Very good dives at Mr. Ed's and Shale Island with Beach Hopper II July 15, 2023

Guy Foster, Tessa, and I had very good dives at two new (for me) sites last Saturday. The first site, Mr. Ed's is off Hopkin's Marine Lab/China Point. There was a bit of swell running so we stayed well inside Monterey Bay. As we descended, the first 20 ft was very green and very dark but then the visibility opened up to about 30 ft. It's a very good site, lot's of rock structure, lots of Metridium Sea Anemones. Below are some photos from the dive, to see more, please go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rkQCfcwHipHKShAq9

Above: It was clear but dark on the bottom at about 65 ft. Below: Lingcod with tube anemones.

Below: Copper Rockfish (or, possibly, a Gopher Rockfish)

Above: A new, for me, an uncommon event in Monterey, Sea Slug. About the size of my hand. Seems to resemble a Sea Hare without the wings..It's a California Side Gill.

Above: First, San Diego Dorid aka Leopard Nudibranch, Treefish, Lingcod Below: China Rockfish

Our second dive site was on Shale Island off Delmonico Beach, NE of harbor entrance. Dark again under heavy plankton bloom, then 20ft plus visibility at the bottom about 50 ft. Below are some photos from the dive, for more: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HnNWiryJmYAvvtP56 Below: Candy Striped Shrimp

Above: Sea Lemon Nudibranch Below: Lingcod

Below: Male Kelp Greenling

It was great to do two dives in my Dry Suit, and, it was actually dry so I stayed comfortable. My hit rate on staying dry in dry suits is about 65%...

Pinnacles July 12, 2023

Greg Hoberg and I got out last Wednesday the 12th and went to the Pinnacles in Carmel Bay. Though the sky was very overcast with a heavy marine layer we could see that the water was very blue. We anchored in the much recovered giant kelp bed. When I splashed I was astonished to clear see the bottom 65 ft down. The water was a beautiful blue thanks to fresh deepwater upwelling and it was a bone chilling 47 degrees. We had an excellent dive on a small canyon with its top in 45 ft of water, the bottom of it at 80 ft plus. Below are some photos from this dive, to see more please go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zkwCPANJZLvZ3BkM9.

Look up the anchor line to just spot Greg's Zodiac on the surface 65 ft above.

Greg with a transparent Whatsit (a salp)

Greg with a Ling Cod