Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
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sheahanmcculla
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by sheahanmcculla »

Wow! That does look like a interesting place to dive, but I would want better vis too. Thanks for the info of the site.
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John Rawlings
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Great combination of photography and art, Jan....as per your usual! Beautiful work! =D>

It's been years since I last dived at Onamac Point, but I still vividly recall my dives there. I saw the largest Lingcod I have ever seen there - she was out in the open and when she saw us she flitted into one of the big cement culverts that are part of the reef...and almost seemed to FILL it! At times there can be so many plumose anemones on the rubble that it looks like a massive cotton ball as you're dropping down to it.

Here's a bit of trivia for you - most folks think that "Onamac" is a native American word from one of the local tribal languages. In fact, it is just "Camano" spelled backwards. Someone at the DNR apparently had a sense of humor!

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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thanks John for info on the name . In my Whidbey Island Dive Guide they misspelled it as Onomac. Onamac does have kind of tribal sound to it... :book:
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Sounder
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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John Rawlings wrote:Here's a bit of trivia for you - most folks think that "Onamac" is a native American word from one of the local tribal languages. In fact, it is just "Camano" spelled backwards. Someone at the DNR apparently had a sense of humor!
That's a great piece of trivia!! :book:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Another Pink Tritonia adventure. The planktonic soup is thick and heavy at Holmes Harbor, even down at 50 feet, chunks of it float through, visible in some of the pictures.. With plenty of Moon snails and Pink slugs around, this encounter was almost predictable #-o
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Little o fresh water critter - on the other side of the Deception Pass bridge. Water very murky #-o
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sheahanmcculla
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by sheahanmcculla »

Nice post on the freshwater. I did a dive in lake stevens on wednesday, and caught about 6 big crawdads. Vis was outstanding, and it was relaxing, without any current.

Thanks for all the cool pictures you provide for us to view! =D>
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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I see the latest Sport Diver has a one-page feature about Whidbey Island, and Jan wasn't even mentioned in passing. Is this a snub?????????
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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dwashbur wrote:I see the latest Sport Diver has a one-page feature about Whidbey Island, and Jan wasn't even mentioned in passing. Is this a snub?????????
Thanks Dave for keeping eye on Whidbey related stories, Whidbey is big enough to have more then one diver :) .
I hope that the article was favorable about what we have to offer here. I don't think you dove here yet, you definitely should bring your family and find out.
The reason it did not mentioned me, I sometimes spend my time in the unsavory company of Slime Worms, not exactly the right stuff for magazine writers :pale:

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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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They might be slimy ... but they're sure fun to look at ...

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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Grateful Diver wrote:They might be slimy ... but they're sure fun to look at ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Definitely. They're one of my favorite critters. I like to test how well I'm moving thru the water by seeing how close I can get before they retract and leave me looking at nothing but a quivering mass of ugly goo. They have some delightful color variations, too.

Yes, the article on Whidbey was quite positive, though short. It was in the "dive briefs" section, but I see no reason why they couldn't do an entire feature and maybe even use some of your amazing pix. Whether they will or not, I won't know because I've let my PADI membership expire (switched to NAUI. Not trying to start a war, just stating context info).
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

This is only the second time when I found Decorated Warbonnet out in the open.
It is all in the name .. :book: \:D/

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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Zen Diver »

I love it Jan!

-Valerie \:D/
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Thanks Valerie.
Revisited the most southern tip of Whidbey Island with fellow divers from the Whidbey Island Dive Center. The underwater terrain here is so much different from the other island sites...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Oh, Jan, that drawing is so utterly PERFECT! It's EXACTLY what the dive site is like. I swear, you're just getting better and more creative as this thread goes on!
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Thank you Lynne. I am glad that you actually recognize what I am trying to illustrate. It is not so easy to capture the what the dive site considering the limits of visibility, light and equipment. Your comment is very encouraging, I'll keep trying to present to my fellow divers what Whidbey has to offer ...
Last edited by Jan K on Wed May 21, 2008 10:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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It looks like the Hooded nudibranchs are leaving Holmes Harbor, lot of eggs attached to Eel grass, less slugs around.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Here is another nudibranch scene, Diamond back tritonias - before they lay eggs :D
Also a link to a shaky movie clip of them in action, the current was running and focusing is not that great, but gives an idea how involved slugs can get when doin' IT...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Hope you are not tired of slugs yet...
This one is found in the beginning of nudibranch ID books since there is still some shell present. Its bubble shell is internal..
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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We never tire of your work Jan... \:D/

-Valerie
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

That's an amazing shot! you find some of the coolest stuff.

Tired of nudies?? You must be joking? Especially not with all the cool info and art work too. :prayer:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Deception Pass revisited, found plenty of silt cutting down visibility. Even the local giants don't seem too happy facing the currents.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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After scorching time in California, it feels good to be back on Whidbey even if the water is still filled with planktonic soup. My daughter accompanied me, braving the still cold waters in her 5 mm wetsuit.
We found piles of Feather Duster worms scattered on the sea floor, attracting many of crabs, the Red Rock and the Dungeness. We did not have any Feather Duster Worms at Langley until the port district brought in floating dock which was covered with them. As long they were attached to the old floater, they were safe from crabs. I don't know how they ended up on the bottom, but here they became fodder for the crustaceans...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Zen Diver »

I just LOVE your artwork Jan...

-Valerie :smt038
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thanks Val. Good to be diving again.
In the past, I called this Bubble Snail Haminoea virescens, now Dave Behrens thinks we are dealing with japonica. Few months back I collected specimen so lets hope we get an answer to this. Some day...
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