16 replies to this topic

[jextract]

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend diving in the kelp over in Dr. Bill's neighborhood (I completed my wreck certification so I can join you all over in North Carolina). For those who haven't had the experience of diving in the kelp beds, the only way to describe the feeling is it is like you are flying through the forest. Most diving, especially wall/reef diving is largely two-dimensional - the object of your attention is in front of you or below you. Kelp diving is different in that you are literally immersed in your environment - it envelops you. Everywhere you look, there is life. The sunlight from above is almost playful as the kelp moves with the surge, the light peeking out from between the plants, and fish are everywhere. We saw giant crabs clinging to the kelp, bold garibaldi coming out to check us out, large bat rays, kelp fish, large black sea bass, sheephead, too many to name. The attached pic I took today will give you a small taste of what I'm talking about.

I'll ask ZD or Walter to set me up a gallery so that you can see some of the other shots I took.

Happy diving!
Jamie

Attached Images

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[triggerfish]

wow, jamie...looks wonderful...can't wait to dive out there with you!

[mischievous]

thanks, CSI! no wonder that wrinkles likes to spook her buddy through the foliage...it looks like a surreal forest.

[drbill]

Jamie- I walked down to the Park today to say hi, but I think I was too late. Didn't see you and the park was clearing out. Heard stories of 20 bat rays feeding and the return of the black sea bass to the park. Figures I'd be out of the water.

Describe the conditions re: vis, etc. It sounded like quite a switch from the past few weeks.

Off to Floridda tomorrow. I'm going to be totally dive deprived when I get back in June.

Dr. Bill

[wrinkles]

thanks, CSI!  no wonder that wrinkles likes to spook her buddy through the foliage...it looks like a surreal forest.

When I go through the kelp and surprise my buddy by popping out the other side I like to think of them as pleasantly surprised not spooked :anna3:

LOL

Ana

Edited by wrinkles, 16 May 2004 - 11:59 PM.

[Walter]

The kelp forest is an incredible experience. You can't imagine it until you've experienced it.

Jamie, ya gotta redude the size of the photos.

[jextract]

Bill ... sorry I missed you yesterday. I was on the 2:05 boat out, only because the two later ones were full. Yes, the bat ray armada was out in full force. Viz inside the protection of the kelp was phenomenal, probably 40 feet. Outside, not so good. We dove out to the Sue-Jac and Kismet wrecks and I can't say the viz out there was any better than 15 feet max. Water seems to be warming up a couple of degrees but it's still mighty cold once you get below about 50-60 feet.

Walter ... thanks for resizing the photo for me. Can you set me up a gallery and let me know how large I should plan each photo for (pixels, inches, file size, whatever)? Thanks!

Jamie

[Walter]

Jamie,

I've found 500x500 pixels work, but push the limits, so I generally set it at no wider than 450 pixels. I'm drawing a blank on file size, but I'll take a look when I get home.

Walter

[jextract]

Will do ... thanks for the help.

[GentDiver]

Kelp diving is different in that you are literally immersed in your environment - it envelops you. Everywhere you look, there is life.

Very cool. So is Monterey much like this as well?

[Marvel]

thanks, CSI! no wonder that wrinkles likes to spook her buddy through the foliage...it looks like a surreal forest.

Surreal is right. & beautiful....

[jextract]

Thanks all, for your generous words. ZD was nice enough to set up a gallery for me so you can see some of my other shots. Keep in mind, I'm not a professional like some of you all but I think they came out OK.

[Blublood]

Beautiful...Simply Beautiful. Please get more pics up.

[jextract]

Beautiful...Simply Beautiful. Please get more pics up.

Try going here:
http://www.singlediv...&code=00&cat=13

[wrinkles]

Nice Pics Jaime


Ana