4/1/2006 - A First, And A Better Image Of Another Nudi

I went to the Grunion Run at Cabrillo Beach last night. It was great fun hanging out with my friends and watching the little fish come ashore to mate, then flop back toward the sea. I didn't get to sleep until after 2:00. When I woke up it was raining. I figured there would be no diving today, so I went back to sleep until 9:00. I get up at 4:00 every day, so sleeping in was a very nice treat. Five minutes after I got up, my friend Claudette called and told me to get to Marineland. The sky had cleared and we had some of the best conditions this year. We entered from the Point and swam out to about 42 feet of depth. We could still see the bottom. Once we reached the rocky reef we witnessed the usual explosion of life. We even saw many fish today, which is not very common on this reef. Among the Rockfish and Lingcod were several Sheephead. Claudette managed to pester a Sheepcrab. She's good at making me laugh under water.

I found an Atagema alba nudibranch. I had only seen one before and didn't get a good picture. The one I saw today was out and about.

I have seen Flabellina trilineata nudis before, but never when I had a working camera with me. I found one today and took several shots.

I saw plenty of mating Hudson's dorids today. After downloading my images I noticed a tiny Trilineata between these two lovebirds.

Among the usual assortment of nudibranchs were Diaulula sandiegensis...

Triopha catalinae...

Hermissenda crassicornis...

Cuthona divae...

Anisodoris nobilis...

Hopkinsia rosacea...

Plus the larger variety of life found here, including octopus...

Lingcod...

Treefish...

And several species of Rockfish.

Filter feeders are also abundant at Marineland. Hydroids always remind me of fireworks.

I found a tube anemone on my favorite wall. I couldn't tell if it's tentacles were centipede shaped or if it was eating something. With my luck, it was eating the only Dirona albolineata there. Hilary saw one in Seattle, but I have yet to find one.

There is expected to be two large groups of divers at Marineland tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get in before they stir everything up. More to come...