Posted by scubabum on November 29, 2001 at 10:05:49:
Yesterday was the perfect day to play hookey. I cant remember the last time the seas were totally flat, not even a 2 foot swell and no wind.
After checking the forecast on Tuesday evening, I decided to call the Peace and Only 12 were signed to go on their normally scheduled Wednesday outer island trip.
Dawn found us motoring between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa on absolutely glassy seas, the sunrise was spectacular.
The first spot was Egg Rock between Santa Rosa and San Miguel islands, an outstanding pinnacle with the top at 50 feet dropping to 140 covered in lush growth with lots of fish life, visibility was 40 foot with the temperature at depth 55 deg.
The next dive was at the wreck of the Aggi, with excellent visibility and no surge. There were numerous Ling Cod here up to approximately 20#, lucky that DFG has put in place an emergency closure.
The last two dives were at Sandy Point and Brockaway Point, visibility ranged from 20-40 foot with the water temperature at a comfy 57 deg.
Limits of lobsters for all the hunters (3) with nice bugs many in the 3-4 pound range, found between 30-40 feet.
This is what California diving is about, the diver mix was from experienced and old timers to a relative newbie, about half were diving solo and no DIR gear was present, the majority were diving nitrox.
As an added bonus on the trip back we encountered a pod of Orcas and we were able to observe them for about 20 minutes.
If you get a chance the Wednesday trips on the Peace are a bargain, the boat is usually light, the food is first class as are the crew.