Catalina Island, Santa Barbara Island, and Anacapa Island
Memorial Day Weekend on the Peace
May 28 -30, 2005

Story and Photos © Elaine Jobin, may not be reproduced in part or in whole without advanced written permission.

Day One - Catalina Island

We boarded the Peace on Friday evening for our three day, Memorial Day Weekend, trip. Diving conditions in the Northern Channel Islands were poor due to a plankton bloom. In search of decent visibility we prepared for an overnight trip to Catalina Island.

After a reasonably calm crossing, we arrived early Saturday morning at Ship Rock.

Ship Rock, Catalina Island, photo by Elaine Jobin

The water temperature was in the comfortable 60's and visibility exceeded 50 feet, in some areas it may have been 80 feet plus. During two dives, I saw Jellies, Angel Sharks, Lingcod, assorted schools of fish, gorgonian decorated walls, kelp forests, and pieces of a ships mast.

Jelly Fish, Ship Rock, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Angel Shark, Ship Rock, Catalina, Photo by Elaine Jobin Brown Spotted Sea Cucumber, Holothuria impatiens, Ship Rock, Catalina, Photo by Elaine Jobin Diver, Ship Rock, CAtalina, Photo by Elaine Jobin Diver, Ship Rock,Catalina,photoby Elaine Jobin Diver, Ship Rock, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Diver, Ship Rock, Catalina, Photo by Elaine Jobin Wall at Ship Rock, Catalina, Photo by Elaine Jobin Mast, Wreck, Ship Rock, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin

This was an awesome way to start a dive weekend.

Next we moved to Arrow Point. The water at Arrow Point seemed just a little bit colder but the visibility was still excellent. I used my Nikonos V and the close up kit for photos here so I was totally unprepared when the Giant Black Sea Bass showed up for work.

Jelly Fish, Arrow Point, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Tube Anemone, Pachycerianthus fimbriatus, Arrow Point, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Anemone, Arrow POint, Catalina, Photo by Elaine Jobin Rockfish, Arrow Point, Catalina Island, photo by Elaine Jobin

After this dive the hot tub became the number one hang out on the boat.

We headed to Bird Rock for our last two dives of the day. At bird rock I saw Egg Yolk Jellies, lots of Bat Rays, a Harbor Seal (no external ears), Sheep Crabs, Lobsters, and lots of fish.

Fried Egg Jellyfish, Phacellophora camtschatica, Bird Rock, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Bat Ray, Myliobatis californica, Bird Rock, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Bat Ray, Myliobatis californica, Bird Rock, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Seal, Bird Rock, CAtalina, photo by Elaine Jobin California Lobster, Bird Rock, Photo by Elaine Jobin Sheep Crab, Loxorhynchus grandis, Bird Rock, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Diver, Bird Rock, Catalina, photo by Elaine Jobin Diver, Bird Rock, Photo by Elaine Jobin

After our incredible five dives at Catalina, we ate a delicious dinner and showered up for our night dive in Avalon. The Shore Boat gave us an e ticket ride to town. Some went shopping; others visited Luau Larry's and The Marlin Club. Steve amazed us as a chick magnet with the local women (must have been the Peace crew shirt).

Everyone made it back to the Peace in time for our departure. A great day at Catalina was over and we had a super smooth overnight crossing to Santa Barbara Island.

Return to the Hot Tub or continue diving at Santa Barbara Island