My last dive as a HB resident....

Date: June 27, 2007
Time: 5:30pm/8:15pm
Location: Diver's/Shaw's Cove
Depth (feet): 28/39
Dive Time (minutes): 57/58
Surf (feet): 1-3/1-2
Surge (feet): 2-5
Water Temp (fahrenheit): very warm
Visibility (feet): 10-20/8-12
Visibility Description: nicer at Diver's...bit murkier at Shaw's
Notes and Highlights: First dive was the last dive with Scott as a So. Cal resident...he leaves for Colorado tomorrow. We had a great dive to mark the occasion - a lot of surge in areas around the reef...but overall very warm and reasonably clear water. Lots of bat rays from the very beginning of the dive...started to drop and realized there was a large one right underneath me...working quickly to unclip and bring the camera into operation - while still trying to get the last air out of my BC - and not breathing so as not to spook the ray...settled down quietly on the sand next to the ray...just as it decided to finally head out to get away from the blue-faced weirdo....oh well...at least the camera is ready to go and I can breathe again. Camera came in handy quickly too - as there were many bat rays in the area. They were sitting on the sand and "flying" by and over us...I don't think I'll ever get bored of that.

Headed over to the reef area so I could look for the rock-pool blennies with my new macro lens...they were right where they normally were...as was the surge - but I did manage a few decent clips. Headed back from the reef over the sand to see if there were any bat rays we missed on the way out - turns out there were. Surf was 1-3, entry and exit were uneventful. Water was warm...not sure on the exact temp - but warm...with the open sand and decent vis it was certainly one of the more relaxing dives of the year so far...great send-off for Scott, and a good time had by all.

Second dive was the first with David...great to meet you...we were joined by Erik for a night dive at Shaw's. Got a little bit of a late start, but entered the water in 1-2 foot surf (would have been less but we had to enter way to the left to avoid a series of fishing poles/lines two guys were operating from the right side past the middle. David wanted to get some pics of Shelly - I tried to help out lighting with my video lights...looking forward to seeing the result. Spent the rest of the dive working our way back along the reef looking for anything and everything...found several octopi, morays, sheepcrab, Spanish Shawl's, Hopkin's Roses, plainfin midshipman, rays (sting and bat)...vis was down a bit from Diver's...seemed murkier at Shaws...but still enjoyable, a good time had by all, and I look forward to more with David in the future.

(and, yes, I stole this from Peter's logs, since I am too lazy to write my own. Thanks Pete... Please remember to visit his postings at http://www.28thstreetproductions.com/blog/divelog.html)

(and, yes, I stole this idea of stealing from Peter's blog, from Josh's logs, since I am too lazy to write my own. Thanks Josh... Please remember to visit his postings at
http://maldemer.blogspot.com/2007/06/date-may-28-2007-time-630am830am.html)

Unfortunately I was also too lazy to steal Peter's pictures, so you'll have to go to his site to see them. Hopefully Peter and Josh don't get too angry with me for my blatant plagiarism...go check out there websites so they don't sue me!

2007_05_04-PCH Ride

My cousin Kelby came from North Dakota to check out PCH and go on a motorcycle trip. About 850 miles in three days, with lots of scenery and a good amount of beer.

We stopped by Neptune's Net and Kelby got to try some calamari:


A quick break:


After wanting to go here for the past couple years and never having it work out, I finally had some split pea soup, which was very tasty.


The first night we camped at Jalama. The entire day we were riding in 30 mph winds, which was very unpleasant. I was also unsure of actually getting a site, due to the fact that you can't make reservations. We lucked out and there were plenty.


Sunset at Jalama.

2007_04_21_Santa Cruz Channel Island Camping

Jeff and I went out to Santa Cruz Island for a night of camping, some hiking, and some beer drinking. We took a boat out of Ventura, which dropped us off for the night. We showed up (late, after Jeff's car overheated) with backpacking gear and when we arrived to get on the boat, everyone else had car camping gear, including coolers full of beer! Luckily, our neighbors were friendly and had lots of extra!

Pictures from the first day:
http://picasaweb.google.com/will0967/2007_04_21_SantaCruzChannelIslandCamping

Pictures from the second day:
http://picasaweb.google.com/will0967/2007_04_22_SantaCruzChannelIslandCamping

2007_04_17-CatalinaDiving

Pictures from a boat trip out to Catalina Island. We arrived the night before for a trip out to San Clemente Island to play with a bunch of sea lions. We loaded up our gear, drank a bunch of gear, then woke up at Catalina Island. They had attempted the trip out to the Channel Islands, but shortly after leaving the harbor decided against it, due to high winds and choppy conditions. We got in three dives.

Eagle Reef:
http://picasaweb.google.com/will0967/2007_04_14CatalinaEagleReef

Yellowtail Point
http://picasaweb.google.com/will0967/2007_04_14CatalinaYellowtailPoint

And Blue Caverns, posted below.

2007_04_14-CatalinaBlueCaverns

2007_03_27-Shaw's Cove Dive

Dive at Shaw's Cove, with Peter. Played with the wide angle lens on this dive. Vis was pretty bad, but still a good dive!

Link to pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/will0967/2007_03_27_Shaws_WideAngleLens

My current computer setup has 2 monitors, with a regular VGA connection on one and a DVI connection on the other. On the VGA monitor, the pictures all look like crap. On the DVI monitor, they look much better. If they look like crap on your monitor, it may be possibly to adjust the brightness/contrast to get a better picture.

2007_03_25 Dead Man's and Shaw's Cove

First dive was with Peter and Erik, at Dead Mans:

Pissed off looking sheep crab. Like a moray eel, these things always look like they want to rip your thumb off!


Don't know what this is, but it looks cool.



Next dive was with Erik, at Shaw's Cove. Awful visibility, but still a good time.

Erik


Starfish

Closeup of starfish "finger"


I forget what these are called, but they're really ugly, especially up close.


I saw this feather floating around in the surge and it reminded me of American Beauty...only without the video or garbage bag...


We also saw a hermit crab getting tumbled through the surf. It was rather funny (for us at least, I don't think he found it humorous) to watch him try to hold on for dear life, only to go tumbling along the bottom, then get a chance to grab on again, with the process repeating. I have a short video I'll try to get uploaded.