pics from last night's "Office Party" ...

[Grateful Diver]

Did a lovely 65 minute dive at Cove 2 last night. Was getting out just as most of the NWDC crew were getting in.

Here's some pics ... http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/Kt8Ju3Vc

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[Tom Nic]

Wonderful as usual Bob!

Gorgeous Warbonnett. Cove 2 seems to be the place to find them.

Interesting worm? parasite? of some sort on that Sailfin Sculpin as well.

Thanks for putting the pics together!

-Tom

[Grateful Diver]

Yeah, I found a red irish lord just covered with those parasites ... poor thing.

Another interesting shot was the diamondback tritonia ... didn't notice till I downloaded, but he seems to be moving toward what looks like some other sort of nudi. Can't tell in the pic what it was, though ... any ideas?

[Tom Nic]

That is a juvenile Orange Sea Pen in front of the tritona. They are the main prey of the Striped, and I also believe, the Tritonas. In fact my guess was that the Tritona had "sniffed" (or whatever you call what they do with their rhinophores) out the Sea Pen and was headed for a snack.

[Seth T.]

Beautiful as always, Bob. I love those little grunts. Why don't we have them up here in my northern waters?

[John Rawlings]

Beautiful as always, Bob. I love those little grunts. Why don't we have them up here in my northern waters?

We DO have them in your northern waters.....many of them, actually. I've seen and photographed them many times at 100 Foot Rock, the Mukilteo Clay Walls, the Mukilteo Hotel site, the Gedney Island Reef, throughout the San Juan Islands, and all OVER the waters of British Columbia. They are one of my favorite critters to spot on a dive!

A lot of times you'll find them wherever you find Giant Acorn Barnacles. If you look at a Grunt, you'll see that their heads look extremely similar to the outer opening plates of a barnacle, while their tails look like the feeding tendrils of a barnacle. This enables a Grunt Sculpin to slide either face-first or ass-first into a vacant barnacle shell and be completely camouflaged. They are also really fond of small holes, such as the clam holes at the Mukilteo clay wall site.

- John

[Seth T.]

Yeah, I know they like giant barnacles. I don't see many of those either. Of course, I've been diving lots of fresh water lately....

[smike]

Yeah, I know they like giant barnacles. I don't see many of those either. Of course, I've been diving lots of fresh water lately....

What kinda freshwater? I am interesting in exploring some of the lakes. I was thinking Lake Stevens. Looks like there is a wall on the W end, on the S side.
I understand there is probably less to see in the lake that in salt, but I think my curiosity is going to get the best of me. Interested in your experiences.

S'mike