Date: May 11, 2008 Location: Broomtail Reef, Point Loma Dives #1 and #2 [Actual: #744-#745 ] Times: [approximate] 11:15 AM/2:30 PM Surface Conditions: Sunny, calm seas, gentle two foot swells with long intervals… Visibility: 5 to 6 feet in the top 20, due to green gloom, but a nice 20 to 30 feet on the bottom Temperatures: 52° F on the bottom, and a warm and toasty tropical 54° F above 20 feet [Ahhhhh….. ] Max Depths: 54 feet/52 feet Purpose: Annual recertification-recalibration of Reef Check skills Critters Seen: Pile Surf Perch, Black Surf Perch, Rainbow Surf Perch, Senoritas, male and female Sheephead, Blacksmith fish, Black-Eyed Gobis, Kelp Bass, Hermissendas, Gray Moon Sponge, Red Volcano Sponge, Orange Sponge, Yellow Sponge, Giant Kelp, Southern Palm, Northern Palm, Rock Scallops, Blood Stars, Bat Stars, Red Algae, Articulated Coralline, Crustose Coralline, Brown Algae… ISIFS: [I'm sure I'm Forgetting Something…] Remarks: After loading up the boat, Barb, NOAA Jim, Colleen and I cruised out to one of our favorite sites, Broomtail Reef, for the annual recertification-recalibration of our Reef Check survey skills. Since this year, I will be doing the data entry side of it, my role would be act as NOAA Jim's dive buddy and hover over his shoulder to make sure he didn't cheat--just kidding… And since we also had the now famous "Matt" of "Matt's Reef" fame: the 16 year old who can drive a boat like nobody's business, and act as surface support, we would all be able to descend together on each to dive without leaving the boat unattended. The spot selected by Colleen was a flat rocky reef, with fronds of giant kelp all around reaching toward the surface, and lots of southern and northern Palm for Barb and Jim to count and dozens of rocky overhangs which loomed like miniature open caves, providing cover for the many species of rockfish and surf perch in this area. For the first dive, the plan was for Barb and Colleen to descend ahead of us, and lay the first transact line from which Barb and Jim would do the initial fish count and invertebrate count. So we all suited up grabbed our slates and jumped in. As we passed through the initial layer of green gloom, we worried that his would not be great on the bottom; our worries were for nothing: upon arrival we saw that is beginning to open up to a very nice 20 to 30 feet. Barbara and Jim had been instructed to do a visibility check anyway, which they did, and then the transect line was laid down for Barb and Colleen to do the initial fish count, with Jim and me bringing up the rear. Once Jim began doing his part of the line, I was free to roam the area, being careful to stay within a couple meters distance, as a good buddy should, and explore the sights. The bottom was covered with articulated and crustose coralline, along with small forests of Southern Palm in between large hold fasts of the giant kelp. As Jim worked on his section of the transect line, I explored all the various nooks and crannies of the nearby overhangs and was astounded at the amount of marine life, see above list. Black-Eyed Gobis peeked out from under strands of Laminaria and schools of Senioritas flitted about the forests of Northern Palm. Red volcano sponge, Gray Moon sponge, orange, yellow and puff ball sponges were scattered everywhere, giving a psychedelic glow to the scenery. Large male Sheephead and their harems patrolled the area, along with sizable clumps of black surf perch. I was amazed at the variety of colorful marine life all around us. Jim finished up his transect line and we reluctantly began making our way to the surface. Also, the temperatures had been a blessed relief: up only 2-4°from the usual 50° F we've become accustomed to, but it made all the difference in the world as we ascended into a 54° F 'bath water' at the safety stop level. The second dive was in the same area as the first, with a new transect line laid in a different direction. Barb and Colleen completed their work and Jim was able to finish up his end of it in pretty good time, allowing us to explore the rest of this colorful and abundant rocky brief to our heart's content until it was time to surface. All in all, it was a very successful day, on a truly delightful reef: next week will be the first actual site survey in La Jolla—stay tuned! Dive safe everyone, Mikey
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Reef Check Recertification on Broomtail Reef
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Strange 'Arctic Monster': Greenland Shark
See here for details [could not cut and paste article from source]:
http://www.thedivevillage.com/news_view.php?ID=151
See also: http://www.themoneytimes.com/news/20080506/scientists_probe_odd_greenland_sharks-id-1021966.html
Scripps Intitute Study: Criss-crossing Ocean Current
An international collaborative of scientists led by Peter Niiler, a physical oceanographer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, and Nikolai Maximenko, a researcher at the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii, has detected the presence of crisscrossing patterns of currents running throughout the world’s oceans. The new data could help scientists significantly improve high-resolution models that help them understand trends in climate and marine ecosystems.
See here for more: http://tinyurl.com/49he7l
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
U.S. Shark Bill Targets Finning Loopholes
After the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearings last month, a new shark bill promising to close disturbing loopholes in existing shark fishing regulations has inched a step closer to becoming law.
The bill, entitled The Shark Conservation Act of 2008, specifically addresses the problem of finning, or removal of a shark's fins for shark fin soup, folk remedies and other forms of consumption.
Because of this practice, shark fins are among the world's most valuable fishing products, but the real price is that sharks are further threatened with extinction, since the marine predators usually die once their finless bodies are tossed overboard.
See here for more: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/05/07/shark-conservation-bill.html?dcitc=w01-101-ae-0003
Monday, May 05, 2008
More Photos from Paradise....Indonesia
This time from Mike Bartick, accomplished photographer from Orange County......check out the amazing shot [below] of a Mantis Shrimp guarding eggs.
--Click to ENLARGE
© All photos copyrighted by Mike Bartick and used with permission.
Marine Wildlife Photography
www.saltwaterphoto.com
