing east to west, causing some surface current. Similar to first dive site – sandy bottom under the boat, kelp beds starting midway between the boat and island. Slightly better visibility – about 20ft. Sargassum patches were also noticeable at this site. We did not see any nudibranchs, but there were other marine life to observe - abalones, blue banded gobies, kellet’s whelk, Norris topsnail, painted greenling, island kelpfish, garibaldi, etc. The sheepheads and calico bass at this site were also large.

 

Dive #3 at Cathedral Cove - Marine Protected Area (taking of lobsters also not allowed)

Double anchored – 26ft at stern anchor, 56ft under the boat. About the same visibility as second dive – about 20ft. A young sea lion seems to have followed us (or it was another sea lion since this one was more playful and swam closer to divers). Finally saw many Spanish shawls at this dive site. Some were mating/laying eggs. What was most noticeable at this site was the especially large size of calico bass, male and female sheepheads, and lobsters. We saw a gigantic lobster surrounded by large lobsters in one hole, and some of the sheepheads were as large as the ones we have seen at Begg Rock. The garibaldi at this site was also very large. Most divers agreed that this was the best dive site of the day.

 

On the way back to the harbor, we were visited by a pod of common dolphins. We could see them swimming toward the boat and they played in the bow wake for a very long time.

This friendly sea turtle swam over to give a kiss to this beautiful lady.

Location: Old Marineland/Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes

Charter Master: Andy Rios

Boat: Asante (Capt. Gary and Terri), San Pedro Harbor

This was our last scheduled dive trip of 2018. We did two dives at dive site just off the Old Marineland (currently Terranea Resort). It was overcast, but the sea was calm. There was a slight surface current, but not much. The depth around the boat was 30 to 35 feet. The area was mostly sandy bottom with areas of loose rocks. There were larger boulders when you swim out farther. The visibility was good: about 20 to 25 feet. 

There were some giant kelp beds, but large patches of sargassum were more noticeable. We saw small aggregate of opal eyes and blacksmiths. There was also small school of smelt near the surface. Around the reef, we saw some kelp rockfish, kelp bass, and the ever-present garibaldi. The small juvenile kelp bass hiding in kelp bed were very cute. Andy found an octopus and lobsters hiding in the crevice in the first dive, and a school of barracudas and a C-O sole in the second dive (he said there were about 100 of them!). We pointed out scallops, kellet’s whelks, and Norris’s topsnails to the student divers. Some divers saw sea hares and Spanish shawls.

The short boat trip to and from the dive site was short and relatively smooth. Nobody got seasick and the sun came out during the second dive so it was not too cold. Everybody left in good spirits. We wrapped up the 2018 dive season with everyone having enjoyed the dives.

It seems that no matter where you go, underneath the jetty is like a market place. Well, I guess it’s both above and below the jetty. You always see food, boats, and crowd of people (or fish). around the jetty. Whenever possible, I go explore the local jetty… above and below!

When you are looking through a collection of underwater pictures, you can guess where some picture were taken from the colors and marine life you see around the reef. This one, for example, with predominantly orange soft coral, sea fans, tunicates and sponges with a swarm of brightly colored reef fish is from the Forgotten Islands.