M/V Horizon, November 25, 2006
Catalina Island
Day 6 of 8 with Galatee Films / Channel Islands Project
Today dawned crisp and cool, a definite marked change in air
temperature, signalling the winter months to follow. The water
is still clear and today the Mantis Shrimp cooperated, posturing
and posing, so with some solid Mantis shrimp video on tape,
we're on our way to San Clemente Island for a shot at more kelp
footage. We left in the early afternoon as the sun drooped over
a slightly bumpy crossing. We hope for stellar visibiliity
tomorrow...
adios,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 24, 2006
Catalina Island
Day 5 of 8 with Galatee Films / Channel Islands Project
Only a mild breeze from the west rippled the water and a good
surge in the shallows at Ship Rock indicated the strong winds to
the west of us. We hoped for some clearer visibility at the rock
to have another crack at some quality kelp footage, but it
wasn't there, so we churned down the island towards our secret
Mantis shrimp filming area. Our scouts found three small
burrows, however the shrimp were a little shy when the team set
up to film them. After scouting a few more burrows, we'll set-up
again tomorrow to get some better shots. Visibility was good for
the Eastern portion of the island at 30 to 40 feet. The water
temperature has dropped to 63 degrees.
ciao,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 23, 2006
Anacapa Island
Day 4 of 8 with Galatee Films / Channel Islands Project
We dropped our pick at Frenchy's Cove this morning in a light
breeze from the North and a calm seas. Being the furthest East
of the Northern Channel Islands it seems the gale warnings and
small craft advisory to the West of us has little effect.
Richard Hermann, Mark Thurlow and Ian Thomas scouted the area
for the elusive Sarcastic Fringeheads, our star of the show for
today, and found a good number of the small feisty fish for our
camermen. The 62 degree water was relatively clear at 30 to 40
feet of visibility.
The Fringeheads, which grow to a length of nearly 12 inches,
inhabit shells, bottles or whatever small crevices they find and
defend them, sometimes viciously against each other or even a
curious diver. The ones we found had chosen empty wavy-top
turban snail shells as their home, and when placed closely
together will display their huge mouths, then even chase away a
smaller rival.
After over an hour of searching myself, I finally found not sand
or sea urchins, but the cautious eye of a Fringehead peeking out
of the shell. Carefully covering the opening, I swam it towards
the underwater stage and was surprised to feel the little fellow
repeatedly attacking my gloved hand from inside its adopted
home. I think Dr. Milton Love, in his book 'Probably More Than
You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast', sums up
the Fringeheads best in writing: " With their funky coloring,
little doodly whoppers above their eyes, strange body shapes and
great toothy mouths, these fishes closely resemble the
descriptions of the aliens that apparently sucked Elvis up into
their saucer."
Although we didn't hear the King's music when we held the wavy
top shells up to our ears, the team captured some good footage
and we plan to cruise for Catalina Island tomorrow to film
another curious underwater display and behavior by the Mantis
Shrimp.
Stay tuned...
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 22, 2006
Santa Barbara Island
Day 3 of 8 with Galatee Films / Channel Islands Project
A grey morning met us at the Island of the Sea Lion. We had
'touched wood' for good luck--the literal translation of the
French version of 'knocking on wood.' Difficult to tell the
visibility from the surface in the early light, however at the
east rookery the rocks and sand were clearly visible at 30 feet.
The water was unseasonably warm at 64 degrees. Sea Lions peeked
from the shallows. Just to make sure we took a look around the
corner at Webster's but the swell was up, rolling through and
reducing the visibility. Back to the East Point and some
promising stringers of kelp.
The first session was not as ideal as hoped, with not enough
room for both teams to work in the same area, and the kelp
sparse, so they split up and moved closer to the island. The sun
burned through the marine layer, lighting up the playful hords
of young sea lions as they swarmed the cameramen. A quick bite
to eat and the teams were right back in the water once the sun
shone clearly, however it soon hid behind the clouds and the
dropping tide brought the visibility down from 30 feet to 15 or
20. Still, we had lucked out on the conditions and we were happy
with the opportunities mother nature provided.
