Aumentos and Shale Island with Beachhopper II, P.R. dives # 944,945 June 13, 2026

I got out for two enjoyable dives on Beachhopper II with Guy Foster on Saturday, June 13, continuing to execute my retirement plan which is to go diving with post retirement dives 944 and 945. Water temp was 51 degrees and visibility ranged from 10 to 15 ft. I was shooting macro with my 60 mm Canon lens. Our first dive was on a site called Aumentos, about 1/3 mile from Point Pinos inside Monterey Bay. Its an excellent site with very dense marine life. Below are some photos from this dive. To see the rest of my pictures from Aumentos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wXm1884vSd2uACUk8 Below: The face of a 3 inch long sculpin.

Gopher Rockfish, below:

Sea Cucumber open and filter feeding. Below:

2-3 inch Black Eyed Goby, below:

A small Decorator Crab, can you spot its eyes? The Strawberry Anemones near it are maybe 1/2 inch across. Below:

Our second dive was on a site called "Shale Island" because it's an isolated plateau of limestone rock. It's a great site for fish and invertebrates. There's lots of burrowing clams on this site. Below: A filter feeding Sea Cucumber about 4 inches across.

A Gopher Rockfish stressing over my close approach. Below:

A juvenile rockfish, about 4 inches long. Below:

The visible part of a burrowing Piddock Clam, below:

A Kellet's Whelk with Dock (aka coonstripe) Shrimp. Below:

Below: White Speckled Dorid (I think, don't have my usual books handy)

A Juvenile, I think Vermilion, Rockfish, about 3 inches long. Below:

A small crabby decorator crab, below:

Below: Several pictures of an unusually patient and cooperative Stripedfin Ronquil, about 4 inches long.

Three for one! Left to right, Piddock Clam, Nudibranch, Black Eyed Goby. Below:

Below: A Coralline Sculpin, 3-4 inches long.

A colorful 2-3 inch long sculpin, species tbd. Below:

To see the rest of my pictures from Shale Island please go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DNHjQQ9REUDSzgQe6