As Phil mentioned, sea state was mostly flat over the holiday, but we were beset at depth by strong surge and poor vis until the last day of diving.

In contrast, surface water was clear at the Palos Verdes Underwater Arch.

At the Underwater Arch, several overhangs shelter a endless assortment of beautiful sponges.

Most of the nudis must have gone indoors for the surge storm except for this very orange version of the sea lemon, Peltodoris nobilis.

Near the Avalon Wreck, I found a tiny (1/4 inch) peanut worm, Sipuncula. This Berkeley site tells more about them: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/sipuncula/sipuncula.html

Phil found what appears to be a different species of peanut worm at the Crane off Haggerty's. This one was about 3 inches long.

Parasitic copepods infest several fish at the Crane. At other sites, I seldom notice them except on giant sea bass and molas.

The "tails" on the copepods are actually egg masses.

The Crane is a great place to shoot chestnut cowries.

Rocks just south of the Crane have some nice sponges.

Roughpatch shrimp are abundant at the Crane.

We found very nice vis and classic Redondo Canyon critters near the Topaz Jetty.

Elbow crab

Pink Mouth Hydroid, Tubularia

Navanax inermis secretes a mucus tube through which it crawls when burrowing through the sand. This ones tube measured ~12 inches.

Janolus barbarensis

Red Rock Crab

• Re: Photos from X-mas holiday dives Kathy K. 14:43:51 12/28/11 (1)
  • Re: Re: Photos from X-mas holiday dives Merry 19:14:46 12/28/11 (0)
• Re: Photos from X-mas holiday dives Divebum Don 13:01:39 12/28/11 (0)