Date: Sunday, July 25, 2004
Location: Titlow Beach, Tacoma
Weather: Warm, dry and overcast, sunny later.
Surface Conditions: Glass
Submerged Conditions: Vis: 15-20ft Currents: None at the beginning, some current on the way back in.
Max Depth: 50ft
Bottom Time: 1:01
2 of my buddies and I did a dive at Titlow Beach in Tacoma, Wa. Titlow is just south of the Narrows Bridge, aka "Galloping Gertie". At one time it was a ferry landing and remnants of the pilings are still there and support a great deal of marine life. It was overcast and in the upper 70s when we first got there and started gearing up, but the overcast burned off and it was sunny by the time we entered the water.
The dive plan was to dive a series of ledges just south of the pilings. The ledges are home to giant pacific octopus and wolf eels. The last time I was out there, a nice big wolfy came out looking for hand-outs but we had none, so this time I bought a pound of fish scraps from my friendly neighborhood meat counter man and put them in baggies. The swim out to the ledges was very easy-going, no current at all. We reached a pair of pilings that mark the starting navigation point for the ledges, rested a bit and descended.
At first we couldn’t find the ledges, then finally spotted the start of one, hidden underneath a large curtain of broad-leaf, reddish-brown kelp that lies on the bottom. The kelp was large and in abundance, as it usually is during the summer. After exploring the first ledge, we headed further out to find the others. We found the main batch of ledges, but again they were nearly completely hidden under kelp.
But we were rewarded for our efforts. We found 5 gpo’s all within a few feet of each other, 3 in one ledge and two others in a ledge deeper down. The best one was in a den that was open enough to get a good look at him. He was fairly large. I did the usual routine with taking my glove off and letting him grab my bare hand. We explored the rest of the ledges, but didn’t find any wolf eels home. Not wanting the fish scraps to go to waste, we fed a couple of the gpo’s. Most of it went to the big fat one that was easy to see and reach. I held the fish scrap by the tail as he grabbed on to it, and played tug of war with him. Guess who won?
Afterwards, a dive debriefing over food, beverage and much mirth was held at a restaurant at the site, Steamer's of Titlow.
Titlow Beach, Tacoma, Wa
Started by
Brinybay
, Jul 27 2004 12:04 AM
13 replies to this topic
#1
Brinybay
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Posted 27 July 2004 - 12:04 AM
"The cure for anything is saltwater--sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
#2
Brinybay
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Posted 27 July 2004 - 12:07 AM
Titlow Beach, pic 2
"The cure for anything is saltwater--sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
#3
Brinybay
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Posted 27 July 2004 - 12:11 AM
Titlow, the critters:
"The cure for anything is saltwater--sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
#4
chinacat46
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Posted 27 July 2004 - 05:47 AM
thnx for the report and the pics. 
#5
sea nmf
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Meeting folks
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Posted 27 July 2004 - 11:09 AM
I love that dive site! Easy entry and exit but the current can take you by surprise.
Anyway, every inch of those pilings are covered in white plumrose anemones. Under the water, it looks like a cathedral! It is absolutely beautiful!
How's the fish popultion there? I noticed over the years a major decline there.
Anyway, every inch of those pilings are covered in white plumrose anemones. Under the water, it looks like a cathedral! It is absolutely beautiful!
How's the fish popultion there? I noticed over the years a major decline there.
#6
ddierolf
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Posted 27 July 2004 - 11:12 AM
Sounds like a cool dive! Nice pics as well! Thanks for sharing your info with us!!!
Which end is up?
#7
mischievous
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Posted 27 July 2004 - 11:13 AM
how FUN!!! thanks for tantalizing us, brinybay.
#8
Brinybay
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Posted 29 July 2004 - 11:27 AM
I haven't noticed the status of the fish population because I don't pay that much attention to them, plus I don't dive Titlow very often. When I dive there, I'm looking for gpo's and wolf eels. Technically, wolf eels are fish, not true eels, so... I can say their presence is fairly good, but can be hit or miss as far as finding them. I was surprised we didn't find any home on the last dive, usually spot at least one or two.How's the fish popultion there? I noticed over the years a major decline there.
"The cure for anything is saltwater--sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
#9
triggerfish
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Posted 29 July 2004 - 02:40 PM
DAMN!!!!
when they say GIANT pacific octopus, i guess they mean it!!!!
weren't you SCARED???
when they say GIANT pacific octopus, i guess they mean it!!!!
weren't you SCARED???
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#10
mischievous
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Posted 29 July 2004 - 04:12 PM
#11
jextract
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Posted 29 July 2004 - 04:29 PM
Mmmmm ... octopus! Smoke 'em and serve 'em up!
"Because I accept the definition, does not mean I accept the defined." -- ScubaHawk
"Love is blind but lust likes lacy panties" -- SanDiegoCarol
"If you're gonna be dumb, you'd better be tough." -- Phillip Manor
"If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't I'll just respond cleverly." -- Donald Rumsfeld
"Love is blind but lust likes lacy panties" -- SanDiegoCarol
"If you're gonna be dumb, you'd better be tough." -- Phillip Manor
"If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't I'll just respond cleverly." -- Donald Rumsfeld
#12
triggerfish
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Posted 29 July 2004 - 04:45 PM
yeah, ok, jamie.
rub it in.
but you'll NEVER see TOFU attack like that!
rub it in.
but you'll NEVER see TOFU attack like that!
#13
Marvel
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Posted 29 July 2004 - 05:25 PM
WOW! A dive report from my home town!!
Marvel
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C. S. Lewis
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C. S. Lewis
#14
Brinybay
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Posted 29 July 2004 - 09:22 PM
Geez...DAMN!!!!
when they say GIANT pacific octopus, i guess they mean it!!!!
weren't you SCARED???
"The cure for anything is saltwater--sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
"A good marriage is like an interlocking neurosis, where the rocks in one person's head fill up the holes in the other's."
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