We're off to Anacapa Island tonight in search of Sarcastic
Fringeheads tomorrow. We hope for more luck in the water and
weather...
ciao,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 21, 2006
Santa Cruz Island
Day 2 of 8 with Galatee Films / Channel Islands Project
A mild breeze from the southeast strengthened through the
morning, whitecaps forming on the outer edge of the thick kelp
beds at Gull Island where we anchored before breakfast. The
water visibility was at least 40 feet because the sand below us
was clear from the surface. Harbor seals peeked from the kelp
beds every few minutes, staring curiously at the 80 foot visitor
to their home. A few good shots were taken of the kelp, though
the visibility was not as spectacular as we had hoped. At 45
feet it was excellent for sightseeing, but not for the footage
we would like to take of the kelp. Still the reserve teamed with
life. Rockfish finned among the kelp stalks and good sized
lobster scuttled across the bottom in broad daylight.
Tomorrow we'll begin at Santa Barbara Island, hopefully with
good enough visibility to film the playful sea lions.
hasta manana,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 20, 2006
Catalina Island
Day 1 of 8 with Galatee Films / Channel Islands Project
We left early for the islands last night, which was fortunate
since in the thick fog we could see only 10 feet or so in front
of the bow. After idling out of the bay, we churned along in the
grey stillness over nearly flat calm waters.
In the morning we anchored up and tied off to the island as the
sun's rays began to burn through swirling wisps of fog, the
island brilliant in the morning light and the ocean a fuzzy
impenetrable greyness. The 64 degree water looked good with vis
in the range of 40 to 50 feet. However the elusive Giant Black
Seabass seem to have vacated their haunts here at Italian
Gardens. Our next stop was Shi--I mean Ship Rock where
conditions were about the same, but provided better
opportunities for kelp and marine life video, which is our goal.
Bat Rays cruised the outer edges and sea lions zipped through
the clouds of Blacksmith and Jack Mackerel. The current reversed
at noon as the tide dropped and with it the visibility went down
to 35 to 40 feet.
With condiitons lacking what we want, we're headed North to Gull
Island in the lee of Santa Cruz Island, a small rock surrounded
by eel grass and kelp beds, home to a tiny sea lion rookery.
We'll be there at daybreak tomorrow...
Until then,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 15, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 10 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
Our final day at Isla Guadalupe dawned with clear skies and
surprisingly calm seas for the maelstrom of wind we endured the
night before. The sun peeked over the horizon unblocked for once
by the usually pervasive marine layer, and though the wind
ruffled the waters north of us into feathery whitecaps, the
surface near us remained untouched but for a mild backwind from
the southeast.
The sharks appeared early, two different females, and despite
the lower visibility--only 60 feet or so--Francois and David
took some good shots with the sharks. Things slowed after noon
and soon the sun passed over the cliff and it was time to pack
everything up, lash down the cages and skiffs, and batten down
the hatches for the ride home. We expected a rough one after
last night's winds and the forecast called for 15 to 20 knots of
wind and 6 to 8 foot seas.
Sometimes you get lucky, though and we seemed to slip through a
slight break in the weather. The waves were there about 10 to 60
miles off the island, however the longer interval between crests
didn't bounce us around too much, and before we knew it, we had
passed into calmer seas for the final hours of our run back to
San Diego. At times common dolphins greeted our bow wave with
glee, racing leaping past each other to surf the pressure wave
from our bow. White-sided dolphins fed on schools of bait on the
banks outside the Coronados, their distinctive pale markings
giving away their identity at a distance.
With a sigh of relief we tied up at the dock, another safe trip
aboard the Horizon, and this one a daring endeavor by the
Galatee film crew to swim on scuba with one of the most feared
creatures on the planet. And with their success, we realize--and
hope that others who watch their film will realize as well--that
perhaps all this fear is based more on ignorance and gory
Hollywood effects, than true knowledge of the Great White Shark.
Not to say they are not dangerous, but that we still have more
questions than answers about this beautiful and mysterious
creature.
until our next trip,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 14, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 9 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
The rising sun illuminated the ferrous-colored cliffs by our
side and the 1 foot wind chop wrapping around the Northern end
of the island rocked us gently as we lowered the cages and
skiffs into the water. Our teams split up--shark and shore,
however the sharks did not show until the lunch hour.
