Back to Monterey, dives on Hopkins Deep and Shallow Reefs April 28, 2018

Yesterday afternoon Guy Foster and I made two dives with the Sanctuary on the deep and shallow reefs off Hopkins Marine Reserve.  We had 49 degree water temp, 15 to 20 ft of visibility on the deep (depths 70 to 90 ft) dive, 52 degree temp 20 to 25 ft of visibility on the shallow reef (40 to 28 ft).  During our first dive at Deep Hopkins Reef we were entertained by visits from Sea Lions while we were admiring the Mytridium Sea Anemones, aka Plumrose Anemones.  We were pretty chilled by the end of this deep dive thanks to our compressed wetsuits due to the depth.

              Guy with Plumrose Anemones

    A curious visitor

                                Kellet's Whelks and eggs

                                          Guy and a friend

Deep Hopkin's Reef is in a high boat traffic area so it was good we found the anchor for our ascent and safety stop.

Descending for our second dive, Hopkin's Shallow Reef is a mixture of boulders and sand, happily, with kelp!

                                 Guy with Kelp Rockfish

                                              Striped Sea Pearch

To see more pictures from these two dives please go to:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zBxjzfxbTSCXnOwM2