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Trip Report and Photos: Sea Divers to Farnsworth April 1, 2006


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Posted by Elaine on April 08, 2006 at 18:32:05:

Sea Divers Trip Report and Photos

Farnsworth Bank on the Great Escape

April 1, 2006

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

I arrived at the boat at about 1am well after most everyone had gone to bed. Every now and then I have to work a little overtime and Friday night was one of those occasions. A coworker had stepped in a gofer hole on a golf course and had broken his ankle. Originally I was assigned to work his Saturday hours - YIKES, I would have missed a Sea Diver trip. Fortunately, a coworker swapped the extra hours with me - WHEW (and thanks Ruth!). Maybe I couldn't see everybody Friday night, but at least I could make the trip.

I was so tired I have no idea what the sea conditions were on the way to Farnsworth. All I know for sure is that when I woke up in the morning we were almost there. I was greeted my my fellow amphibious Homo sapien Sea Divers

Sea Diver amphibious Homo sapiens

Photo by Elaine Jobin

Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin

Hairless Subspecies

Roger Carlson, Photo by Elaine Jobin

Roger Carlson

Eric Sedletzky, Photo by Elaine Jobin

Eric Sedletzky

 

 

At about 8am we were making our way down the anchor line towards the sea mount. We weren't on the popular "high spot", we were somewhere in the middle. We descended through a cloud or smoggy water that hung between 15 and 60 feet. Beyond 60 feet, the visibility opened up nicely. Friends (Chris Grossman) predicted poor visibility so I didn't bring wide angleon this dive trip, a mistake given the conditions.

We saw lots of California Purple Hydrocoral.

California Hydrocoral: Stylaster californicus

California Hydrocoral, Stylaster californicus, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
California Hydrocoral, Stylaster californicus, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
California Hydrocoral, Stylaster californicus, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
California Hydrocoral, Stylaster californicus, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
California Hydrocoral, Stylaster californicus, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
California Hydrocoral, Stylaster californicus, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin

 

Two of the "Unnamed Starfish" were out on display. This starfish is currently being studied at the LA County museum of Natural History. They are not yet sure if it is a new species or a species extension from Central America. Hopefully, someday soon, this critter will have a name.

Farnsworth Unnamed Starfish

Starfish, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Starfish, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Starfish, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin

 

There were nudibranchs.

Farnsworth Nudibranchs

Stearn's Aeolid, Facelina stearnsi, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Stearn's Aeolid, Facelina stearnsi, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin

Stearn's aeolid: Facelina stearnsi

Stearn's aeolid: Facelina stearnsi

Tritonia festiva, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Spanish Shawl, Flabelina iodinea, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Tritonia festiva
Spanish Shawl: Flabellina iodinea

 

As well as the usual small fish and anemones to photograph.

Colorful Fish and Invertebrates at Farnsworth

Painted Greenling, Oxylebius pictus, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Painted Greenling, Oxylebius pictus, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Corynactis californica, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Painted Greenling: Oxylebius pictus
Painted Greenling: Oxylebius pictus
Club-Tipped Anemone: Corynactis californica

 

Time spent on the anchor line was more interesting with the passage of some Jelly Fish. I didn't see any of the large ones, just the small, nearly transparent ones that flash the electric colors as they swim.

Farnsworth Occasional Pleagics

Comb Jelly, Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Comb Jelly

 

All two soon, after only two dives, it was time to leave Farnsworth We all toyed with the idea of a possible third dive here but some had already spent dive in "deco" and we didn't want our last dive to be followed by time in the chamber. Even though the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber is large - and, I bet the whole group could probably fit in there - we decided not to cause the Chamber Crew a "paperwork nightmare" and headed for shallower waters.

We enjoyed a nice long surface interval as we motored to Black Rock on the front side of Catalina. Eric showed us his prototype backplate that will eventually be available in stores near you.

Surface Interval

Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin

Erick Sedletzkys New Backpack

Erick Sedletzky, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Erick Sedletzky,Photo by Elaine Jobin
Erick Sedletzky,Photo by Elaine Jobin

 

At Black Rock we did two more dives. This dive spot was an instant hit as it was crawling with a zillion nudibranchs and a very friendly Harbor Seal.

Underwater at Black Rock

Zoanthid anemone, Parazoanthus lucificum, Photo by Elaine Jobin

Zoanthid anemone, Parazoanthus lucificum

Hermissenda crassicornis laying eggs, Photo by Elaine Jobin

Hermissenda crassicornis laying eggs

Hermissenda crassicornis,Photo by Elaine Jobin

Hermissenda crassicornis

Hermissenda crassicornisPhoto by Elaine Jobin

Hermissenda crassicornis

Hermissenda crassicornis, Photo by Elaine Jobin

Hermissenda crassicornis

Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, Photo by Elaine Jobin

Sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher

 

Mark Lacaillade sent me a few of his photos from Farnsworth and Black Rock. I love the photo of the Black Rock Harbor Seal.

Mark Lacaillades Photos From Farnsworth

Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Mark Lacaillade
Farnsworth Bank, Photo by Mark Lacaillade

and from Black Rock

Hermissenda crassicornis, Photo by Mark Lacaillade
Harbor Seal, Photo by Mark Lacaillade
Kelp Forest, Photo by Mark Lacaillade

 

We headed back home, exhausted and happy after 4 terrific dives. Lots of Sea Diver thanks to Captain Tim and the Great Escape crew.We were extra blessed to have Pam from the ex-dive boat Encore along as our second captain. The new flat panel big screen TV in the galley is pretty cool too by the way.

Our Captain (s) and Crew

Captain Tim Burke, Photo by Elaine Jobin Photo by Elaine Jobin Captain Tim and Captain Pam, Photo by Elaine Jobin Photo by Elaine Jobin

(The backup Crew)

Photo by Elaine Jobin
Photo by Elaine Jobin

 

And, best wishes to John Delaney who will be undergoing knee surgery and a short dry dock spell.

John Delaney and his Knee - Pre-op

John Delaney, Photo by Elaine Jobin
Knww of John Delaney, Photo by Elaine Jobin
John Delaney, Photo by Elaine Jobin

 

Until Next Time..........

 

 

 




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