The surface temperature has dropped over the past few days to 67
degrees and with it the visibility. It has decreased
considerably from 80 to 100 down to 50 to 70 feet. The plankton
is thick in the water column, streaming in from the south and
filling the bellies of our Mexican scad mackerel escorts.
Though a little rough in the shallows, the shore team found a
herd of friendly fur seals which seemed to love every moment on
film.
The first shark to show left not long after arriving, however on
the second round she stayed long enough for the divers to work
with her. However the work was challenging due to the
deteriorating working conditions. Things slowed just until the
mid-afternoon, and just as the sun slipped over the cliff top.
Trigger returned to play in earnest.
After the sun passed behind the sheer cliffs of Guadalupe we
pulled the cages and skiffs, and the wind began to truly blow.
Our trusty new Delta anchor remained fast through dinner,
however once the gusts reached over 25 knots, with the wind
driven spray whipping over our bow as if we were underway, the
anchor broke free from its muddy surroundings 220 feet below
Horizon. The crew had to lean forward into the wind and spray as
they trudged towards the bow to retrieve our line, chain and
anchor which were now hanging from our bow roller like a
pendulum as the boat drifted off into 600 feet of water. Lucky
for us, the gusts abated shortly after nightfall and the
remainder of our evening was uneventful.
Tomorrow is our final day and we hope for fairer weather and
friendly sharks...
hasta manana,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 13, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 8 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
As I woke before the sun rose and the stars still shone
overhead, the constellation Orion was just disappearing behind
the island in the west.
Today proved to be a little better weather, however the sharks
were a little slow. We worked on surface shots in the afternoon
when Lady Cathy and Maverick showed up just before lunch. Heavy
plankton kept the visibility down to 80 feet--only...
While we waited on deck in the morning for the sharks to show, I
talked to Didier Noirot about his time with Jacques Cousteau on
the Calypso, diving and filming all over the world for twelve
years. An epic journey that has continued through today as he
dons his rebreather and slips into the blue waters of Guadalupe
to film the feared Great White Shark, and in a way never seen
before on the big screen.
hasta manana,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 12, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 7 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
Our string of calm nights broke last night with a flurry of
gusty winds from 15 to 20 knots and even a few rain squalls.
Surprising since the barometric pressure never dropped, and in
fact was on the rise. Our trusty delta anchor held throughout
the gusts and squalls, and through a very breezy morning of
whitecaps and wind.
At noon the wind settled offshore and the blue water reappeared
with some friendly white sharks. One team filmed a female named
'Mystery' while a second team explored close to the island,
getting some shots of the local leopard groupers. In the
afternoon the bay remained peaceful and only the disappearance
of the sun brought our divers back on board.
We hope for calmer conditions tonight and tomorrow...
until then,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 11, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 6 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
Only a mild windswell and heavy dew this morning signalled
another day of calm conditions for our diving operations today.
The whitecaps threatened on the outer edge of the bay, but
fortunately never reached us.
One team headed out to Spanish Cove for some fur seal footage,
however the wind already marched that far, the whitecaps stark
and frothing against the blue water, so they dove in tighter to
the coast a little further south. Unfortunately the visibility
was a little down at 40 feet.
A few sharks made passes, but none stuck around until the
afternoon, when an eleven foot female with a scar on her snout
made some passes. The shark team jumped in the water for a few
hours and our star from the day before, Lady Cathy, came by to
investigate. Soon the sun passed over the cliff and the low
light made filming impossible so we pulled all the toys out of
the water--two cages, and two skiffs.
We may see a little more wind tomorrow, hopefully not too much..
ciao.
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 10, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 5 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
The wind that plagued us yesterday seemed to be absent, or at
least stayed offshore, blowing past us tucked next to the cliffs
on the northern end of the island. The swell wrapping around the
northern point slowly subsided through the day, and the water's
surface remained glassy as the sun lifted over the marine layer
in the east.
One team skiffed into the shallows for a look at the pinnepeds
while another stood ready for the sharks to show. It wasn't
until after lunch a 12 foot female named Lady Cathy, or 'Honey'
made some earnest passes at the baits. The divers suited up,
their rebreathers on, the camera was prepped and handed down,
and the filming started. The team worked steadily until the sun
disappeared behind the cliffs nearly three hours later.
