Catalina Island, California
Dive #496 – 502
I love weekend dive trip liveaboards! Although I still haven’t quite figured out how to cut down on the packing… FIVE bags packed up and ready to load into the car…But I promise it’s not because of 5 times a day outfit changes or an industrial sized hair dryer… 😀
Bag 1: scuba gear
Bag 2: drysuit bag and undergarments
Bag 3: camera cooler bag
Bag 4: backpack (only half of it had clothes, I needed room for my macro setup just in case!!:D)
Bag 5: dive deck necessities for easy access (camera cleaning, batteries, chargers, save a dive kit, sunscreen, etc).
Oh and I also threw in my weight bag and a sleeping bag… 😀 I know, I know #scubadiverproblems
Anyways, we boarded the Sundiver Friday night and claimed our bunks for the weekend. It was like a Disneyland ride out to Catalina in the wee hours of the morning rocking back and forth. But we made it! Conditions on Saturday were an easy 40-50 feet of viz, sometimes hazy. Water temps were about 62 degrees. Viz deteriorated on the third dive. Current was ripping on the surface so our team of 5 descended down the anchor line into about 10-15 feet of hazy viz. Due to the low viz I was immediately looking around to make sure we were all together and ok first before I turned on my camera… and that’s when I pretty much came face to face with a giant sea bass. Really?!! My first close encounter with one of these amazing creatures and I completely failed in the photo department. Thankfully my buddies did not! Photo below by Justin J. @calih2o
https://instagram.com/p/19rCE2jOUG/
What did I learn from this situation? Safe descents and checking in with you dive buddies first is ALWAYS important. Turning your camera and strobes on BEFORE you drop, even more important. haha 😀
A storm with 30 knot winds was rolling in so our night dive got cancelled. We pulled into Avalon on a mooring for the night. Some headed into town for Wiki Wackers and Buffalo Milk… as you can see below. 😀
Sunday morning was gorgeous. Thankfully the storm passed through. Viz was in the 50 ft range. And Sunday was an milestone day for me! I realized I hit my 500th dive officially! Still in love with this sport 500 dives later! When do I get to grow gills?!! haha The dives were beautiful with tons of life. Leopard Sharks, horn sharks, electric ray, sea lions, bat rays, huge spiny lobsters, and tons of fish. But I do still miss the kelp forest. I heard there is still some at Casino Point, but none on any of our 6 dives, just an abundance of that invasive weedy kelp from Japan. Luckily I hear kelp can grow 1-2 feet a day as long as these cooler water temps stick around. Fingers crossed!! It was still a beautiful weekend with great people! Till next time Catalina! xoxo
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