Whidbey Island Critters
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Deception Pass, Monday April 9. Once again, Low Tide higher than the High Tide prediction.
And we got sun in addition to favorable, even if again confusing currents.
Some divers not old enough to be retired I think played hooky and joined in for the dive.
And we got sun in addition to favorable, even if again confusing currents.
Some divers not old enough to be retired I think played hooky and joined in for the 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
Nice set of pix Jan. Always glad to see you.
Rhoda spotted the weight pouch the woman from Sunday lost. It was sitting right on the rock nose some people enter from. I went out and got it, didn't even need scuba.
Called her on the way home. She's an Aquarium volunteer and was on duty. She stopped by our house and picked it up on the way home. Turns out her dad was Joyce's Aquarium dive buddy for awhile. Small world sometimes.
Rhoda spotted the weight pouch the woman from Sunday lost. It was sitting right on the rock nose some people enter from. I went out and got it, didn't even need scuba.
Called her on the way home. She's an Aquarium volunteer and was on duty. She stopped by our house and picked it up on the way home. Turns out her dad was Joyce's Aquarium dive buddy for awhile. Small world sometimes.
To Air is Human,
To Respire, Divine.
To Respire, Divine.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Good job Fritz, it is a small world indeed.
Meanwhile on remote Whidbey beach the continuing saga of the young dead whale...
Meanwhile on remote Whidbey beach the continuing saga of the young dead whale...
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 views from the two recent dives at Deception Pass.
The good news is that it looks like widespread wasting of the Finger sponges stopped.
The good news is that it looks like widespread wasting of the Finger sponges stopped.
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
Beautiful pictures!
Glad to hear the finger sponge wasting disease seems to have stopped.
Glad to hear the finger sponge wasting disease seems to have stopped.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Wow that's quite the gang of sclayheads from the 8th! I hope to get out there next time!
Visit pnwdiving.com for viz reports, slack planning, galleries and more! Your fellow diver will appreciate any viz reports you can add!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Yesterday at Keystone, I came across this jellyfish predator. Its prey: jellyfish ...
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
I noticed recently that the signature fish of Keystone Jetty, the Lingcod, seem to be scarce. You could always count on encounter very big specimen on your dive. Lingcod were everywhere, on the seafloor and on rocks of jetty, indulge in the protection from fishing inside the protected area of the underwater park, ignoring diver presence, treating us as nuisance, not danger. At first I thought that it is because of poor visibility, that I am just not seeing them because of it. But, on Thursday, I had great visibility, over twenty feet, and there were not Lingcod to be found. Plenty of Striped perch in the shallower water, school of Black rockfish on the far end of the jetty, on the ferry side, but after all that search, I found only five Lingcod,, one large, not one of the giants. And I hear from other divers, that they noticed it too. In all the years I have been diving the Keystone Jetty, I experienced anything like this . :(
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 the Keystone Jetty dive. It looks like the Bull kelp is coming up in spite of the Japanese wireweed jungle taking over in some sections of the shallows.
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
Langley Harbor dive. Calm moment between winds and rain.
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
In case you are interested, the carcass of the young Gray whale on Whidbey Island West Beach is now about one mile north from the original landing spot on April 3rd, when it was reported for the first time. Two days later the scientists arrived with their knives and took samples. I revisited the site on April 5,6,9 and yesterday the 17th. The bones are now beginning to show. No birds seem to be interested in the free meal ...
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
Grunt sculpin and Lingcod from Skyline.
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
Hundreds of baby sea stars at Langley Harbor - only one wasting Ochre star. It does look promising.
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
Another visit to Possession Point Fingers. Abandoned Lingcod egg mass, some slugs, Buffalo sculpins and Red Irish Lords.
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
Fun with Janolus fuscus...
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
One of my favorite cold water Nudi's!! Gorgeous shots, BTW. I've always thought they look like fireworks!
More Pics Than You Have Time To Look AT
"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
"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: Whidbey Island Critters
Agreed, I love that one too!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Beautiful pics Jan...
Thank you again for this wonderful thread.
Kirsten
Thank you again for this wonderful thread.
Kirsten
"Let's go diving!"
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Glad you like them
More marine critters from under the docks at Lagoon Point.
More marine critters from under the docks at Lagoon Point.
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
I visited the Deception Pass this Monday.
The currents this tide cycle were wilder than I expected and the visibility was lousy too, silty ten feet...
The currents this tide cycle were wilder than I expected and the visibility was lousy too, silty ten feet...
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 24. Only one Lingcod found. Not a good sign.
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. Even the slugs had a hard time hanging on in the currents on Monday morning.
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
Skyline seaweed is also showing some bleaching.
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
There seems to be a never ending stream of corrections, attempts to correct and downright "fake news" concerning classification of marine life as I try to keep up. I am beginning to feel like sticking to common name creates less headaches even if it is a poor way to describe the critters we encounter.
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
Keeping track of nomenclature will keep you occupied for the rest of your life. It will never be settled and always disputed. I applaud your efforts. Metridium senile is one of the first I learned a half century ago. In that interval I have become Curt senile.
Happy to be alive.