Search found 1055 matches

by oldsalt
Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:20 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Local Shark Questions
Replies: 11
Views: 5867

Re: Local Shark Questions

I dived in northwest waters for over 50 years and never saw a sixgill. This included going on a "Sixgill expedition" with a group of photojournalists near Hornby Island. We were skunked. I made several dives seeking the elusive shark, including return trips to Hornby, Tyler Rock in Barkley...
by oldsalt
Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:01 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia
Replies: 18
Views: 7102

Re: Critter Junkies in Ambon, Indonesia

Thanks for taking this armchair diver to a place I'll never go. Wonderful.
-Curt :rawlings:
by oldsalt
Mon Dec 23, 2019 9:32 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: ThThTh 12/19/2019
Replies: 4
Views: 2002

Re: ThThTh 12/19/2019

I imaging how strange our conversations would sound to an eavesdropper with comments such as "beautiful shots of grunts and lumpies". Anyway, they are.
-Curt :D
by oldsalt
Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:33 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: The Banda Sea aboard the MSY Seahorse
Replies: 11
Views: 4986

Re: The Banda Sea aboard the MSY Seahorse

Stephen: Magnificent. Sailing and diving are two activities I cherish, but have given up. I appreciate your effort and creative genius. I'm sure the Seahorse was more luxurious than any of the boats I dived from.
-Curt :rawlings:
by oldsalt
Tue Dec 10, 2019 4:57 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5393
Views: 924848

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Jan, This is so cool. Your skill as an observer continues to astound me. Your historical vignette about Hirohito's passion for marine biology strikes a nostalgic chord for me. In 1969, while convalescing from wounds, I was assigned to the naval hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. Bike riding accelerated my...
by oldsalt
Wed Nov 27, 2019 11:32 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: "Fish gotta fly, birds gotta swim"
Replies: 3
Views: 1844

Re: "Fish gotta fly, birds gotta swim"

Carl: I love the picture of the cormorant. I think it's a Brandt's. You can join the ranks of underwater birders. You can make it a total of three people. An old dive buddy got me started when he saw a belted kingfisher at 60 ft. I've never seen that, but I have a half dozen species I have seen unde...
by oldsalt
Thu Nov 14, 2019 9:52 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5393
Views: 924848

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Jan: While I continue to delight in photos of the favorites (octos, lumpies, grunts, etc.), you have sure shown us some things not normally photographed. These organisms are probably not uncommon, just not sought out. Good work. - Curt
by oldsalt
Mon Nov 11, 2019 9:37 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5393
Views: 924848

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Jan: I love that your posts include some of my favorite dives (Keystone, Deception, Possession) and places I have never dived (Lagoon, Coupeville, Holmes Harbor). You prove even the most uninviting spots provide fascinating critters. And your cartoon of the indecent sapsucker is hilarious. -Curt :ra...
by oldsalt
Thu Nov 07, 2019 5:32 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: November whales
Replies: 4
Views: 2319

November whales

I went whale watching from Victoria. We first went across Haro Strait, finding a couple of Orca near Lime Kiln Lighthouse. DSC_2862.JPG DSC_2846.JPG They were being followed by researchers gathering their scat to monitor their diet and general health. I wondered how you convince a killer whale to pr...
by oldsalt
Thu Nov 07, 2019 5:11 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Is it Art? I don't care, I want it.
Replies: 4
Views: 2148

Re: Is it Art? I don't care, I want it.

Yes! Art with a capital A!
-Curt :rawlings:
by oldsalt
Sat Oct 26, 2019 9:52 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5393
Views: 924848

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

A belated Happy Birthday youngster.
-Curt :bday: :partydance: :supz: :joshsmith:
by oldsalt
Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:45 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: "Trashure" huntin'
Replies: 6
Views: 2239

Re: "Trashure" huntin'

Not intending to hijack this thread, but those anchors appear to be the Baldt anchor, which is very familiar to Navy veterans. The stockless anchor was used because it fit into a hawsepipe. Can you tell me where you found them?
-Curt
by oldsalt
Sun Oct 06, 2019 7:27 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Great day diving with Papa Z! Video! Octo x 2!
Replies: 4
Views: 2256

Re: Great day diving with Papa Z! Video! Octo x 2!

