After three days of Santana winds I expected great conditions. The day began well, with flat seas and a half dozen Gray whales putting on a great show for us at Pt. Vicente.

We needed to fuel the boat, so we made a dive on the wreck of the F.S. Loop just off the Los Angeles Federal Breakwater. We had the best conditions I have ever had on the Loop last year. Today was the worst. Dark, less than three feet visibility and a soup of gunk rushing by.

We didn't find the large number of Doriopsilla spaldingi we usually see here, and not a single Tritonia festiva was spotted. None of us reported anything good after surfacing.

After topping off with petrol, we headed for Marineland in search of nudibranchs. They have been suspiciously absent from our recent dives. Even Marineland was a disappointment. I only found a few species at a spot I found seventeen on a single dive before. Maybe the cold, dirty water is scaring them away.

I'm getting really tired of saying this, but I hope conditions improve soon.

• I heard they're at 14th St. and Santa monica Blvd.(nfm ;~) Divebum Don 20:02:48 01/05/13 (0)