When we left port 2AM Tuesday March 21, 2006 I was not sure we would make Santa Rosa because it was bumpy, however when I awoke in the morning we were passing between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa on our way to Talcott Shoals. The water was not pretty, there were big swells, whitecaps, wind; but we were going to Talcott!

Once we got there the water on most dives was 50 &def;F, surgy, dirty, and green. The visibility varied from about 15 feet to 5 feet. Those that were willing to go up into the shallows (<5 ft) and get worked were rewarded with bugs. Out deeper (20 ft. +) the surge was smaller but still big (5 ft back and forth) but the bugs were small and not easily accessible. In the afternoon when the waves were coming over the bow we left for the shelter of Santa Cruz.

That night some people (including Captain Eric) elected to go night diving and most did not return empty handed.

On Wednesday morning we headed for the backside of Santa Rosa. Again most of the bugs were in shallow. Out deeper they were way back and inaccessible.

Our fourth and last dive of the day was at Willows on the back side of Santa Cruz. I choose to Take pictures on this dive. I found fornicating snails almost everywhere I went. Mostly pairs and groups of Kellet's Whelks (Kelletia kelletii) or one pair of Ophiodermella ophioderma.

diver.net

Animals trip to
Santa Rosa Island & Santa Cruz Island
aboard the Peace
March 21-22, 2006

click on the images to enlarge

Topside
Ventura Field of Orange Blossoms	Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)	Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)	Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)	Looking at San Miguel Island from Talcott Shoals	Chris Cervellone	Captain Eric Bowman prepares for the night dive at Santa Cruz Island
Moss Crab (Loxorhynchus crispatus) aka Masking Crab	Moss Crab (Loxorhynchus crispatus) aka Masking Crab	Offshore Oil Rig	Offshore Oil Rig
Willows at Santa Cruz Island
Sheep Crab (Loxorhynchus grandis)	Sheep Crab (Loxorhynchus grandis)	Fornicating Kellet's Whelks (Kelletia kelletii)	Mating Kellet's Whelks (Kelletia kelletii)
Short Spined Sea Star (Pisaster brevispinus)	The anchor of the Peace	Ophiodermella ophioderma	Ophiodermella ophioderma
Mating Ophiodermella ophioderma	Kellet's Whelk (Kelletia kelletii)	Kellet's Whelk (Kelletia kelletii) manage a trois	Blackeye Goby (Coryphopterus nicholsii)

©2006 Chris Grossman, diver.net