Whidbey Island Critters
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Deception Pass - April dives. The rest of photos...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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 ?
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Driftwood Pond. Japanese wireweed did not spread as much here. Yet.
Being an invasive species, who knows what will happen...
Being an invasive species, who knows what will happen...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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.
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.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
May 1st.
Few more from Langley Harbor.
Few more from Langley Harbor.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Rich, at the dive sites you will be missed , but not forgotten ...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
May 4th, Deception Pass.
More from the dive encounters.
More from the dive encounters.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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...
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...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Possession Point Fingers, May 11th.
Highlight ? Two juvenile Decorated warbonnets
Highlight ? Two juvenile Decorated warbonnets
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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 .
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 .
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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.
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: Whidbey Island Critters
Keystone Jetty, June 2nd.
Finding Lingcod carcass inside Underwater Park isn't a pleasant surprise.
Finding a healthy Sunflower star is.
Finding Lingcod carcass inside Underwater Park isn't a pleasant surprise.
Finding a healthy Sunflower star is.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
It looks like someone is practicing "filet and release".
-Curt
-Curt
Happy to be alive.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Keystone Jetty June.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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...
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...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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.
"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.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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
-Curt
Happy to be alive.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Curt, like so many thing lately, nomenclature in the marine world is becoming increasingly difficult for me to keep up with.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
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.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
More from June 17th Deception Pass dive.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
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.
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.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
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