Hood Canal Adventures
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 8:22 am
Howdy!
Yesterday ScubaJess, Bradmond and I trailered Brad's boat out to Hood Canal for some adventures. We were a bit worried about the wind, as the wind forecast was a bit high. But when we arrived at Hoodsport, we were elated to see the water was flat as ice!
We got some snacks and coffee (Nitro coldbrew at Hoodsport Coffee!!
), then proceeded to Pleasant Harbor for the launch. It is about an 8 mile chug back down to Flagpole. By the time we got there, there were a few wind waves in the seas, but not bad at all. Surface current was running really hard though, and the water was extremely muddy. It was as bit of a challenge to make it to the downline. ScubaJess bailed because it was a bit too rough and her fin was feeling a bit loose. Bradmond and I went down, and by the time we were 5 feet down, the viz and the current cleared like magic. It was super dark down there though!
Upon descent we saw an octo and a wolfeel pair right off the bat. We went down to the cloud sponges (Max depth 101) and explored around. I was on wide angle so I didn't really prod around for squat lobsters, warbonnets, brotulas and things like that, but there was a nice vermillion rockfish around.
The rest of the dive was pleasant, with more octos and wolfeels found (none in the open), lots of fish, a few seastars, sponges, etc. Lots of cross jellies and one egg yolk jelly and a pacific winged snail were found in the shallows up the line
For the second dive, we went further north at another WSA bouy just south of Pleasant Harbor. We're not sure of the name of the site, so if anybody knows the name, let us know.
The entry was still tough, but doable. ScubaJess was elated to see plenty of squat lobsters as well as some baby gobies. Also seen on the dive were yellow boring sponges, a dead salmon, etc. The site was quite similar to Sund Rock, though we didn't see any wolfies. On the ascent, I saw a swimming nudibranch swim by at 15' deep! I drifted with it for a while in the current, but had to let it go so as to not get too far blown off.
By the time we came up the seas were quite a bit rougher, and it was a bit more challenging to get back into the boat.
It was a cold, dark, beautiful day!
Thanks Brad for taking us out!!
Here were some of the snaps
Have a great week!
Yesterday ScubaJess, Bradmond and I trailered Brad's boat out to Hood Canal for some adventures. We were a bit worried about the wind, as the wind forecast was a bit high. But when we arrived at Hoodsport, we were elated to see the water was flat as ice!
We got some snacks and coffee (Nitro coldbrew at Hoodsport Coffee!!
), then proceeded to Pleasant Harbor for the launch. It is about an 8 mile chug back down to Flagpole. By the time we got there, there were a few wind waves in the seas, but not bad at all. Surface current was running really hard though, and the water was extremely muddy. It was as bit of a challenge to make it to the downline. ScubaJess bailed because it was a bit too rough and her fin was feeling a bit loose. Bradmond and I went down, and by the time we were 5 feet down, the viz and the current cleared like magic. It was super dark down there though!Upon descent we saw an octo and a wolfeel pair right off the bat. We went down to the cloud sponges (Max depth 101) and explored around. I was on wide angle so I didn't really prod around for squat lobsters, warbonnets, brotulas and things like that, but there was a nice vermillion rockfish around.
The rest of the dive was pleasant, with more octos and wolfeels found (none in the open), lots of fish, a few seastars, sponges, etc. Lots of cross jellies and one egg yolk jelly and a pacific winged snail were found in the shallows up the line
For the second dive, we went further north at another WSA bouy just south of Pleasant Harbor. We're not sure of the name of the site, so if anybody knows the name, let us know.
The entry was still tough, but doable. ScubaJess was elated to see plenty of squat lobsters as well as some baby gobies. Also seen on the dive were yellow boring sponges, a dead salmon, etc. The site was quite similar to Sund Rock, though we didn't see any wolfies. On the ascent, I saw a swimming nudibranch swim by at 15' deep! I drifted with it for a while in the current, but had to let it go so as to not get too far blown off.
By the time we came up the seas were quite a bit rougher, and it was a bit more challenging to get back into the boat.
It was a cold, dark, beautiful day!
Thanks Brad for taking us out!!
Here were some of the snaps
- Brad checks out some of the cloud sponges on the wall
- Plenty of zoonthids and rockfish at Flagpole
- Brad ascending the line at Flagpole
- Swimming nudibranch. It was about 9" across.
I really love the swimming Nudi, those guys are crazy awesome. Also nice work on the Zoanthids!!
