North Channel Islands
North Channel Islands
Part 1
So four of NWDC members took a trip to Santa Barbara and spent 3 days aboard the Truth Aquatics boat, Conception, out at Santa Cruz Island and Anacapa Island. Scubie Doo, Jai, Rob aka RC3000, and myself had a great time diving and meeting divers from the Cali Divers club, and a group from Reno. The Conception is a 75' vessel, and is the middle sized boat of 3; The Truth, and Vision boats. The crew was outstanding, as was the Captain. We ate really good food, and plenty of it. The diving was also good, and plentiful. The dives were unguided, and you were able to do as many as you were capable of. The water temps were around 65 degrees, varying a bit warmer around Anacapa, and a bit colder around Santa Cruz. Lots and lots of California Sea Lions frolicked in the water with us. The Islands themselves are very barren, but the birds really seem to love them.
The Conception was great, albeit a little crowded. I think there were 30 divers, and 6 crew aboard. We had a great time meeting the other divers, and getting to know them a bit. The Scuba Trivia night, with the winners receiving authentic cuban cigars, was a blast, thanks to Mauri from Cali Divers. Also, it was really cool getting to know Yosef, a diver who had traveled to Seattle to dive with our own Lynne Flaherty a couple years before her dive accident.
So four of NWDC members took a trip to Santa Barbara and spent 3 days aboard the Truth Aquatics boat, Conception, out at Santa Cruz Island and Anacapa Island. Scubie Doo, Jai, Rob aka RC3000, and myself had a great time diving and meeting divers from the Cali Divers club, and a group from Reno. The Conception is a 75' vessel, and is the middle sized boat of 3; The Truth, and Vision boats. The crew was outstanding, as was the Captain. We ate really good food, and plenty of it. The diving was also good, and plentiful. The dives were unguided, and you were able to do as many as you were capable of. The water temps were around 65 degrees, varying a bit warmer around Anacapa, and a bit colder around Santa Cruz. Lots and lots of California Sea Lions frolicked in the water with us. The Islands themselves are very barren, but the birds really seem to love them.
The Conception was great, albeit a little crowded. I think there were 30 divers, and 6 crew aboard. We had a great time meeting the other divers, and getting to know them a bit. The Scuba Trivia night, with the winners receiving authentic cuban cigars, was a blast, thanks to Mauri from Cali Divers. Also, it was really cool getting to know Yosef, a diver who had traveled to Seattle to dive with our own Lynne Flaherty a couple years before her dive accident.
Re: North Channel Islands
Part 2
Santa Cruz Island offered a bit colder water, with vis for us ranging from 15-30'. It was mostly rocky sandy bottom, with a nice variety of small life especially on the large rocks close to shore. This actually felt somewhat similar to diving here at home, and macro was clearly the way to go on these sites. The Spanish Shawl Nudis were plentiful, and a blast to shoot. So much color!
Anacapa Island offered completely different diving, even though it was only about a couple miles south of Santa Cruz Island. Very lush Kelp Forests, and very green plant life. The Giribaldi's were everywhere, as were the Sea Lions. Visibility was in the 20-40' range, with slightly warmer temperatures. I tried to work in my wide angle skills here, and while I clearly have a very long way to go, here are the best of what I could come up with.
It was a good trip, and I was happy to check it off my hit list. Thank you Jesse, Jai, and Rob, for going along with me on this. We had a blast! Thank you Mauri from Cali Divers for putting the trip together and allowing us to join your group!
Santa Cruz Island offered a bit colder water, with vis for us ranging from 15-30'. It was mostly rocky sandy bottom, with a nice variety of small life especially on the large rocks close to shore. This actually felt somewhat similar to diving here at home, and macro was clearly the way to go on these sites. The Spanish Shawl Nudis were plentiful, and a blast to shoot. So much color!
Anacapa Island offered completely different diving, even though it was only about a couple miles south of Santa Cruz Island. Very lush Kelp Forests, and very green plant life. The Giribaldi's were everywhere, as were the Sea Lions. Visibility was in the 20-40' range, with slightly warmer temperatures. I tried to work in my wide angle skills here, and while I clearly have a very long way to go, here are the best of what I could come up with.
