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Yes, Divers, There Really are Huge Black Sea Bass
CDN:
Tell me that the photo of the giant black seabass was superimposed on the photo from Catalina Island. Are they really that big?
CFdiver
via e-mail
CFdiver,
I assume you are referring to the cover of the May issue (featuring two divers behind a black sea bass). Yes, they really are that big. There was no trick photography, no special lenses. The Giant Black Seabass in the photo is bigger than the diver pictured in the photo. They are very docile, and let us photograph them; however, if we got close enough where it appeared we might touch them, they slowly moved off. The same applied to our son, who tends to move a lot, they would slowly move away if he did not sit still.
Diving with giant black sea bass is an experience not to be missed. Odds are these protected beasts will be a common sight at Italian Gardens at Catalina this year. Schedule a visit soon.
Editor
Don’t Give Giant Sea Bass Sites!
CDN:
Have been following your publication for many years... (remember when Kim was pregnant and still working the Scuba Show! But!!!.... Wish you had not done the article on the Black Sea Bass. They are so magnificent and now they will be so easy to find by every Tom, Dick or Harry. Last year we already had problems with them being speared by some ignorant hunter who probably really didn’t realize what they were doing. Your article failed to mention this as well as how to approach, preserve, protect and honor these awesome creatures. Please do a follow-up article to create some constraint.
Jan Hemme
via e-mail
Jan,
The dive site “Sharkbite Rock” in our May issue is no secret spot for diving with the giant black sea bass. On one particular day of diving last fall there was a total of seven dive charter boats visiting the site. It is my hope that locations such as this will become commonplace throughout the Channel Islands in the near future. There is no reason why as many people as possible should not come to appreciate these animals. The more people who love their grandeur, the more the people will protect them, and the likelihood of someone accidentally spearing one of them through ignorance will be lessened.
Editor
Strange Fish at Malaga Cove
Hi,
Me and my buddy were coming in from a horrible dive at Malaga cove—great conditions, bad viz. We were in about 10 feet of water, and in a lot of grass type stuff but not eel grass. I noticed this thing floating but not connected to any grass. At a closer look, it was a long fish, 12 inches, and no thicker than a crayon. I think it was a pipefish. I caught it pretty easy to get a better look at it. It felt like a seahorse. I gave it my buddy to look at and he thought it was lobster antenna at first. Was I right?
Ted
via e-mail
Ted,
It sounds as if you are right, a pipefish (although it may also have been a tubesnout). Pipefish are related to seahorses and rarely seen, first because they are uncommon but also because they are so carefully camouflaged in sea grass or eel grass (an area where divers do not always carefully explore).
Editor
Morro Bay Diving?
Hello,
I will be in Morro Bay in early July and am interested in the diving conditions in Morro Bay. My 12-year-old daughter and I are certified divers; she is Open Water and I Advance. I plan on being very conservative with my daughter so I would appreciate any information you could give.
Steve Tuthill
Sacramento, CA
Steve:
Coastal diving is possible in the area but definitely only for the advanced. Diving is possible in Morro Bay itself, but you need to be aware of the tides and the currents can be quite strong during tidal movements. I recommend checking with the local dive store, SLO Ocean Currents (805-544-7227), with regards to the best time to dive for the day you plan on hitting the water.
I know of three dive spots in the bay. Fairbank Point is deep within the bay but is a rocky point that leads to direct access to deep portions of the channel. There is a lot of life but beware of boat traffic on the deeper portions of the channel. The point itself is a bird preserve, so you will have to swim north to the point from the beach north of the museum, south of the point. Access to the beach is easy just off the road and the swim is fairly short. Depths vary from 10 to 40 feet.
At the base of Morro Rock inside the bay is a small wooden boat wreck in the mud in 25 feet of water that is fun to explore. Diving under the City T Pier is a lot of fun with a great deal of life. You will need to get permission first from the harbormaster (office at the base of the pier).
Obviously, diving in a bay, the water visibility is not pristine. Ten feet is a good day. Dive at slack high tide for best visibility and ease in dealing with currents. On the flip side, getting in and out of the water is easy with no surf. Because of the heavy boat traffic in the bay, always use a dive flag and float.
Dale Sheckler
Editor
We'd like to hear from you! Send your comments to EMAIL: mail@saintbrendan.com or P.O. Box 11231, Torrance, CA 90510; Fax (310) 792-2336 (please include include name , city and a way to contact you.)
Return to Cover Page/Contents for July 2002 issue