Monolobo, Carmel Bay August 19, 2021

After far too much time due to a variety of causes, Greg Hoberg and I finally got out for a dive last Thursday, August 19th. Sea conditions were pretty good so we made a fast trip down to Carmel Bay. After we passed Cypress Point and entered Carmel Bay we encountered a very large group of Risso's Dolphins. As we passed the Pinnacles we were pleased to see that it finally has a substantial kelp forest, though it is dominated by Bull Kelp instead of the usually predominate Giant Kelp. We continued across the bay and dived on Monolobo. We had only ok visibility, it averaged 15 ft, 55 degree water, so not much evidence of any upwelling, hence the limited visibility. Greg saw two ling cod, one very large. I enjoyed some time with a curious Vermilion Rockfish. Below are several pictures from our dive, for a few more please go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/L5M6yk9uv2WifMW9A

Greg making sure we'll be able to retrieve our anchor after we reboard his boat. Below, Vermilion Rockfish with natural light at 60ft (my strobe wasn't charged...), Vermilion Rockfish possing.

The kelp forest at Monolobo continues to recover, it is about 75% of "nomal" before the urchin plague. Below is a picture of one huge cluster of sea urchins that stripped a kelp holdfast. Elsewhere, there were a more normal number of urchins, mostly hidden in cracks.

Below: A distant female California Sheephead, a pair of Sea Anemones, and a Kelp Rockfish