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Dive Log
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Dive Information
Photos
Diver Gary

 

clown nudibranch
triopha maculata
polycera atra
trilineata

 

 
Date
 July 22 & 23. 2010
Water Temp (F) 54 deg. F.
Air Temp (F) low 60's
Max Depth (ft) 31 feet
Time In 10:15 & 10:00 AM
Dive Time (min) 56 & 64 minutes
Topside WX Overcast
Comments

 

Two very good dives in water that was fairly dark & dirty. Lots of species (I photographed 9 different species of nudibranchs) including a juvenile Triopha maculata. We often see juveniles, but no large adults. Ken & I had a great hike between dives on the Point Bichon Trail. The San Marcos hotel where we always stay hung some of our images up in their reception/office area. We also got permission from the owner of the Great American Fish Co. to use his pier to dive the South Pier on a future dive.
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Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver
Gary
american spider crab
flabellina trilineata
wildflowers
Date
March 30
Water Temp.
52 deg. F.
Max. Depth
28 feet
Time In
58 min.
Topside Wx
calm, sunny
Comments Water visibility was 4 to 5 feet with lots of sediment. Photographed the usual subjects: Hermissenda and Trilineata nudibranchs (no other species were sighted on this dive.) My highlight was a American spider crab (Pyromaia tubercalata) which I found under the end of the pier and was identified by Kai Lampson, Invertebrate Project biologist, with Dept of Fish & Game. Thanks, Kai. Ken & I also visited the Carizzo Plain for a fantastic wildflower display.

 

 

 

 

 

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Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver
Gary
shrimp
shrimp
cabezon
Date
Jan. 18, 2010
Water Temp.
55 deg. F.
Max Depth
31 feet
Time In
58 min.
Weather
See Below
Comments We entered the bay in a busterey winter storm, with pelting rain and sideways wind. Underwater however, the visability was ok, about 3 feet. Had two very cooperative shrimp, Heptacarpas palpator, and a juvenile cabezon hiding in a rotted piling. Weather and water were so bad we canceled the next day's diving.

 

 

 

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Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver
Gary
Date
Nov. 5, 19 & 20
Water Temp.
54 deg.
Max. Depth
27 feet
Times in
58, 62 & 68 min.
Top Wx
Mild, foggy mornings
Comments On the Nov. 5 dive we experienced the cleanest, clearest water we can remember. Visability must have been at least 30 feet. My highlight was finding and photographing a new (to us) nudibranch: Trapania velox. I found this nudi on an encrusting sponge on one of the pilings. I plan to look for him (or it) again on future dives.
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Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver
Gary Powell
octopus
octopus
Date
Aug. 19 & 20, 2009
Water Temp.
52 & 54 deg. F.
Max. Depth
28 Feet
Time In
62 & 65 min.
Topside Wx
AM fog, then sunny.
Comments Sharon & I came up on Wed., then Coleen & Ken joined us on Thursday. My dive highlight was a very cooperative octopus who allowed me to photograph him (her) for about 10 minutes. The octopus was initially hiding in an old barnacle shell, then came out and allowed me to photograph in the open.

 

 

 

 

Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver
Gary Powell
octopus
skeleton shrimp
tube worm
Date
July 9 & 10, 2009
Water Temp.
55 Deg. F.
Max. Depth
31 Feet
Time In
68 & 65 min.
Topside Wx.
Beautiful!
Comments
 Two terrific dives: a lot of Trilineata activity near our entry point of the lateral dock. We had never before seen so many of these small nudibranchs together. First photo (right, middle) of a skeleton shrimp. Also photographed (our second sighting) a Dendronotus frondosus. Many Serpulid worms (bottom, right) with stunning color patterns. We hung 28 underwater imagesat the museum of natural history.

 

Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver
Gary Powell
octopus
polycera atra
triopha blenny
Date
June 24 & 25, 2009
Water Temp. F.
55 deg. F.
Max. Depth
28 feet
Time In
65 & 68 min.
Topside Wx.
Fair, breezy
Comments

Two wonderful dives, but both with limited visibility: about 3 to 5 feet. Photographed a cluster of Polycera atra nudibranchs on a hydroid, feeding or mating or possibly both.

Also witnessed and photographed a rare encounter of an octopus preying on a clam. (photo right) The octopus appears to have his tentacles under the clam trying to pry him out.

 

 

Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver
Gary
dive log
dive log
dive log
Date
May 24 & 25
Water Temp.
54 deg. F.
Max. Depth
31 feet
Time In
60 & 64 minutes
Topside Wx
Calm, overcast
Comments
With my wife, Sharon, & labradoddle, Paddy, I did two dives (Ken was traveling). Saw & photographed two critters I had not seen before in Morro Bay: a nudibranch Dentronotus iris and a brittle star. Visibility was poor, only about 3 feet.

 

 

Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver
Gary
 
Date
April 27, 2009
Water temp.
49 deg. F.
Max. Depth
31 feet
Time In
64 minutes
Weather
Cool & Breezy
Comments A lot of large particles in the water made for low visibility. We entered the bay about one hour before max high tide, thus encountered a brisk in current for the first part of the dive. We encountered the usual marine life including many beautiful Serpluid Worms.

 

 

Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver Gary

trilineata nudibranch

 
 
sea star
 
sea cucumber
 
tunicate

 

 

 

 

 
Date March 23 & 24, 2009
Water Temp (F) 45 & 48 deg. F
Air Temp (F) Mild
Max Depth (ft) 28 & 30 feet
Time In 8:20 & 8:45 AM
Dive Time (min) 45 & 62 minutes
Topside WX Windy on Monday, then fair.
Comments

 

 

Monday's dive was in poor visibility (about 4 feet), but conditions improved on Tuesday to about 10 feet.  The bay was very cold, but tolerable.  Observed and photographed two new critters:  a sea cucumber (possibly a slipper sea cucumber) and a small (about 2 inches in diameter) sea star that moved across the sand flats fairly quickly. There were numerous Trilineata nudibranchs.  These small nudibranchs are challending to photograph.
 

 

Dive Log
Dive Information
Photos
Diver Gary

nudibranch

xmastree worm

xmastree worm
Date Feb. 25 & 26, 2009
Water Temp (F) 54
Air Temp (F) 62
Max Depth (ft) 26'
Time In 9:40 & 10:00 AM
Dive Time (min) 74 & 68 min.
Topside WX Beautiful Morro Bay Day
Comments Highlight was a pair of mating Janolus barbarensisand a threesome of Polycera hedgpathi.  Tried to concentrate on photographing Christmas Tree & Serpulid worms.