DIve Report: Shaw's Cove...is it my Imagination?

Or is the bottom of the 'Arch' getting deeper?  Being scooped out by ever changing currents, tides, and other forces of naturre???

Sunday Afternoon:  Shaw's Cove

Surf:  2-4' with occassional lulls

Swell:  mild to moderate

surge:  Initially heavy in the arch; mild at end of dive (high tide)

Viz:  10-15' on west side of reef

Temp:  70 degrees Suunto  Yep, you're reading correctly

Max Depth:  42'

Purpose:  Search and Recover

After being called in to work today, decided to head for the beach for a 'search and recover' dive in hopes to reclaim my mask I lost on the 4th; and a friend's equipment which was lost on Friday evening (mask and fins).  Today's dive was one of my BEST dives ever at Shaws!  FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

News was good that beaches were 're-opened' to divers!  Got geared up, made my way to the sand, discussed my dive plan and experience level with local lifeguard, after giving me the thumbs up, I made my way to the water's edge.  Surf was still an occassional 2-4' with some lulls in between.  Made it out without incident.  At first, I snorkeled around on the surface to survey the conditions.  CLEAR!  However, a bit choppy at the surface.  I dropped down over sand and headed east in hopes of exploring the east side of Shaw's (known area for lost gear to end up).  However, as I got further east, viz deteriated immensely almost to a white out condition.  I changed my pattern and headed back west across the sand.  On my way i noticed a large smooth surface emitting from the sand.  At first I thought it was a rock, as I got closer, it scooted off.  It was a VERY LARGE Thornback Ray!!!  I came across other sand dwellers as well that included Halibut, C-O Soles, and a GIGANTIC Bat Ray!!!  His wing span had to be 4-5' across.  Very, very, COOL!

Finally made it to the west side reef.  Entered the Arch way where I noticed it to be alot deeper than normal.  Surge was kicking up quite a bit but I wasn't disappointed by my visit.  Too bad it wasn't Lobster season, for I could have easily have nabbed 3 five pounders!  In addition to all the bugs, there were plenty of Black Croakers, Blacksmith, Giribaldi's, and an everlasting prescense of Hopin's Rose, big ones too!  The surge was too strong for me to go all the way through the arch to the other side or through the passage way under the rock, so I turned around.  No effort was needed, for the surge Flushed me out like a man in a cannon!  What a wild ride!!!  TOO FUN!!!  As I turned to head south on the reef, a cuuuuuuuute baby Harbor Seal joined me for the rest of my dive!!!  OMG, I LOVE Harbor Seals!  They are my favorite.  Just gotta love those cute little faces!  Bug moltings were everywhere, as were fish of all breeds.  A very large school of Jack Mackerals schooled about me for a bit.  That has to be one of the most surreal feelings.  The two Moray's were back in their usual spot.  I noticed too, that perhaps 'they' cleaned ou the crevice that they live in, for last time I dove here, their crevice was filled with muscle shells and derbis from the relatively high surf we had a few weeks ago.

 At Turn-Around rock, I remember someone saying that the 'Shelly of Shaw's' statue was near by (Peter, I think).  So I went just a tad east and found her.  Very cool!!!  Having just visited the Getty Museum for the first time yesterday and seeing all the statues, I was in awe of her to say the least.  Viz on the outer reef was declining a bit, plus I told the Lifeguard that I would only be down for an hour or so, I decided to head back.

On my way back, tide was coming in making the Arch very calm and relaxed.  Decided to explore somemore.  More Hopkin's Rose and T. Fungina on the North wall, along with many white sea anenomes.  That is when I noticed how deep the area just under the arch appeared.  I was able to go up the other side and explore in which more bug moltings were seen and another 5 pounder within reach.  Darn it!  They just love to Tease!!!

 Headed back to shore, popped up in 4' of water and walked out without incident.  Sad to say, I did not find my mask, nor my friends.  Just a reminder,  my mask is black with split frame with RED broken snorkel.  My friend lost her black Oceanic Black mask, full frame, and Oceanic M_L Black fins, scruffed up. 

Jan

7:37 PM - 7/8/2007 - post comment

Untitled Comment

Cool blog, I enjoyed reading about your diving adventures. I've just started a blog here, but have another at www.saipandiver.blogspot.com, and have a bunch of my dive pics at www.saipandiver.smugmug.com. Just thought with your obvious passion of diving, you might enjoy taking a look.
Harry

Saipandiver - 10:02 PM - 7/8/2007

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