Sharing the Love

After I became a mom my dive log started collecting dust. In fact Sean has now logged more dives than me due to my pregnancies and lack of friends who are certified to go with. (Amanda W. lets go sometime soon!) Sean just seems to get out there more than me. We rarely go together anymore due to finding babysitters and my new outlook on the risks with two kids at home. However, I am grateful that we share the love of the ocean and both appreciate the amazing life and adventures that can be found beneath the surface! Sean took his buddy Shane out to Point Lobos State Reserve last Monday morning. It is known as "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world." Here is a glimpse into part of the underwater reserve called Cannery Wall.

Our underwater camera doesn't do the kelp forest justice! Notice the anemones and the bat stars.

Moon Jelly: The bell on this guy is pretty beat up, looks like the wave action got the best of him. The risks of a drifter. They do sting but not harmful to humans.
Sea Lemon: This relative of the snail actually has a fruity odor that deters predators. Nerve cell research is done on the neurons of this nudibranch because their neurons are bigger and more accessible than human neurons.
("nudi"= naked "branch"= gills, they don't have a shell to cover those frilly gills, hence called nudibranchs, or sea slugs)
Ling cod: Sean said this baby was at least 3ft. long. They can get up to 5ft. long and are ambush predators. Males have been known to attack humans while guarding eggs.

Decorator Crab: Shane showing the underside of this big guy. Decorator's actually do as their name implies, when they are smaller they decorate their shells by snipping off seaweed, anemones, or whatever they are living among, and sticking to their Velcro-like shells. Great camouflage! The bigger they are the less decor!
Fish-eating Anemone: while most species of anemone catch plankton suspended in the water, these guys can take down a shrimp or small fish.

Sunflower star: only my favorite invertebrate! I was able study these for a predator-prey research project back in the day. They are so soft and fast! They can move over 40 in. in a minute...now that is a speedy sea star! These guys have very voracious appetites. Snails, urchins, cockles, other stars, etc will "flee" when they sense its presence.
You guys still with me? OK, I just re-read this and I really am a dork! I just get so excited sharing my love with you and I didn't even go on this particular dive.

Alright, last but certainly not least, here is a self portrait of Sean, notice the harbor seal in the distance. They are super fun to dive with! When my little brother and his buddies came out last summer we had a little seal pup follow us around the whole dive. He was so curious and cute. They have been known to tug on your fins and pull regulators out of mouths. Fortunately, that hasn't happened to us yet.

This was the only underwater pic I got of the harbor seal pup that followed us around last summer.