Favorite Dive Photos from 2022 January 1, 2023

This is a collection of my favorite, though not necessarily my best, diving photos from 2022. The photos this year are from diving in Monterey and Carmel, a week at God's Pocket in British Columbia in April, and from a nine day diving trip on the Vision in the Channel Islands in November. I've pasted some of the photos below, to see the rest of my favorites please go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/812qabwNf7GvVVQi7 Below: Cabezon, McAbee Pinnacle, Monterey Bay, Jan 8, 2022

Below: Greg Hoberg with a Cabezon, Mono-lobo, Carmel Bay, February, 2022

Below: A big, beautiful Sunflower Star at God's Pocket, BC. I haven't seen a Sunflower Star, formerly very common and is a keystone species, a major predator of sea urchins, since the wasting disease wiped them out in California in 2013. Encouraging news, a diver photographed a healthy Sunflower Star off FT Bragg last month so maybe they will reestablish themselves here soon and help our magnificent kelp forests recover from the plague of sea urchins that have devoured them.

Below: Basket Star, God's Pocket, April 2022

Above: Giant Pacific Octopus, God's Pocket, April, 2022

Above: Plumrose Anemones, God's Pocket, April, 2022

Above: God Pocket's wonderful, famous, dive boat with an elevator. What a way to get back on board after a dive!!

Above: Gopher Rockfish, Mono-lobo, July, 2022 Below:Egg Yolk Jelly, Harbor Seal, and Vermilion Rockfish, Mono-lobo, Carmel Bay, August, 2022

Below: Seascape, Pescadero Point, Carmel Bay, August, 2022

Above: Tube Anemone, McAbee Pinnacle, Monterey Bay, October, 2022 Below: One of the most fun parts of our nine day dive trip on the Vision in the Channel Islands in November was being entertained by curious California Sea Lions.

Above: Halfmoons, Green Acres, Channel Islands Below: Guy Foster with California Sheephead, Green Acres, Channel Islands

Below: Fun with California Sea Lions

I continue to execute my retirement strategy which is to go diving! Ten days from now Donna and I leave for Raja Ampat, Indonesia, for 17 days of diving on the Emperor Raja Laut!