Albert
Anchorage
On New Year's Eve I was fortunate to bring in the Y2K on a Channel Islands charter boat. While busy photographing some silly little shell on a sea fan, I observed the sea fan bleeding a luminescent fluid into the water column. The fluid originated from a green, "pond scum" like growth on the sea fan and pulsated into the water column like a cut artery. The blue fluid was clearly bioluminescent, about the same color as a blue "chemical light stick," but considerably brighter. Each pulse twisted and turned in the surge and then faded away into nothing. I turned off my light and enjoyed the light show. Not a bad way to bring in the new year!
We were anchored for the night at Albert Anchorage on the south side of Santa Cruz Island. While this area is noted for its calm waters, it also has a plethora of little invertebrates and fish that will please the most discriminating photographer.
On the west end of the anchorage is a steep cliff that drops vertically to the waterline and then descends in a series of steps. The steps are made up of giant boulders that provide numerous nooks and crannies for creatures to find homes. Our group found several horn sharks and a few small lobsters hiding among the rocks.
The rock walls support a thin bed of giant kelp and many of the boulders are adorned with red and brown sea fans. This is a shallow, well-sheltered reef and is a great place to relax, get your mask close to the reef, and look for little creatures. There are numerous small shrimps and crabs, nudibranchs, and large numbers of sculpins, gobys, and garibaldi.
At 50 feet the rocks end in a sand bottom that slowly descends into deep water. There is a 10-foot stretch of sand near the base of the wall that is home to a number of sea fans. These fans are preyed upon by a host of predators and parasites. In addition to the "pond scum-like" creature I described above there were festive tritons feeding on sea fan polyps, and most of the fans were home to at least one simnia. These cowrie-like mollusks live and feed on red sea fans. We found them singly, in pairs mating, and laying eggs. This is the kind of spot where a macro photographer can spend an entire dive (or two?) filming the life on a single sea fan.
There is little need to stray far from the rock wall, since most of the action is on or near the rocks. However, should you venture south from the rocks you will find a gently sloping sand bottom with a few rocks and sea fans.
Dive Spot At - A - Glance
Location:
Albert Anchorage is located on the south side of Santa Cruz Island,
about the middle of the island.
Access: Boat only. Commercial dive charter boats often spend the night here.
Skill Level: Beginner or better.
Hazards: Boat traffic.
Hunting: You might find a legal lobster if you're lucky; otherwise, the area has poor fishing/hunting prospects.
Photography: Outstanding macro life on sea fans.
Suggested Boats Serving This Area:
Liberty - (805) 642-6655
Explorer - (805) 646-0836
Peace - (805) 984-2025
Spectre - (805) 483-6612
Truth/Conception/Vision -
(805) 962-1127
or see the California Scuba Calendar section of this issue for trips to Santa Cruz Island
Bruce Watkins is a frequent contributor to California Diving News, lecturer and author of the book A Diver's Guide to Monterey County.
