Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

July begins with another visit to the Driftwood Park.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Celebrating the Fourth at Deception Pass.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tidepool Geek »

Hi Jan,
Your photography is always terrific, but you've outdone yourself with that image of nudibranch eggs - incredible detail!

Plus, I always enjoy seeing photos of things named for the wrong color; like the yellow "White Nudibranch" or a purple "Ochre Star" or a yellow/green "Red Irish Lord". Keep up the good work!


Colorfully yours,
Alex
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ScubaJess
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by ScubaJess »

Jan you are so cool!!!! Love all these snaps :)
Live Long And Prosper!!!

Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Langley Harbor sea star survey. Bad visibility at Tire reef, unusual - the visibility in the shallows was better (6-8 feet) while below the thermocline it dropped to four feet. Ochre stars are still wasting away, nevertheless, hundreds of baby stars on rocks below the seawall still look healthy.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Giant sea cucumber. Contributing to the bad visibility on my dive in Langley Harbor. :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Attention divers! Those little "flags" streaming from the ends of Red sea urchins are not what you think they are ...
Read all about it. :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

The Skyline wall on Fidalgo Island. I enjoyed two days of diving there under sunny skies and comfortable tide currents. I love the variety of marine life and the colors there. Buffalo sculpins all over the place. They are easy to photograph, they don't move much,for they hope that their camouflage makes them invisible :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

More from Skyline July 16 and 17 dives.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

No Skyline dive would be complete without an encouter with a Wolf eel, even if only a juvenile.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

And this concludes pics from the July Skyline dives :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Gdog »

Very well done as always Jan, I love reading this thread!
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thank you Gdog for kind words.

What a difference one month does. I revisited Driftwood Park and found the small cluster of Japanese wireweed in bad shape. Probably a seasonal thing. Algae likes the higher summer temperatures and begins to cover other organism.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass July 23 and 24. Beautiful sunny weather above lit up the underwater colors as well. The beach was filled with tourists basking in the sun, and parking was an issue. Nevertheless, I managed and had great two afternoon dives there. Tried shooting selfies to make the usual pics from the Pass a little different.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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More from the last two dives at Deception Pass.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Hello little Red Irish Lord ! :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Wrapping up July 23 and 24 Deception Pass photo session...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Langley Harbor. At the moment, the only locality on Whidbey Island where I see large number of sea star wasting. But still large numbers of healthy ones. So I am still hopeful ... I am trying to find explanation why so many sea stars pile up on top of each other in certain spots, and it is not for spawning or food. Searching the internet did not provide any answers. Only Mottled and Ochre stars are doing it here at Langley. The Pink short-spined stars, also present here in great numbers, are not joining the congregations.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Happy 83rd birthday to the Deception Pass Bridge, which spans over the waters of my favorite dive spot .
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Good news: The big Lingcods are back at Keystone Jetty !
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by ScubaJess »

Jan! You are awesome!!! I love those Ling pics and the Rock fish school makes me so happy!!!
Also Happy Birthday to My favorite dive spot Deception Pass!!! Thanks for the great info all the time!!! :)
Live Long And Prosper!!!

Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thank you Jess, glad you enjoy the postings :)

Keystone Jetty encounter with a Pacific staghorn sculpin.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Returned home from trip to Canada, the world around is filled with smoke, not healthy to even walk in it. Trying to catch up with work left behind, July 28th dive at Driftwood Park ...
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ScubaJess
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by ScubaJess »

Welcome home!! We missed you! :)
So terrible about all this smoke, I hope it rains really soon!
I love those Rockfish pics and super cool Wolf Eel!!! Also that smiling Pacific Staghorn Sculpin is adorable!!! :-)
Live Long And Prosper!!!

Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thank you Jess, it is good to be back, although the smoke filled scene is kind of depressing ...


Another dive BFS ( before the fire smoke). Skyline August 1.
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I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
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