Reports from yesterday looked promising so Kevin Lee and I made our way to the barge off Redondo Beach. A slight current swept a layer of dead plankton past us as we descended into dark, dirty water. I wasn't bad on the bottom but it wasn't as good as it has been lately.

I checked out the octopus nest for any development. The eyes haven't formed in the eggs yet. Once the eggs are laid they can take 120 to 180 days to hatch.

I found a small fish, probably a poacher under a brick. Dr. Milton Love is looking for an identification for me.

The usual cast of characters rounded out the dive.

Bugula neritina

Balanus nubilus, Giant barnacle

Neoclinus stephensae, Yellowfin fringehead

Kaburakia excels, Notocomplana acticola and Anteaeolidiella oliviae eggs

Anteaeolidiella oliviae

Cuthona nana

We headed for Golf Ball Reef next. The current here was stronger. Kevin was unable to swim to the anchor chain with his tiny fins so he dropped early and made a long exploration of the sand before making his way to the reef. We connected just in time to combine our finds of three Thordisa rubescens.

Thordisa rubescens

Pyura haustor, solitary sea squirt

Salmacina tribranchiata

Octopus rubescens

The rest of today's haul is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/southern_california_marine_life/sets/72157681198810381/with/35696252641/

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