Saturday, October 8, 2022

Very Good Dives at Aumentos and McAbee Pinnacle with Beach Hopper II October 7, 2022

Guy Foster and I went out with Beach Hopper II for an excellent day of diving on Friday. We had very good visibility at both Aumentos and McAbee Pinnacle. Below are some photos from our dive at Aumentos, to see more, please go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xhECHAwyUux6NhzP7
Above: Sadly, it's the time of year when you find juvenile Mola Mola that have been killed by sea lions all over the bottom.
I encountered three Cabezon on the dive, they are one of my favorite subjects so when I find a patient one I take many pictures, here's a few:
Below: Guy with his camera
Our second dive was on McAbee Pinnacle, we had excellent sunlight and great visibility, with the Giant Kelp, it was magical. Below are some photos from this dive, to see more, please go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RKWj3chRBXVm24Cu9
Above: Copper Rockfish Below: I watched and got some photos of a large Sea Lion massacreing a juvenile Mola Mola
Above: Tube Anemone
Above: Tough neighborhood, looks like a Kellet's Whelk is about to get devoured by a large Spiny Sea Star
Above: When I started diving in Monterey in 1978 and into the 80s it was rare to see a California Sheephead this far north of their usual northern extent, which was Point Conception. I thinks this was the most large Sheephead I've ever seen on one dive in Monterey.
Above: Guy getting some shots