Crazy Animal Antics at Breakwater Cove

For the first time in over a long, trying year, I finally had the energy to put on a drysuit and do some cold water diving. Mark and I got together with our friend Valerie, and we decided to dive into an oldie, but goodie: the Breakwater. We had a great time, and saw some Discovery Channel-worthy animal antics.

Enjoying the 30'+ viz and the sun illuminating the kelp forest

Showing off an Abalone shell

Here is some video we shot of a juvenile Mola Mola on the Wall. This was my first time seeing this bizarre fish. It was probably good that we scared it away. The sea lions that frequent this area would have probably torn off its fins, play with it like a Frisbee, and then leave it to die.

We saw this octopus near the end of our dive at the Metridium Fields. First, I noticed the gross white appendage, which I later learned to my disgust was a Fat Innkeeper Worm. Then I saw that the end of it was attached to an octopus. If you play the video, you will first notice the octopus trying to blend in with a patch of algae, then it squirts some ink in our faces, then it tries to camouflage itself against the sand.

Before we could observe the octopus further, and the Fat Innkeeper worm it was ensconcing with, we saw a bizarre creature swimming towards us. It was a Rainbow Nudibranch, which is usually found crawling around on the sand. It only swims when evading predators. It was a bizarre sight to see.

Metridium

Octopus grabbing weird, white appendage

We got all up in this Cabezon's face. We even put a decorator crab on his head, and he didn't budge.

Shrimp feeding on a dead Mola Mola at Metridium Fields.

We saw two dead or dying Mola Mola at Metridium Fields. They had had their fins torn off by sea lions. Mark felt sorry for one and tried to right it and send it on its way. However, without fins, it could not get very far and ended up flat on the sand once again. However sad this scene was, I'm glad I have such an empathetic, compassionate husband!

Metridium Fields

I've never managed to swim to the Metridium Fields from shore before. Valerie showed us how:

1. Line up with the pump house at Breakwater cove.
2. Swim out perpendicular to shore past the kelp beds.
3. Descend and head towards the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
4. You should encounter a pipe about 2 feet in diameter. Follow it to its end.
5. Once the pipe ends, head due north for the Metridium Fields.

For more pics, go here:

Dive Details:
Dive #207: The Wall, Breakwater Cove, Monterey, CA (Dive Buddies: Mark, Valerie)
Depth/Time: 45'/0:48 minutes
Visibility: 30'
Temperature: 54 deg F
Weight, Undergarment, Tanks:

Mina: Weight-15 lbs (10 lbs on weight belt, 1 lb on ankles, 4 lbs in BCD), Undergarment-BARE undergarment without fleece top, Tank-PST HP-80.

Mark: Weight-26 lbs (10 in BCD, 14 on weight belt, 2 lbs on ankles), Undergarment-BARE undergarment with fleece top and bottom, Tank: PST HP-80.

Dive #208: Metridium Fields, Breakwater Cove, Monterey, CA (Dive Buddies: Mark, Valerie)
Depth/Time: 47'/0:50 minutes
Visibility: 7'
Temperature: 52 deg F
Weight, Undergarment, Tanks: 
Mina: Weight-13 lbs (10 lbs on weight belt, 1 lb on ankles, 2 lbs in BCD), Undergarment-BARE undergarment without fleece top, Tank-PST HP-80.
Mark: Weight-26 lbs (10 in BCD, 14 on weight belt, 2 lbs on ankles), Undergarment-BARE undergarment with fleece top and bottom, Tank: PST HP-80.