3/28/2009 - A PEACEfull day at Santa Cruz

Date: 03/28/2009

Time In: 8:26am / 10:43am / 1:43pm / 3:38pm

Dive Location: Santa Cruz Island, California

Dive Sites: Gull Island South / GI West / Ruby Rock / Quail Rock

Viz: 25-40'

Water Temp: 53-55°f(Suunto)

Max Depth: 71' / 67' / 86' / 64'

Bottom time: 42 / 44 / 37 / 46 min.

Buddies: Rob C, Richard G

Scott Gietler sent out an e-mail late last year asking if there would be enought interest to do a charter to Santa Cruz Island on the Peace Dive boat out of Ventura. I was super excited to go, as I've never been on the Peace, nor had I been to Santa Cruz before. It seemed like an eternity waiting for the trip to arrive, but we finally boarded the Peace for the trek to Santa Cruz on Friday night. I was joined by my buddies Richard Goddard and Rob Casagrand.

The Peace is a decent size well laid out dive boat. There is a large engine/compressor cover on the dive deck perfect for the large number of camera's Scott's trips tend to attract. Inside the Galley are two large tables and a small recharge station that was put to good use. After using the carts to tote all of our gear (my little ford escape was PACKED) to the boat, we set up our rigs, got our bunk assignments, and called it a night.

We got our wake-up call shortly after 7am. I slept so well and was so warm in my bunk that I really did not want to get up, but I forced myself to get into my drysuit undergarment and make my way for the stairs. As I enjoyed a cup of coffee and an english muffin the captain and crew anchored off Gull Island. The sun was shining and the ocean was flat - no wind, a negligable swell. After a short briefing, we were off for our first dive. As I descended I could tell that the angle of the sun, the depth and the kelp canopy was going to make this a dark dive. No worries, I brought my own sun as I switched on my HID lights and camera. Right away I could see how rich the reef was nudi food, so I began my search. Right away I started seeing super small nudis including Aegires', some small cadlina and sea lemon's. I figured if things were going to stay this small - this was going to be a frustrating day! As I continued on, the nudi list expanded including a Polycera tricolor and a Porter's hanging on a piece of kelp as well as a large Navanax - this was getting more manageable from the zooming and focus standpoint. Finally I came across a nudi first for me, a Philidiana hiltoni - Hilton's nudibranch. These guys were HUGE! And there were several of them all over the reef.

Aegires albopunctatus

Cadlina flavomaculata

Navanax inermis

Polycera tricolor

Philidiana hiltoni

The entire dive probably saw me move no more the 15 feet across the reef. As we motored around to a different side of the small island (rock) for the second dive, breakfast was served. Dive two provided more of the same as well as many more nudi species.

Flabellina trilineata

Mexichromis porterae (Porter's Chromodorid)

Diaulula sandiegensis (San Diego Dorid)

After our second dive we motored around to the west side of the island. It was supposed to be about an hour to the next site, but ended up being a little further when we had to bi-pass the intended site due to strong surge. Our third stop was Ruby Rock. The plan was for a wall dive off of the island. We dropped to about 85' and found a rich reef just waiting to be explored, change of plans! Right away I found a T. Festiva crawling on the sand. This was only second my sighting of this nudi - and I knew they were more common at the northern islands.

Tritonia festiva

My next find appeared to be strange looking shrimp. I have yet to get an id on it, but after looking closer I now think it was a hermit crab in a strange dwelling.

Hermit Crab?

As I continued along the reef and a very large nearby rock, the nudi finds continued..

Navanax inermis

Peltodoris nobilis - Noble Dorid - Sea Lemon

Doriopsilla albopunctata

The fourth and final dive site was at a place called quail rock. This site was a really nice upslope that prodided tons of places for critters to hide. I was amazed by the numbers and variety of sea cucumber at this site (sorry - no photo's). Of course, the nudi and macro quest continued, though I gave up about half way into the dive as the surge got stronger..

Triopha Catalinae - Clown Dorid

Goby

Trivia Snail

Unknown Snail

Polycera Atra (Black Dorid)

What a day! After packing up my gear and hanging out on the upper deck for a bit I hit the bunk again, and didn't realize how tired four dives can make you! Thanks to everyone for a great trip!

Nudi tally for the day (17!!!!): Aegires albopunctatus, Flabellina trilineata, Polycera atra, Hermissenda crassicornis, Triopha catalinae, Diaulula sandiegensis, Cadlina Luteomarginata, Peltodoris nobilis, Navanax inermis, Tritonia festiva, Mexichromis porterae, Doriopsilla albopunctata, Philidiana hiltoni, Flabellina iodinea, Cadlina limbaughorum, Polycera tricolor, Cadlina flavomaculata