Can the trend continue?

[SwimmerTodd]

So now 3 times in 3 weeks, we've found Spiny Lumpsuckers! I've only been diving a year, but some of the guys I dive with have been diving far longer and have never seen one. Is it the time of year, or am I just getting good at finding them? Here's a pic taken of the last one from Three Tree North. Chevayea took the pictures.

Three Tree Spiny Lumpsucker

We also saw several octos, a grunt sculpin, a poacher, a couple of stubby squids - it was a great dive! It was especially great because it was our 1 year anniversary since getting certified.

You can see more of the pictures from the dive and our reviews at http://www.ThePerfectDive.com.

[Tom Nic]

Great pics and great finds!

Was this a night dive? The poachers I've seen are more typically at night. Can I ask the depth that you spotted them?

I'd say you're getting good at spotting them, but quite frankly, lots of it is just luck. From the background in the pics you can see that you're drifting over lots of rocky bottom. It is VERY easy to miss stuff, especially the small stuff like Grunts and Lumpsuckers. I KNOW I've passed over tons of cool critters... and I dive slow. Some of it is eyesight, quite frankly, as much as I hate to admit it.

I've been whipping the water to a froth diving 3 Tree and haven't gotten lucky yet. Although I can hardly call seeing a massive GPO out in the open there not getting lucky! It's a great dive site.

Funny, I was doing the long drift back from well beyond the junkyard at 3TN yesterday and in the back of my mind "felt" I should be scanning for PSL's... didn't see one though.

[Sounder]

Funny, I was doing the long drift back from well beyond the junkyard at 3TN yesterday and in the back of my mind "felt" I should be scanning for PSL's... didn't see one though.

Use the force Tom.

[Dusty2]

Keep this up and janna wil ban you from posting here. LOL She has never seen one.

Where are you diving @ 3tree. I haven't been there in awhile but it's on my to do list

[SwimmerTodd]

We were diving at night - about 10:00 or so. We found the PSL right next to the boat that has slid off the trailer. It was a high tide, so I don't know - about 65 feet or so? The poacher was at about 70 feet. The grunt sculpin was in the junkyard. The stubbies were fairly shallow - 35 feet or so. It was just a great dive! Our hands were long since freezing, but we didn't want to get out because we were having such a good dive, so we ended up staying down 1 hour 16 minutes. At that point, we were about ready to wet our drysuits, so we had to give up!

[Tom Nic]

We were diving at night - about 10:00 or so. We found the PSL right next to the boat that has slid off the trailer. It was a high tide, so I don't know - about 65 feet or so? The poacher was at about 70 feet. The grunt sculpin was in the junkyard. The stubbies were fairly shallow - 35 feet or so. It was just a great dive!

Nice! I thought so! I've just GOT to get out there for some night dives. IT's a great site for night dives, in particular because there usually aren't any huge surprises as far as conditions go, and the slope / site are very predictable so navigation is not a big issue.

The boat has slid down to about 45 fsw

I've also stumbled on Grunts in the junkyard, on the satellite dish, in the open etc. It's just a matter of keeping your eyes open and finding them. My guess is that they are more likely to venture out at night, plus the fact that you're using a light makes some critters easier to find.

[Tom Nic]

Funny, I was doing the long drift back from well beyond the junkyard at 3TN yesterday and in the back of my mind "felt" I should be scanning for PSL's... didn't see one though.

Use the force Tom.

You better watch out Doug! "I am your father...." Do you feel the windpipe squeeze? Bet you thought it was just your new seals!

I know it sounds real dorky, and I'm not given to fits of eastern mysticism, but that's sort of what it felt like... There's a PSL at 3TN that is calling to me!

[nwscubamom]

Keep this up and janna wil ban you from posting here. LOL She has never seen one.

Oh yeah fine. Rub it in why doncha?

I've HEARD that PSL sightings are best done in Dec - Feb. And that when you find them that time of year, it's usually in very shallow water. (15 ft or so) So I'm thinking that finding them in April, that deep, is pretty unusual. Although I think that they head to very deep water most of the year, and lots of species tend to come up into the shallower waters (rec diving depths) at night, so that's very cool you saw these!

- Janna

PS: and great pictures as usual, too!

[coachrenz]

I found one at Redondo on Monday night at 99 fsw. It wouldn't sit still for a great photo and we were at the end of our NDL time, so, couldn't spend as much time snapping pictures as I would have liked.

[Dusty2]

Keep this up and janna wil ban you from posting here. LOL She has never seen one.

Oh yeah fine. Rub it in why doncha?

I've HEARD that PSL sightings are best done in Dec - Feb. And that when you find them that time of year, it's usually in very shallow water. (15 ft or so) So I'm thinking that finding them in April, that deep, is pretty unusual. Although I think that they head to very deep water most of the year, and lots of species tend to come up into the shallower waters (rec diving depths) at night, so that's very cool you saw these!

- Janna

PS: and great pictures as usual, too!

Sorry, just had to rattle your cage a little. Youv'e been to quite lately!

[SwimmerTodd]

I found one at Redondo on Monday night at 99 fsw. It wouldn't sit still for a great photo and we were at the end of our NDL time, so, couldn't spend as much time snapping pictures as I would have liked.

I've always been told that if you don't have a picture, it didn't happen! lol

[Chevayea]

I found one at Redondo on Monday night at 99 fsw. It wouldn't sit still for a great photo and we were at the end of our NDL time, so, couldn't spend as much time snapping pictures as I would have liked.

It wouldn't sit still???...They move like 2 feet an hour.....with a tail current...