Generational diving. Love it!
-Curt :rawlings:
by oldsalt
Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:47 am
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: I'd Rather be Diving
Replies: 8
Views: 3510

Re: I'd Rather be Diving

Life will be changed for you but, fortunately, it hasn't ended. Make the most of it. May you recover fully.
-Curt :rawlings:
by oldsalt
Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:16 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Victoria, BC Race Rocks Away Mission
Replies: 16
Views: 4444

Re: Victoria, BC Race Rocks Away Mission

Wow. I admire your work. In my half century of diving, I never produced pictures like yours. Race rocks stands out in my memory with the lighthouse, elephant seals, and currents. You did well to manage it. Thank you from an old man.
-Curt :rawlings:
by oldsalt
Tue Aug 27, 2019 9:40 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5393
Views: 924848

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

I get great pleasure from seeing the things you observe. Thanks for taking the time to process the pixels.
-Curt
by oldsalt
Tue Aug 27, 2019 9:33 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Redondo 8/24 first time there
Replies: 3
Views: 1688

Re: Redondo 8/24 first time there

Of course, a diver would have a son named Fin. Thanks for posting. The shots of the reds came out great. Advice from an old guy who has been there: Cherish every dive you have with your son.
-Curt :rawlings:
by oldsalt
Fri Aug 16, 2019 4:05 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: My Diving Accident End of June
Replies: 14
Views: 5666

Re: My Diving Accident End of June

First of all, I, too wish you good luck on your recovery. Like some of the others here, I suffered through eye injury but even that didn't require a cornea transplant as you have gone through. I was pretty much shredded by a grenade in Vietnam. The doctors were focused on saving my life and major bo...
by oldsalt
Fri Aug 16, 2019 3:12 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Keystone 8/11 -- dive 700 for scuba jess!
Replies: 9
Views: 3116

Re: Keystone 8/11 -- dive 700 for scuba jess!

Wow. We stopped at Keystone yesterday and I took pictures of the young herons. I wish I were still diving. Your pictures bring it all back for me. Thank you. -Curt :rawlings: p.s. Just to come clean. Me: " I'm in love with another woman." Wife: "Who is it this time?" Me: "Sc...
by oldsalt
Wed Aug 14, 2019 7:03 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: San Diego, Whales and Dolphins
Replies: 1
Views: 1282

San Diego, Whales and Dolphins

We traveled to San Diego for the weekend hoping to see blue or fin whales. We didn't see either, yet came back pleased. Our first boat trip out of Mission Bay produced hundreds of common dolphins, a humpback whale, and several seabirds, some of which were new to me. My second trip was on the schoone...
by oldsalt
Wed Aug 07, 2019 12:51 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5393
Views: 924848

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

I've read accounts of anemones living for many decades in aquaria - close to a century. 14 years in the wild seems reasonable. Is that a drone shot?
-Curt
by oldsalt
Mon Jul 29, 2019 11:39 am
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Marine Id
Replies: 3
Views: 1476

Re: Marine Id

YE: You mention all good sources. Keith maintains a neat project. For years, I traveled on my sailboat with a shelf full of field guides and keys. My life has changed, but watching wildlife still gives me great pleasure. Thank you.
-Curt :rawlings:
by oldsalt
Sun Jul 28, 2019 3:59 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5393
Views: 924848

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Conditions may have been sub-optimal, but you still find interesting things to photograph. Treasure your dives with Maya. I miss diving with my sons.
-Curt
by oldsalt
Sat Jul 27, 2019 11:02 am
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Westport seabirds, whales, dolphins
Replies: 7
Views: 2111

Westport seabirds, whales, dolphins

Once again, I went to sea with Phil and Chris Anderson of Westport Seabirds. Getting far enough offshore to see pelagic birds requires early departure. Sunrise found our enjoying particularly calm seas. DSC_1821.JPG A juvenile tufted puffin greeted us soon after we crossed the bar. DSC_1830.JPG It t...
by oldsalt
Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:36 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Big Sur
Replies: 3
Views: 1490

Re: Big Sur

Absolutely wonderful. I only know Big Sur from the surface, and being a cautious mariner, I gave the coast a wide berth. You gave me a whole new perspective. Your comment about sea lions and mola mola: When I observed this many years ago, I was told that they bit the fins off to immobilize the fish ...