MV Horizon Log: October 2007



	San Clemente Island October 28, 2007 Day 3 of 3 *"Bushels of lobster, abalone and a host of other cool critters..."* Our most beautiful sunrise yet found us anchored on the Arch in Pyramid Cove. With the moon a tinge of blue as it drooped over to the west, the sun shone a deep orange in the east. The visibility was excellent at 60 feet on the invertebrate encrusted pinnacle. Several morays were spotted by our divers, and the roomy swim through was decorated with gorgonians. We moved to the Inside Boiler for several more dives before our departure. The visibility held and the 63 degree water still holds enough warmth of summer to make it comfortable. The swim-throughs provided some entertainment, as did the nervous lobster pointing their antennae at us from the cracks and crevices. Perfectly camouflaged Cabezon laid in ambush for their prey in the palm kelp, and the mid day sun brought out the rich amber color of the gorgeous kelp forest. I wish we didn't have to go, but we'll be right out here next weekend--we'll keep you posted... Captain Chris Catalina Island October 27, 2007 Day 2 of 3 *"Bushels of lobster, abalone and a host of other cool critters..."* A calm morning with a few light scattered showers saw us anchored on Farnsworth Bank at first light. Conditions were good with little wind, no current and a moderate swell from the west. We made two dives here, and as always, they didn't disappoint with the sheer purple hydrocoral covered walls, cracks and canyons, torpedo rays patrolling the edges of the pinnacle and clouds of bait fish swirling above the bank. The visibility was in the range of 40 feet at depth. The temperature was in the low sixties on the surface. In the afternoon we made several dives along the relatively calm windward side of Catalina, finding a gem of a dive in Lobster Bay with over 60 feet of visibility and gigantic gorgonian covered boulders. Tonight we're off to San Clemente to finish out our diving in a hopefully calmer Pyramid Cove. Ciao, Captain Chris San Clemente Island October 26, 2007 Day 1 of 3 *"Bushels of lobster, abalone and a host of other cool critters..."* Grey skies and a cool south west wind met us in Pyramid Cove today, so we turned the corner to the lee of the island and found glassy, clear waters. We dove at Window Pane and Calico Cliffs where we saw torpedo rays, garibaldi, bushels of lobster, abalone and a host of other cool critters including several massive schools of mackerel and sardines. The wind switched, so we did our night dive in Pyramid Cove, where the lobsters marched out in force and some disoriented squid bounced off one of our divers. I think both the diver and squid where equally surprised at their meeting. The weather forecast looks good so tomorrow we're off to Catalina Island's back side. Adios, Captain Chris Guadalupe Island Great Whites October 20, 2007 Day 3 of 5 *"Sharks are here, but the wind is back."* Last night I had encouraged everyone who hasn't seen a sun rise at Guadalupe to get up around five thirty and experience the event. As the sun rises in the east it shines on the cliffs and casts a surreal red reflection over the glassy waters. We put the cages in the water bright and early and loaded them with divers eager to see the great whites they had come here to see. About half way through the first group of divers the wind was really starting to pick up. By the time we started the second rotation of shark divers the wind had picked to over thirty knots and I had to make the call to pull everyone out and pull the cages out for safety's sake. We all got together and decided to stay up here on the north side and view the sharks from the boat. Sure enough we had two sharks stay around the boat and make several great passes on the surface. After yesterday the passengers understood that the weather can change fast and they felt lucky that we got a full day break in the weather and had some great sharking. We didn't want to but we had to leave the beautiful Isla Guadalupe and start the travel home. Everyone seems to have taken away something special from the island of the sharks whether it's a picture or a great memory everyone enjoyed the time we spent with the sharks. Till next time. Captain Spencer San Clemente Island October 6, 2007 Day 2 of 3 *"Buzzed by a soupfin shark!"* The day began with a strong Northeast wind, then settled into a beautifully calm late morning and afternoon, that almost reminded us of the summer days, however the wind kicked up again in the evening. We had some excellent dives, seeing harbor seals, lobsters, bat rays, and lush kelp forests with visbility extending up to 60 feet. A curious soupfin shark even buzzed by several of our divers. This perfectly harmless shark often brings the heart rate up with its sleek pelagic lines, and only moves in to the shallows during the late summer and fall, when we'll glimpse them during these trips. We'll be staying at San Clemente this evening, no sense leaving as the diving has been fantastic even with the windy conditions. adios, Captain Chris San Clemente Island October 5, 2007 Day 1 of 3 *"Diving in a hurricane!"* The weather forecast was for wind and we got a whole bunch today! The ride out was quite bumpy with a short interval 5 foot swell and gusts of wind easily past 30 knots. We attempted to make Cortes Bank, but well short of our destination turned backed back to San Clemente Island and tucked in to Pyramid Cove, where we found some excellent diving despite the rough top side conditions. The sky was clear and so was the water with 40 to 50 foot visibility and the temperature of 63 degrees. The white caps spread across the bay until much of the water was frothy white, but we still had some beautiful kelp forest diving, and caught a few lobsters as well. The night dive brought a little less wind and more lobsters for our hungry hunters. The forecast is for more wind tomorrow, so we'll stay here overnight. Ciao, Captain Chris San Clemente Island October 2, 2007 Lobster Opener "Feels like diving a pond after diving the Bank." After diving offshore on the Bank, diving an island seems tame. When we left the Bank it was blowing 20 knots and the wind chop was 6 to 8 feet. We arrived at Clemente to a calm sea and no wind. Nice... We finished up this amazing trip with two dives in Pyramid Cove before heading east toward San Diego. As is typical for San Clemente, you really need to work hard to find a legal size lobster. You'll see more lobster in one dive here than 4 dives combined anyplace else. But the shorts outnumber the legals 200 to 1. I'll be back out onboard Ocean Odyssey Thursday and will send in reports from our travels. Captain Chris will be back onboard Horizon and departs Thursday evening for Cortes Bank. His reports will be posted as well. Adios, Captain Greg Cortes Bank October 1, 2007 Day 3 of 4 Lobster Opener "Weather's up, and so are the bugs!" We acquired a bit more wind overnight, but still enjoyed a nice evening on the Bank with good sleeping weather. A good night on the Bank means not having to hold on while you are sleeping! Our divers we a bit slower this morning after two hard days of diving in the books. Plus after yesterday's diving, the bags are filling. A good number of the gang had two days limits, and after today...3 days limits. We didn't do as well today, but we did have the absolute most over the top lobster dive that I've ever been party to. We had one dive with close to the century mark of legals arriving onboard. In keeping with the DFG regs, at least 1/2 the boat doesn't need to do another dive! The weather has definitely come up, but it doesn't matter as tomorrow is our final day which finds us at San Clemente Island anyhow. Cheers, Captain Greg

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