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Dive Report: Catalina on the Great Escape : November 22, 2009





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Posted by Chris on November 25, 2009 at 07:37:18:

Last Sunday November 22, 2009 I went to Catalina aboard the Great Escape. Despite the dire warnings from the weatherman it was a sunny and calm day.

The first dive was at Hidden Reef. The water was 60°F to 62°F above 90 feet, and 53°F below 90 feet. In the warmer water the visibility was about 35 feet. The water was blue, but full of large plankton. Below the thermocline the visibility was 100+ ft.


Terebellid Worm
Terebellid Worm


Acanthodoris hudsoni
Acanthodoris hudsoni


Alloclinus holderi (Island Kelpfish)
Alloclinus holderi (Island Kelpfish)


The second dive was at Eagle Reef. The same temperature and visibility as Hidden Reef. There was a large school of Sardinops sagax (Pacific sardines) that would appear and disappear periodically.


Epizoanthus scotinus (Zooanthid Anemones)
Epizoanthus scotinus (Zooanthid Anemones)


Sardinops sagax (Pacific sardine)
Sardinops sagax (Pacific sardines)


Lythrypnus dalli (Blue-banded Goby, Catalina Goby)
Lythrypnus dalli (Blue-banded Goby, Catalina Goby)


Coenocyathus bowersi (Colonial Cup Coral)
Coenocyathus bowersi (Colonial Cup Coral)


Coenocyathus bowersi (Colonial Cup Coral)
Coenocyathus bowersi (Colonial Cup Coral)


Heterodontus francisci (Horn Shark)
Heterodontus francisci (Horn Shark)


Lysmata Californica (Red Rock Shrimp), Gymnothorax mordax (California Moray), & juvenile Chromis punctipinnis (Blacksmith)
Lysmata Californica (Red Rock Shrimp), Gymnothorax mordax (California Moray), & juvenile Chromis punctipinnis (Blacksmith)


The third and final dive of the trip was at Bird Rock. The same 30 ft. visibility here too.


A juvenile Paralabrax clathratus (Kelp Bass, Calico Bass)
A juvenile Paralabrax clathratus (Kelp Bass, Calico Bass)


Chaceia ovoidea (Wartneck Piddock Boring Clam)<br>
Chaceia ovoidea (Wartneck Piddock Boring Clam)


Living pieces of a Linckia columbiae (Fragile Star)
Linckia columbiae (Fragile Star)


Living pieces of a Linckia columbiae (Fragile Star)
Living pieces of a Linckia columbiae (Fragile Star)


Haliotis corrugata (Pink Abalone)
Haliotis corrugata (Pink Abalone)


Ophiopteris papillosa (Flat-spined Brittle Star)
Ophiopteris papillosa (Flat-spined Brittle Star)


©2009 Chris Grossman, diver.net



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