Greg Hoberg and I took advantage of small swells and light winds to take his boat to Carmel Bay and dive Mono-lobo Tuesday morning. Conditions were very foggy as we left the Monterey Breakwater and then turned to smokey as we entered Carmel Bay headed for Mono-lobo. The Sobranes fire is large and is just past Carmel Highlands, Point Lobos Marine Reserve was closed due to the fire. Our visibility underwater was only slightly less than above it - 30 ft. Water temperature was a chilly 49 degrees (52 at the surface). On the cruise down to Carmel Bay we observed that kelp beds appear to be recovering from the urchin plague in more and more areas, around Point Joe in particular. Mono-lobo's kelp beds seem to have passed their low point as well.
This lingcod came over to see what Greg was doing as he re-positioned our anchor to make sure it would both keep the boat there and be retrievable from the boat at the end of our dive.
Vermilion Rockfish are usually shy but this one posed nicely.
Greg in the dark with the Vermilion rockfish. The fog and smoke together with the depth and being under the kelp canopy made this a dark dive.
A Red Rock Crab
To see more from this dive please go to:
https://plus.google.com/photos/110159573286645489662/albums/6312216885625212145?authkey=CM-U0a_hm-DYVA
Our second dive was back inside Monterey Bay off Otter Cove. We had 30 ft visibility and 49 degree temperature. Otter Cove kelp bed was reduced by the Otter Cove but has remained fairly intact and is starting to expand again.
It's good to see healthy Giant Kelp Holdfasts all over the site.
Spiny (or Knobby) Sea Stars seem to be recovering from the sea star wasting disease that struck starting three years ago.
Otter Cove has many beautiful sea anemones.
A less common sea anemone, species TBD.
A juvenile flounder or sole or sand dab.
For more from this dive please go to:
https://plus.google.com/photos/110159573286645489662/albums/6312217148673874833?authkey=CKXXg5iv5v_wjAE
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