Sund Rock 9-4-2007

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:20 pm

Bassman and I had 3 great, relaxing dives at Sund Rock on Tuesday.

Some pictures are here

Reading the postings on the board we would have had better viz at a site close to home, but you know, sometimes you just gotta do the Hood! Dropping on our dives the viz was "seeing eye" till you hit about 30 or 35' then it opened up. There was also a strong thermocline. The surface felt like a bathtub, then as you drop you remember why you're in a drysuit!

We saw the usual wolf eels, ling cod, rockfish, and smaller critters. There were, to my observation, LOTS of ling cod, and two or three of them were just huge. I know it's hard to estimate size underwater, but the one we saw on the fishing trawler was at least 4' long, and I would guess more like 5'. The large ling we saw were the kind that are so big it looks like it's just plain hard to move!

The delightful little Flabellina triophina nudis are still present in the 100's on the North Wall. If anyone has an itch to photograph some, get out there!
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I count at least 17 in this picture, and that's without looking close! They are so beautiful, IMO!
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I'm looking forward to diving the Hood more as the Winter sets in and viz opens up! So much life there...
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Unfortunately, some of that life includes the invasive tunicate Ciona savignyi, of which we found several clumps on the South Wall.
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It's always a good dive at the Hood! $\:D/$

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:56 pm

GREAT pics.

Zen Diver · Post by **Zen Diver** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 4:25 pm

Beautiful pix Tom, I always enjoy them. Haven't done Sund Rock in some time, I need to get back there.

-Valerie

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:05 pm

Zen Diver 2 wrote:Beautiful pix Tom, I always enjoy them. Haven't done Sund Rock in some time, I need to get back there.

-Valerie

Thanks Val! (and Spat...) I worry about clogging up Calvin's server with pics sometimes...

](*,)

Sund is a great dive. I'd sure like to have Mr. Sund's property and gig... collecting scuba units from divers at one of the best shore dives in Washington... but alas

it looks like I'll just be one of the ones paying up.

I always try and do at least 3 dives since I'm shelling out the moolah, and since there really is alot to see. I don't think I've covered the South wall very thorougly, it is a long and deep wall with many stair steps. It would be easy to miss stuff.

I've been loving showing up early (getting Ron to leave us a key!). The water is usually flat and glass calm first thing in the morning. By the second dive there is usually a bit of a wind that can translate into some chop, but most of the time not unmanageable (although your and was it Jackie's? story was crazy, and I've had surf beat the snot out of Sparky and I at the end of a dive!)

Thank goodness those are the exceptions and not the rule!

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Diver_C · Post by **Diver_C** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:31 pm

From November until next summer, I will be up for doing more Hood dives with ya' Tom. You do take great pictures.

I wouldn't worry about clogging up Calvin's server with pictures because I do not believe the pictures are on his server, that is why you have to post the pictures elsewhere. The only thing on his server is what you type in - the picture's address.

Until the next dive...

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:39 pm

November's comin', and I'll be ready Rich!

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:38 am

I mistakenly ID'd the little Flabellina triophina as Flabellina verrucosa as I wrote it down from memory...

](*,)

I edited the original post, and my apologies to anyone who noticed!

-Tom Nic

sheahanmcculla · Post by **sheahanmcculla** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:01 pm

Tom,
What kind of camera and or housing do you have? Your pictures are unbelievable!

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:31 pm

sheahanmcculla wrote:Tom,
What kind of camera and or housing do you have? Your pictures are unbelievable!

Thanks!

I use the very popular (on this board anyway) Casio Exilim 1050.

Calvin used and recommended it on his BLOG and many of us have since purchased and enjoyed the camera.

If you check out the review you will see that it is a great point and shoot, with camera and housing coming in at under $500.

I'm still trying to figure out the best strobe to marry with this little guy, but in the meantime it takes some good pics if you're patient and play with it.