Advanced Diving Technologies - the Bay Area's leading technical diving headquarters!
 
 
Scuba Diving International
 
Technical Diving International
 
Divers Alert Network
 
Sunday Closed
Monday 2 - 6
Tuesday 2 - 6
Wednesday 2 - 6
Thursday 2 - 6
Friday 2 - 6
Saturday 11 - 4

home > after > reports

After Action Reports
Don't miss the boat. Our next dive trip is Sunday, Nov 07. Get on board today!
Check out more pictures in our Photo Gallery!
Add your experiences and photos to our reports. Contact us to find out how.

Diving with the Octo
January 31, 2010
Story by Sharon E.
After three weeks of thunderstorms, Sunday presented clear skies, sunshine and a 60 degree air temp. After Saturday’s reports of low viz and big surge in Carmel, we opted to just dive in the Bay. Recently there have been sightings of a large cephalopod on Ball Buster. Conditions said this was a good option, so we chose that. On board the Escapade, we motored out to Ball Buster and dropped anchor. It is a giant pinnacle in the Monterey boat channel, the top of the rock is within 30 feet of the surface and it gradually descends to 120'. This site get's it name from the commercial fishermen dragging their nets which get caught on the pinnacle and the lead fishing weight balls hang up and are lost on the site. Anyway, our viz was about 40' and the water at depth was blue instead of the regular green.
Les was geared and ready to jump when we anchored; Cap gave the ok and he was gone. Les ran a reel from the anchor out to the Octo so we could all find him. Sharon and Chris soon followed, descending a bit slower to allow for Sharon’s ears to clear. Next came Jim and Jimmy, followed by Brandon and Brianna. Now at 90’, we looked for the line. It was just southeast of the wall carpeted with pearly white metridiums. Finding it, we found Les too, go figure.
There the octo was, in all its grandeur. It is estimated as 9' long, the Giant Pacific Octopus’ lair was at about 97'. He was so big, he didn't fit in the crack he called home. The suckers on its tentacles were about 2" in diameter. Its mantel was about 8" x 12". We hope he stays around for awhile. Chris tried to get some photos but it was a bit too dark for the camera. Pushing deco, we began our ascent. Soon on the anchor rode, we watched the jellies for the balance of the dive. Today there were plenty of sea nettles, watch any exposed skin!
Now back on the boat we marveled at the sight of the GPO. Some of the divers from the Fish Eye Dive Center, (we shared the boat with them) were doing their advanced open water dives and missed the octopus. Boy, I would have managed the training to allow this dive to be the deep dive of the cert requirements. There is the doubling up on the marine life id specialty too. I don’t know what they did, but they missed out if they didn’t stop to hover and watch this wonderful and rare cephalopod.
Our second dive was on Eric’s Pinnacle. This site was a favorite of all divers as it offered something for everyone. This site offered 35’ at the top of the pinnacle and 70’ to the sand. First off the boat was Sharon, followed closely by Les and Chris. Soon off the stern were Jim and Jimmy. Lastly was Brandon. The viz was only about 30’. Things were a bit churned up after the recent storms. However the kelp was beautiful this day. One had to gaze up to see the sun filtering through and illuminating the kelp. It was as if spot lights were aimed on the kelp. Oh yes, a little surge on the dive. We were greeted with lots of plumose anemones, colorful sponges and soft corals. This pristine site offered the best sand chutes along the rock wall routing you to healthy kelp forests. Also the critters were on the move, crawling down the rocks, seeking safe haven. Sure signs that a storm was on the way. Many nudibranches were all around - several lemons were huddle together, Spanish shawls were clinging to the rocks along with the pearly white variety with the frilly edges (trying to use the scientific terms.) These guys are small and the ADT group traveled slowly along the rocks so as not to miss them. We found a few large decorator crabs which posed for pictures. But where is the octo when you have his favorite dish? Over on ball buster!
Now motoring back to the harbor, we had a swinging day of diving. To think we were almost blown out due to Saturday’s marine forecast.
Join us next month, Feb 28, maybe we can get on ball buster again. See you there.

For more pictures from the trip, check out our Photo Gallery. Do you have some pictures you would like to add to the gallery? Contact us!

Did you miss out? Our next dive trip is Sunday, Nov 07. Call us today to book your next dive!
Back | Top
training | travel | products | escapade | got gas? | after action | links | about us | contact us
Copyright ©2004 Advanced Diving Technologies. All rights reserved.
design by RKLinc
hosting by RKLhost.com