Pics from the dive are here .
Sund was it's usual beautiful self, and after a busy weekend the parking lot was "Monday empty"! I threw up a little canopy because of forcast rain (which of course never materialized).
We geared up and walked to the South entry, deciding to try the South Wall after the reports of Octo City we had been reading here on the board. Bill was messing with new dry gloves, and of course Murphy struck right out of the gate and one of them was leaking as we were putting our fins on. ](*,) Bill decided to give it a go because it wasn't too bad and the walk back to the vehicle was more trouble than it was worth, so we kicked out a few feet and dropped. Viz was the expected 10' or so with lots of particulate in the water. Oh well, maybe sometime this Winter we'll get an "aquarium dive" at Sund - but the life here makes these dives worth it even when the viz is crummy!
Right away the reports of the Octos were confirmed as true! We saw 8-10 GPO's, and that was without looking carefully - a couple of them were BIG! I'm sure there were more.
I've got to tell you about my experience with the first one... I moved gently to it's den to snap a pic or two. I'm always careful not to poke around and disturb them just to "see if they'll come out"... many do, and to each their own, but I'd just as soon interact with this amazing creature on it's own terms. I took a pic and stopped for a moment, and as I was focusing for the next one I noticed a tentacle moving my direction. As quick as it takes to write the sentence 3 feet of tentacle had bridged the gap between us and I could feel the suckers gently grasping my glove. I held still, and after he had "tasted" me for a moment and determined I was neither edible nor otherwise interesting he withdrew his tentacle back in his den. Those of you who have had this experience know how amazing it is - I don't want to get all spooky or corny, but this simple "connection" with a very intelligent and wondrous creature is one of the many reasons I love diving!
Of course there were Ling Cod on nests here and there, although not as many as I had expected. This first pic I think is a female - mainly because it wasn't guarding eggs! The second pic is of a precocious little male Ling Cod guarding a clutch of eggs that was larger than he was!! How did this little guy get put in charge of such a BIG bunch of eggs? Perhaps even among Ling Cod size isn't everything?
As I kept an eye on the brave little Papa Ling, I noticed a small gray patch under the rock it was by - sure sign of an old girl octo tending her own eggs. The Papa Ling and I kept a wary eye on each other as I circled the rock and dropped down to visit the Octo nursery. There wasn't a really good view, but I could just make out some of her eggs - carefully attached to the ceiling of the den where she is living out the rest of her relatively short days being a good Mama to the next generation.
There was the usual scattering of critters on the wall and tucked here and there. We surfaced after 77 minutes on the wall in 43 degree water, and I was COLD!! Here's a couple more pics from the first dive.
We walked up to our vehicles to find Blackwater and his doubles waiting for a dive buddy. Since he also had had a buddy cancelation we invited him to join us for our next dive, but first, time to WARM UP! Bill fired up the grill for a couple of between dive hot dogs, and also fired up the Honda and cranked the heater full blast. It took more than an hour for us to get our cores warmed up to the point where it was safe to go back in the water. The three of us geared up, walked in the water and swam out to the buoy at the start of the North Wall. We had dropped to about 25 fsw when Bill gave me the "Oh Crap" signal and pointed at his gloves - still leaking.
After a quick thumb and making sure that everyone was OK Bill aborted and Blackwater and I commenced our zig zag profile of the North Wall. One of the ways I like to dive this wall is to follow the bottom contour North down the Wall, mess around in the boulders at the base (usually good for an octo or three and Wolf Eel), then zig zag along the face of the wall in about 10 to 15 fsw increments, "combing" the wall all the way up into the fish bowl before finishing the dive at the entrance.This is a GREAT way to dive the wall - IF you're a photographer. We had warned Blackwater that he was diving with photogs, and since he was still a willing victim, ...er buddy, I mean, he got to experience "death by photographer", working on his trim in doubles while I zigged and zagged the wall taking pictures. Good 60 minute dive, and thanks for being a good sport Bric!
Here's a few pics from the dive.
All in all a great day of diving. Now, if you made it this far - here's a little treat. This little Shitzu is the latest watchdog at Hoodsportndive - the cutest little guy you've ever seen! Thanks for reading, and best regards, Tom Nic.
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What an amazing experience - although I must admit my heart would be pounding something fierce. I know that some GPO's can be aggressive. The danger would be a reg pulled out of your mouth... or perhaps getting bit? I'm sure about the possibility of the former, the latter is only speculation. I'm wondering what he would have done if your buddies hadn't gotten him off you? 