Search found 2233 matches

by nwscubamom
Mon Sep 01, 2014 2:23 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Tried Kayak diving? Got any tips?
Replies: 14
Views: 4857

Tried Kayak diving? Got any tips?

Enquiring minds want to know - 1. Do you usually anchor your kayak and hope you surface near it and that it doesn't disappear while you're under? 2. Or do you tow it along behind you? (kind of cumbersome if you're carrying a camera) 3. If you anchor, what do you use for an anchor and how big? Mushro...
by nwscubamom
Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:42 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Baby Warbonnets and Ed's Fault
Replies: 4
Views: 1230

Re: Baby Warbonnets and Ed's Fault

Looks like a great dive site!
by nwscubamom
Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:22 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: record-setting octopus
Replies: 4
Views: 1469

Re: record-setting octopus

So, I thought that the mommy octopus doesn't even eat during that period - think that's true of this species? How do you not eat for 53 months? :eek:
by nwscubamom
Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:39 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Identify Patterns in Gravel ?
Replies: 9
Views: 3654

Re: Identify Patterns in Gravel ?

Jeff Pack wrote:Sea Snipes...
YellowEye wrote:Godzilla
GearHead wrote:Must be space aliens, it can only be seen from above. ;)
Also a reminder to everyone else that the Critter Forum is a No Hijack Zone....
Thanks,
- Janna
by nwscubamom
Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:37 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Identify Patterns in Gravel ?
Replies: 9
Views: 3654

Re: Identify Patterns in Gravel ?

Jerry, That is really cool!! I have seen video of fish elsewhere creating a funky nesting pattern in the sand like that. But those are pufferfish, not exactly a fish we have around here! http://www.livescience.com/40119-pufferfish-make-seafloor-circles-to-attract-mates-video.html Have you sent these...
by nwscubamom
Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:50 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Sink Your Teeth Into THIS! (free, online webinar)
Replies: 1
Views: 1252

Sink Your Teeth Into THIS! (free, online webinar)

fishteeth.jpg SPECIAL online Fishinar July 24th, 8pm Eastern (it's free!): Fish mouths are much more than a set of teeth and a pair of jaws used for eating. Lacking paws, claws or opposable thumbs, fish must use their mouths for a variety of tasks, including seizing food, luring prey, excavating bu...
by nwscubamom
Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:45 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Tunicate, Sponge, Or...?
Replies: 1
Views: 1046

Re: Tunicate, Sponge, Or...?

I'd guess sponge....hmmmmm.....
by nwscubamom
Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:40 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Sea star die-off
Replies: 279
Views: 131352

Re: Sea star die-off

Hood Canal, more specifically Point Whitney, West Pulali Point, and the Pinnacle, all look just fine as of Saturday May 31st. Saw: Big and small Sunflower Stars Lots of large Spiny Pink stars Vermilion Stars Long Ray Stars Leather Stars Blood Stars And I had heard the same thing as Nwbrewer - that s...
by nwscubamom
Sat May 10, 2014 7:03 pm
Forum: Underwater Imaging - Photography & Video
Topic: Moved from Whidbey Island Critters - in footsteps of Jan K
Replies: 19
Views: 7075

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

...There might be some dispute about distinction between Black Eye Goby and Bay Goby. Most of the Gobies I found in Mukilteo Lighthouse park have outer coloration of the eye falling somewhere in between (neither black nor totally brigh). Here are 2 examples: PICT3477-gravid-bay-goby-zoom.JPG PICT33...
by nwscubamom
Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:23 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: God's Pocket Fire | How You Can Help
Replies: 1
Views: 916

Re: God's Pocket Fire | How You Can Help

What a GREAT idea!!! I hope people take advantage of this. I'm sure considering it. Never been there before, but this seems like a great way to do so - with no expiry date!
by nwscubamom
Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:54 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Learn how to ID the Top 25 Fish of Roatan - Thursday
Replies: 0
Views: 746

Learn how to ID the Top 25 Fish of Roatan - Thursday

fishinarroatan.jpg Learn how to identify the 25 most common fish seen in Roatan - (or pretty much anywhere in the Caribbean). Thursday, March 20th, at 8pm Eastern time. (your time zone may vary! - That's 5pm Pacific time) Perfect for snorkelers and divers, aquarium and marine science center staff, ...
by nwscubamom
Wed Feb 12, 2014 3:43 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Oil in Hood Canal?
Replies: 9
Views: 2164

Re: Oil in Hood Canal?

