diver.net

Success and Failure of an MPA


dive-instructors.com, the first place to look for a dive instructor


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ California Scuba Diving BBS ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Max Bottomtime on July 05, 2013 at 19:51:37:

We finally got a chance to dive the pinnacles off Pt. Vicente this week. Designated as the Point Vicente State Marine Conservation Ares since January 1, 2012 the reefs are showing signs of making a comeback. Rockfish, sheephead and smaller reef fish have increased in numbers to the point that the reefs are beginning to represent what can be found in the Channel Islands. By the sheer number of garibaldi nests observed, Pt. Vicente may someday look like Catalina.

Unfortunately, we had to inform another boatload of fisherman for the umpteenth time that the area is closed to all take. It is amazing how many people can get a fishing license, gear and bait without ever hearing about MPAs.

The reef off Pt. Vicente's Whale Rock is made up of monoliths rising twenty-five feet or more from the gravel bottom. Some of the pinnacles made me think of the opening scene in 2001, a Space Odyssey. Kelp covers most of the reef during the winter, but even during the summer the area still catches propellers. We had better than twenty feet visibility with toasty 54° temperatures.

 photo PointVicente3_zpsf2f0b699.jpg

 photo PointVicente17_zps748d6725.jpg

 photo PointVicente18_zps6bf6b718.jpg

 photo PointVicente20_zpsc6c86184.jpg

 photo PointVicente21_zpsae612b48.jpg

 photo PointVicente22_zps4ddb9d13.jpg

 photo PointVicente29_zps20c7f568.jpg

 photo PointVicente28_zps51be640c.jpg

 photo PointVicente27_zps9bc21c7f.jpg

 photo PointVicente26_zpsc7e11e72.jpg

 photo PointVicente25_zps0be4e2da.jpg

 photo PointVicente23_zpsca957b23.jpg

 photo PointVicente16_zps62529e70.jpg

 photo PointVicente15_zps7cf6c2d9.jpg

 photo PointVicente14_zps84a9b9b4.jpg

 photo PointVicente13_zps3afd5391.jpg

 photo PointVicente12_zps57e9d65d.jpg

 photo PointVicente11_zps89d3caca.jpg

 photo PointVicente9_zpse10b423a.jpg

 photo PointVicente7_zps09e5114a.jpg

 photo PointVicente6_zps17eae163.jpg

 photo PointVicente5_zps7e850990.jpg

My shutter finger was itching for some macro, so we headed for the Redondo Barge. Green dirty water clouded the downline to forty feet before opening up to decent vis on the bottom. Marine life seemed somewhat sparse, so I cut my dive short after forty minutes.

 photo RedondoBarge8_zps12a0617b.jpg

 photo RedondoBarge7_zps6525b57e.jpg

 photo RedondoBarge6_zpsc3d6d124.jpg

 photo RedondoBarge1_zpscaf27f49.jpg

 photo RedondoBarge5_zps4a3e1e5b.jpg



Follow Ups:


Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Message:
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Post Background Color: White     Black
Post Area Page Width: Normal   Full
You must type in the
scrambled text key to
the right.
This is required to
help prevent spam bots
from flooding this BBS.
capcha
Text Key:

      


diver.net