Catalina on the Second Stage

We went out on a boat called the Second Stage for our dives in the Nitrox class. We were going to go to the oil rigs, but there was too much current. We ended up in catalina, the first two dives near blue cavern point, and the last dive in Italian Gardens. The water was awesome... The third dive was picked on a report that there were some giant black sea bass hanging out in the kelp (a cleaning station), and sure enough, they were there!!! And giant too! There were six of them, the biggest about seven feet long, the smallest about four feet. I wish I had a picture with a person next to one to show scale... they were very friendly and curious. The boat was a small charter fishing and diving boat, holds six divers. He has a really nice setup, and is very friendly and helpful. I will definately be going out with him again!!

	Great Visibility!!!		Swaying kelp
	Kelp and sun		waves breaking overhead on the rocks
	Juvinile Girabaldi		The ever-present girabaldi patrol
	Girabaldi and kelp		Young girabaldi, with his beautiful blue spots
	Young treefish		Kelp perch
	The Second Stage		Alan hanging out
	Giant Sea bass, also known as Black Sea bass... about 6 feet long!		A giant sea bass couple
	Giant Sea Bass		Giant Sea Bass with a sheephead
	Pair of Giant Sea Bass		Giant Sea Bass
	large male Sheephead		large male sheephead
	tiny baby girabaldi		tiny baby girabaldi
	Calico bass guarding his kelp stalk		Opaleye
	Kelp in the sunbeams		Small school of kelp perch

Last updated: Fri Oct 20 14:11:01 PDT 2000