Guy Foster and I had two enjoyable dives off the west side of Lover's Point last Saturday. The swell was small and we had 30 ft plus vertical visibility around 25 ft horizontal. When we descended the stairs we were surprised to find the beach heavily coated with stranded "Tuna Crabs" more correctly called Pelagic Squat Lobsters. When we snorkeled out to start our dive we encountered more still swimming in the water and then saw a couple on the bottom as well. Pelagic Squat Lobsters aren't endemic to inshore northern California waters but sometimes get blown in from offshore (where there is warmer water and tuna as well in the summer). These dives were the first time I've had good opportunity to see and photograph these crustaceans. Water temperature was 54 degrees, five degrees warmer than I had at nearby Otter Cove the previous week. The upwelling ended due to low winds starting two weeks ago. Another thing I was very pleased to see was more and more giant kelp with more sea stars and fewer sea urchins, may the trend continue. Below are some pictures from this dive, for more please go to:
https://goo.gl/photos/17kRcTJU48bUR3iaA
Guy on the beach at Lover's Point with many stranded Pelagic Squat Lobsers aka Tuna Crabs.
Guy took a picture of me with one of the squat lobsters.
This Pelagic Squat Lobster is showing how it filter feeds.
One of the pelagic squat lobsters down on the sand during our dive.
A squat lobster with sea urchins and a California Cone shell.
Guy getting set to photo a pelagic squat lobster.
A horned nudibranch also called an opalescent nudibranch. (Hermisenda Crassicornis)
Guy with a huge field of sanddollars.
Guy with a stand of giant kelp with juvenile rockfish.
Guy getting a shot of a well camouflaged lingcod
Can you see the lingcod?
Guy getting a crab video.
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