I have wanted to dive Big Sur for decades. I finally had the time to do it this week aboard the Vision during on of their June trips out of Morro Bay. I was concerned about swell models calling for seven to ten feet wells for the previous few days but was assured the boat would be going out. I really wish it hadn't.

We left Morro Bay and headed north into some big rollers. There would be no sleep the first night. We arrived to a fog-shrouded coastline with moderate swells and occasional larger ones. Each dive presented it's own problems.

Harlan Rock had surge and a snowstorm of plankton bloom. The anchor chain bounced several feet underwater as the Vision bobbed ion the swells. If you held the chain you were dragged up and down too fast. If you let got of it you would lose sight of it quickly. With the current, surge, horrible visibility and fog you would not want to come up away from the boat.

Problems with the generator prevented Kevin and I from getting our tanks filled for the second dive so we took the opportunity to try for a quick nap. No luck there. The third dive site, Epsilon had slightly better visibility but even more surge. I made a short dive and quit for the day.

The next morning we anchored at Tide Rock. I was hoping for better conditions than the previous day but they were not to be found. The reef was dark and remaining in one place was impossible.

I usually shoot thirty to eight images per dive if conditions are good. In two days of diving at Big Sur I managed to get six total.

A moment of clarity. This was the clearest and calmest minute of the trip.

Swells blocked out our view of the horizon

Kevin Lee struggles to climb the Vision swimstep. It's difficult enough in calm seas.

On trip two years ago a diver lost his computer and scooter. The scooter was found last week and it still ran. The owner didn't leave any contact information with Truth Aquatics.

One of the dive sites

Urticina piscivora

Balanophyllia elegans, Orange cup coral

Calliostoma annulatum

Rostanga pulchra

Okenia rosacea

Dendronotus albus

The trip back to Morro Bay was a bit smoother as we rode the swells south. A pod of Humpback whales put on a show for us along the way.

Fuel is more then two dollars cheaper than it is in Redondo Beach.

• Big Sur Chris S. 12:21:48 07/21/17 (0)
• Big Sur Chris S. 12:21:42 07/21/17 (0)
• Re: Big Disappointment at Big Sur Kathy K. 09:52:16 06/26/17 (1)
  • Re: Re: Big Disappointment at Big Sur Max Bottomtime 10:24:03 06/26/17 (0)