From what I've heard and read, the oil went NORTH, between the base and the bridge, so it's north of the usual dive sites. I don't think it's too much to worry about from a diving standpoint. I hope there's a bit more info about where things stand now.
by nwscubamom
Wed Feb 05, 2014 3:00 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Egg id help
Replies: 12
Views: 1844

Re: Egg id help

My bet is on Sculpins of some kind. I saw a bunch of Spotfin Sculpin eggs laid in and around Cloud sponge that looked like that too. And they were deep, about 100 feet. 70 feet is pretty deep for Greenling eggs, at least the ones I've seen before. Those are a bit more colorful than the slate charcoa...
by nwscubamom
Tue Feb 04, 2014 4:48 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Life is hard on the bottom
Replies: 6
Views: 1844

Re: Life is hard on the bottom

That's quite a chunk taken out of him! :eek:
by nwscubamom
Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:11 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: ID Help
Replies: 5
Views: 1333

Re: ID Help

Yes, that's exactly what they are, Brooding anemone. The little stripes up the column give it away. Sometimes they can be really red or pink, and others are very greenish colored. Their babies mature on their parent's column, and then they move away when they're old enough. Pretty cool, eh? :supz: -...
by nwscubamom
Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:49 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Greg's new Crab/Shrimp book is OUT!
Replies: 1
Views: 1170

Greg's new Crab/Shrimp book is OUT!

Time for me to toot Greg's horn here: After waiting for months, the anticipation is over and you can get your grubby dry gloves on a copy of Greg's new and amazing Crabs and Shrimps of the Pacific Coast . :joshsmith: 240 full color pages packed with info and interesting sidebar tidbits - and my favo...
by nwscubamom
Thu Jan 16, 2014 5:19 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Seattle Aquarium Annual Octopus Census SAT - MON
Replies: 3
Views: 1612

Seattle Aquarium Annual Octopus Census SAT - MON

It's sneaking right up on us - THIS SATURDAY through MONDAY - the 14th annual octopus census by the Seattle Aquarium. As you're out diving, and happen upon a GPO or two, be sure to report it. Here's the info you'll need:
http://www.seattleaquarium.org/octopus-census

- Janna :joshsmith:
by nwscubamom
Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:49 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Here's your chance! Free PNW Invert ID classes!
Replies: 0
Views: 1194

Here's your chance! Free PNW Invert ID classes!

Done online over the course of 4 one hour sessions, free webinar style REEF Fishinars! Jan 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th. It's been awhile since we've done any Pacific NW ones, and this time we'll be doing Invertebrates. Spread the word to your dive buddies, students, dive shops, dive clubs, etc. Register...
by nwscubamom
Fri Dec 27, 2013 7:43 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Sea star die-off
Replies: 279
Views: 131352

Re: Sea star die-off

IMG_9331.JPG Just dove the last several days off Lopez Island, and all the Sunflower, Blood, Rainbow and False Ochre stars were doing fabulous. No signs of stress (well, ONE had some thinning around the central disc), all were moving around, plump and healthy, looking very nice. (didn't see any oth...
by nwscubamom
Thu Dec 26, 2013 8:12 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Sundrock CO Sole
Replies: 3
Views: 1137

Re: Sundrock CO Sole

How big was this guy? Agreed with Rich - definitely a C-O Sole. It is showing the patterns typical of a younger one (at least the younger ones I've seen) with dark near the eyes, and dark near the tail, and very light throughout the rest of the body.
Merry Fishmas to you!
- Janna
by nwscubamom
Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:56 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Eggs on detached seastar arm
Replies: 5
Views: 981

Re: Eggs on detached seastar arm

Hi all, Those are not eggs, but rather the insides (more specifically the gonads and pyloric caeca, whatever that is) of the seastar spilling out. Here is the progression of the disease from Neil McDaniel (and his photos): Pycnopodia 10 shows this thinning in close-up. Note how distinct the edges of...
by nwscubamom
Sat Nov 16, 2013 6:53 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Clean buoy at Flagpole
Replies: 7
Views: 1540

Re: Clean buoy at Flagpole

Thanks for doing that. When I was on the WSA board years ago, when the mooring buoys were being sold and installed, I remember part of the cost of each buoy was for maintenance that WSA would be doing down the road on buoys. If you know of others that need maintenance, I suggest contacting WSA and l...
by nwscubamom
Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:44 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Sea star die-off
Replies: 279
Views: 131352

Re: Sea star die-off

by nwscubamom
Mon Nov 11, 2013 9:31 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Sea star die-off
Replies: 279
Views: 131352

Re: Sea star die-off

From the recent REEF PNW Critterwatchers newsletter: Keep your eyes on the stars! You may have been hearing about the recent seastar dieoff in some areas of BC. There have also been reports of sick or dying seastars in some areas in Washington as well. Scientists are working hard to determine the ca...