On Saturday I got out for a much-needed fun dive in the Point Loma kelp. It felt like I hadn’t been in the water in a while, and it showed in my more-moronic-than-usual navigational skills. Mat and Nick were doing training dives for their rEvo rebreather class, and my initial intention was to watch them and document it, but my attention span got the better of me, and I sped off on my own in a different direction immediately. Then I got lost, three minutes in. Yeah, that happened.
Anyway, I got myself together and was having a pleasant enough, if somewhat forgettable dive. Visibility was mediocre, sea life was typical. So I was heading back towards the boat, and the water was not actually cold at all, but for some reason I was cold, so I decided to swim back just under the kelp canopy, where the water was almost 70 degrees. Bathwater. Bliss!
Then I saw it: a kelp crab in the canopy, doing Tarzan swings between kelp leaves. I could. Not. Stop. Watching.
I don’t always solo dive, but when I do, I’m liable to spend eight minutes at three feet with a kelp crab.
What does one do while spending eight minutes with a kelp crab, you might ask? Initiate a dialogue, naturally!
When it took an abnormal interest in my fisheye lens, it was time to go.
For those of you just tuning in, here’s a summary of the dive:
Comments
5 responses to “I don’t always solo dive, but when I do, I’m liable to spend eight minutes at three feet with a kelp crab.”
Ashley,
OK, I’m jealous of your underwater housing and water rig. Love the crab shots and the light and the underwaterness of it all. ;) I’d so do the same thing, if I was in the water on a regular basis.
What is the data graph recording? I’m a data junkie and that looks too cool. :)
Hey Kent :)
The graph is from my dive computer. Underwater, it keeps track of (among other things) depth, time, and nitrogen loading, and after I’m out of the water, it syncs (wirelessly! via Bluetooth! Too cool!) to a database on my computer that functions as my dive log. I’m also a sucker for data!
I’m jealous too, but also admiring :) Too late now to begin underwater photography (because I’ve never done any diving), but wow, that kelp crab was gorgeous. And, quite the conversationalist :)
Very cool stuff, Ashley: you (and the crab) are very talented! :)
What gorgeous underwater photos! WOW! (Saw you on Love Bug’s link up! :) )