Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass - April dives. The rest of photos...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Jetty, April views continued. The Bull kelp is late coming, new individuals are struggling against the onslaught of other seaweeds, and Painted anemones are busy eating fish. How they catch them is still mystery to me, I sure would like to witness it. Finding two scenes on the same dive ?
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Driftwood Pond. Japanese wireweed did not spread as much here. Yet.
Being an invasive species, who knows what will happen...
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Last dive of April 2021. The currents were not favorable, there was minus tide, but I managed. The return to the beach took some work for the current was very strong all the way to the shore. Once again, I found Painted anemone eating a big lunch. How it got hold of Lewis' Moonsnail's egg collar? The nutritional value of the mostly sand based egg donut cannot be much. :)
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

May 1st. Langley Harbor. 6:30 AM.
Bad visibility first 20 feet. Like 3 feet.
Then it opened up to 12 feet until the tide turned and got bad again. So that was my way to begin May diving...
The good news? I found 7 juvenile Sunflower stars.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

May 1st.
Few more from Langley Harbor.
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

May 3rd. The Pass. With a leaky pressure gauge (again), I stayed shallow and close to the beach, checking out the nearby kelp forest. I was glad to see the Bull kelp rising up from the carpet of more close to the ground growing seaweed...
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

May 3rd. Not often I am met by professional photographer as I exit the water. But this Monday I did and we had nice long conversation about our common interests, although he is not diver. Afterward, he send me picture of what a wrinkled, old guy looks like after spending one hour in Pass water :)
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Rich, at the dive sites you will be missed , but not forgotten ...
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

May 4th, Deception Pass.
More from the dive encounters.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Saturday May 8th. Keystone Jetty.
Nice weather brought many divers to enjoy the jetty. The visibility wasn't that great, for majority of diver/photographers, macro was the call of the day. There are signs that Bull Kelp is coming up, at least in the area away from the jetty. I did not manage to meet everybody, here are divers which I did pass on my way back to the beach...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass May 5th. Third day of dives here, note the discrepancy in slack predictions between the old and new current tables. I did find my focusing light the day before. no new critters found on this dive. I just enjoyed, as I always do, the underwater garden here.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Possession Point Fingers, May 11th.
Highlight ? Two juvenile Decorated warbonnets :)
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass June 1st.
Tuesday morning I had the Pass all to myself. Another beautiful day above and underwater. I hope they will finish the work on the bridge soon.
These days, it is a noisy place .
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
ScubaJess
NWDC Moderator
NWDC Moderator
Posts: 2681
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 3:56 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by ScubaJess »

Welcome back! Thanks for another beautiful report 🖖📸🥳😍🐟🐙🤗🦐🦀🌊🌺
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:
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Jetty, June 2nd.
Finding Lingcod carcass inside Underwater Park isn't a pleasant surprise.
Finding a healthy Sunflower star is.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
oldsalt
I've Got Gills
Posts: 1061
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:02 am

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by oldsalt »

It looks like someone is practicing "filet and release".
-Curt
Happy to be alive.
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Jetty June.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Jetty June 4th.
Few of the hundreds of Giant Plumose Anemones decided to engage in spawning - the sexual way - releasing gametes into the water,
not helping the visibility there...
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Moon Jelly - On my last dive I encountered unusual sight. What looks like baby jellies hanging onto a thin string, pulsating, swimming hard. I followed the string to a Moon jelly. I never seen that before, so I searched for answer. This is what I found on line:

"Once the egg is fertilized, a larva hatches and lives in the pelagic environment for some time. As it grows, the larva searches for a suitable place in shallow water and eventually attaches to the sea floor where it grows into an upside down medusa known as a polyp. During the polyp phase, an individual asexually buds off several clones of itself that swim away as medusae and eventually grow into sexually mature moon jellies."

When I asked around, most answers I received - " I never seen that before".

But they were kind enough to forward these pictures to others and finally, the answer came back from Monterey Aquarium expert. It seems that in environment devoid of currents, like in their aquarium, this can be sometimes observed.

Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
oldsalt
I've Got Gills
Posts: 1061
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:02 am

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by oldsalt »

Jan: This citation refers to the polyp as a stage in reproduction. When I first encountered this (well over 40 years ago) they referred to the polyp as the next generation. The species alternated form from generation to generation. I thought it weird, that one would look like their grandparents, not their parents. I suspect that the interpretation you cited is the one currently accepted. Interesting though, you agree?
-Curt :rawlings:
Happy to be alive.
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

oldsalt wrote: Sat Jun 12, 2021 6:32 pm Jan: This citation refers to the polyp as a stage in reproduction. When I first encountered this (well over 40 years ago) they referred to the polyp as the next generation. The species alternated form from generation to generation. I thought it weird, that one would look like their grandparents, not their parents. I suspect that the interpretation you cited is the one currently accepted. Interesting though, you agree?
-Curt :rawlings:
Curt, like so many thing lately, nomenclature in the marine world is becoming increasingly difficult for me to keep up with.

Langley Harbor June 9th.
Visibility first 25 feet only about 2 feet. Then it opened up to 12 feet. Many wasting Ochre stars. The good news, I came across eleven small, but still healthy Sunflower stars.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass, June 17th. What beautiful weather, sunny, but not hot, calm wind and calm seas. And only two divers at the Little North Beach enjoying it. Even the tourists did not arrive yet. The sandblasting and painting of the bridge continues 24 hours a day, hopefully they will finish soon.
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

More from June 17th Deception Pass dive.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass, Friday June 18.
Maybe it was the overnight's westerly wind which created choppier water and cut the visibility compared to yesterday. However, there is always something to enjoy in the Pass if the currents cooperate. And they were not problem today neither.
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
Post Reply