The first reviews on the clips are positive and we hope for a
few more good shots tomorrow...
adios,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 9, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 4 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
The gentle rocking began as we shut down lights around the
outside of the boat to prevent the storm petrels, small
ocean-going birds, from losing their bearings in our decklights
and spiraling into the side of the house like small black
feathered moths. The swell increased through the night,
signaling a rise in the wind offshore, and though protected from
the main swells, the wind would venturi over the island and
whitecap towards us in the morning.
One team worked on filming the fur seals in the shallows, while
the other stood by for the arrival of our toothy friends. The
sharks made a few passes in the morning, then we re-set our
anchor after a short drag in the gusty conditions. The anchor
would not hold us a second time, and with only minutes of
sunlight left, we toured the shoreline for the next hour and a
half. Surprisingly, not only did we see numerous fur seals , sea
lions, and elephant seals, but there were three different feral
cats we spotted.
Tomorrow we'll hope for a little less wind and a few more
sharks.
Until then,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 8, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 3 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
Dew was thick in pools on the sundeck pads, and the air still,
cool, only the hum of the generator and wails of fur seals broke
the morning silence. The dark blue water stretched like a mill
pond towards the shore, wide-eyed scad mackerel picking
invisible plankton restlessly from below the shadow of the
Horizon.
The first shark arrived shortly after 7am, a big female named
Mystery. In went our film crew and they emptied the ballast
tanks of our second cage. Two HD camermen, two safety divers and
our fearless talent. Then a second female arrived and a
seemingly ballet ensued between divers and sharks below the
boat. In the 60 to 80 foot visibility, we could watch each
movement clearly from the surface.
After a late breakfast they were back in the water with another
female called Trigger. She was a little more curious, and made
for some excellent filming. In the late afternoon the slight
current brought a bit too much plankton for filming, so we
called the diving for the day. An excellent first day and we
hope for many more.
ciao,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 7,
2006 Guadalupe Island
Day 2 of 11 with Galatee Films and San Diego Shark Diving
Wind barely rippled the water in the North Bay as
we ran down towards the anchorage we sometimes like to call 'Monkeyface'
for the strange cave formations along the steep cliffs next to
the water's edge. The ocean was a cobalt blue color, and though
the sun would soon fall behind the nearly 5000 foot hulk of the
island, we still had time to get wet for a little bit.
This trip is a little different than our typical white shark
trips. Galatee is undertaking a grand feature film project
titled 'OCEANS' which includes over fifty different locations
and production will span over five years. Some of the film crew
on board have already been hard at work filming the gargantuan
blue whales, the elegant and mysterious humpback and dramatic
sardine runs of South Africa.
We dropped in our cage and first one large female showed, then
another. Today was simply a check-out dive to get weight trim
set-up, and HD camera housings balanced. Tomorrow with weather
and sharks permitting, the show begins.
until then,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 3,
2006 Guadalupe Island
Day 4 of 5 with San Diego Shark Diving
Today was a much improved day of sharking as we
had our first visitor early in the morning. The weather was more
agreeable today as well as the windswell that had plagued our
first two days, abated.
My log today is short, but don't take it personal. I'm writing
this before I turn in for a couple hours of needed rest. Our
ride home is a bit bumpy, but all in all not too bad.
We will be departing Monday morning for an 11 day film shoot
with Galatee Films. We're excited to have them onboard as this
will be a departure from our normal itineraries.
I will do my best to send in daily logs during this voyage, but
am not sure of the work load and may need to skip a day here or
there to keep it all in order. Thanks for your understanding!
Until Then,
Captain Chris
M/V Horizon, November 2, 2006
Guadalupe Island
Day 3 of 5 with San Diego Shark Diving
Another brilliant Guadalupe sunrise greeted us this morning, as
well as some more windswell from the North.
Just as the sun reached the rim of the horizon, our first shark
made a pass in front of the cages at 6:20am. Then it was gone.
It circled deep below the boat every now and then, but the most
interesting action was the majestic yellowfin tuna gobbling up
our chunks of mackerel chum, their brilliant golden sides
showing as they turned before us. A small mako attacked our hang
baits with a vengeance, and then two white sharks showed in the
final hour of our rotations. Hopefully tomorrow they'll be back
for a good day of cage diving.
Until then,
Captain Chris