It was a good trip, and I was happy to check it off my hit list. Thank you Jesse, Jai, and Rob, for going along with me on this. We had a blast! Thank you Mauri from Cali Divers for putting the trip together and allowing us to join your group!
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Re: North Channel Islands
Great trip report George and excellent pics! Glad you got some good topside photos too good times.
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Re: North Channel Islands
Great report! Thanks for sharing!
More Pics Than You Have Time To Look AT
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"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman
"Anyone who thinks this place is over moderated is bat-crazy anarchist." -Ben, Airsix
"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman
Re: North Channel Islands
Show us what you got Jesse!Scubie Doo wrote:Great trip report George and excellent pics! Glad you got some good topside photos too good times.
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Re: North Channel Islands
Will do. It will be a little later in the day. I'm out with da family.Gdog wrote:Show us what you got Jesse!Scubie Doo wrote:Great trip report George and excellent pics! Glad you got some good topside photos too good times.
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Re: North Channel Islands
Awesome pics Gdog!!!! Cant wait to hear more about it soon. I've been wanting to get to the Channel Islands, and now I want to go even more!! Those Spanish Shawls are way too cool.
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Re: North Channel Islands
Nice report!
Re: North Channel Islands
Great report with great assortment of marine life we normally don't find in our waters.
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I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
- Scubie Doo
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Re: North Channel Islands
Man, I love the Giribaldi with the purple urchin, and the kelp bulbs...all great work!
Re: North Channel Islands
Nice report and great pics. Thanks for sharing!
Re: North Channel Islands
Really Cool! I'm loving the pics!! Now I want to go back. Fantastic report guys. It's so nice to see the Garibaldis
Did you guys see the Kelp Bass? That looks like a full boat, glad you guys had fun!!!
Did you guys see the Kelp Bass? That looks like a full boat, glad you guys had fun!!!
Live Long And Prosper!!!
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Re: North Channel Islands
Also super cool California Aglaja Sea Slug!!!!!!! I've never seen one of those.
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.
Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions.
Re: North Channel Islands
Everyone else on the boat saw the big bass, but I totally missed seeing them.ScubaJess wrote:Really Cool! I'm loving the pics!! Now I want to go back. Fantastic report guys. It's so nice to see the Garibaldis
Did you guys see the Kelp Bass? That looks like a full boat, glad you guys had fun!!!
Re: North Channel Islands
Wow, epic trip!
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- Penopolypants
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Re: North Channel Islands
What a great trip! And fantastic photos from both of you!
I've been talking about doing the Channel Islands with one of my sisters (the one in LA) for a long time. This is a great motivator!
I've been talking about doing the Channel Islands with one of my sisters (the one in LA) for a long time. This is a great motivator!
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- stphnmartin
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Re: North Channel Islands
Looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing the great report and awesome photos! Jealous of the awesome nudi's they have down there. 30 is a lot of divers!!!
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Re: North Channel Islands
Awesome trip report Gdog, and love the photos from you and Jesse. The colors of the critters from around Santa Cruz are beautiful. Jesse, what's that fish in the first photo you posted?
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Re: North Channel Islands
The northern Channel Islands are some awesome diving. If you ever get the chance to make it up to San Miguel, by all means take it.
That boat looks a lot fancier than the Peace, which is the one I was always going out on.
Nice pics ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
That boat looks a lot fancier than the Peace, which is the one I was always going out on.
Nice pics ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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Come visit me at http://www.nwgratefuldiver.com/
Re: North Channel Islands
Bob I saw the Peace out there, and yes, a bit, but fancy isn't a fitting word for the Conception... Lol.Grateful Diver wrote:The northern Channel Islands are some awesome diving. If you ever get the chance to make it up to San Miguel, by all means take it.
That boat looks a lot fancier than the Peace, which is the one I was always going out on.
Nice pics ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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Re: North Channel Islands
Channel Islands boats are more bunkaboards than liveaboards ...Gdog wrote:Bob I saw the Peace out there, and yes, a bit, but fancy isn't a fitting word for the Conception... Lol.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Threats and ultimatums are never the best answer. Public humiliation via Photoshop is always better - airsix
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Re: North Channel Islands
That looks like it was a great trip, nice write up and the pictures are great.
Daniel
Daniel