3/19/2006 - Froze My Toes And My Nose

What a difference one degree makes. The water temp was 51 last week. It was 50F today and everyone seemed to notice the drop. Even those of us in drysuits talked about how cold it was. My friend Jeff and I swam over to the Point at Marineland and explored the rocks for nudis, octopus and a few fish. We were buzzed by a sea lion, but it wasnt the one who bit me, so I didn't get scared.

After the dive we explored more of the ruins there. The new owners plan to begin bulldozing next month, so anything left is free game, according to Pirate Rules. I found a website last night that shows some pictures of the inside of the old hotel rooms.

http://community.livejournal.com/abandonedplaces/423617.html

The windows are boarded up, but the plywood they used is from a mural of underwater life at Marineland. Pictures were taken, and one of the boards even went home with one of the divers. We may have to go back for more later.

Among the usual suspects under water were many San Diego dorids laying eggs, as well as climbing the stalks of tube anemones.

A Cabezon naps on a Sea Star

Ribbons of nudibranch eggs decorate nearly every rock on the main reef.

A San Diego dorid grazes between stalks of finger sponges.

I spotted this very tiny Cuthona divae out of the corner of my eye. It is only about 1/8" long.

The Horned nudibranchs, Hermissenda crassicornis were everywhere, as usual.