Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone entertainment : While some need lots of expensive gear ( divers like me ),
others get by with a minimum :)
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But if you want to see what is below the surface, gear does come in handy ...
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These days the Keystone Pilings are the convention center for the Buffalo sculpins ..
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

The one dive I've done at the pilings was like that . . . the sea floor appeared to be composed of large cobblestones, but the cobblestones had tails, and moved if you got too close to them!
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Like the Buffalo sculpins, the Opalescent nudibranchs are all over Keystone.
I was watching these two approach each other and I was expecting the usual outcome.
In most cases, when two slugs meet, it doesn't take long to see them realign themselves
head to tail and work on the next generation of slugs. Not these two. As soon as they
touched heads, they started to fight. The jostled for three minutes before parting their ways ..
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Chenari
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Chenari »

Wow, who knew even the Sea Slugs fought. Did you get to see either of them lunge?
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Chenari wrote:Wow, who knew even the Sea Slugs fought. Did you get to see either of them lunge?
My prescription mask is being being refitted somewhere in Chicago at this moment, so the fine details escaped
me, but it was not a friendly encounter between the two slugs.
Encounter with dogfish in murky water - easier to see, but harder to catch with a point & shoot,
for they are skittish around me ...
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and a distant relative of sharks :
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Dashrynn
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dashrynn »

Jan glad you caught a picture of a dogfish! and at driftwood! Now I can finally rub it in the noses of people who said it wasn't so. Also very interesting knowledge about the dogfish. Never knew they were endangered in some areas.
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

I haven't seen a dogfish in a long time . . . lucky find, Jan!

And I may be strange, but I have loved ratfish ever since I saw my first one. The big, dark eyes, the gold line, and the silly pectoral fin swimming makes them absolutely endearing. They're translucent, too!
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dashrynn »

LCF wrote:
And I may be strange, but I have loved ratfish ever since I saw my first one. The big, dark eyes, the gold line, and the silly pectoral fin swimming makes them absolutely endearing. They're translucent, too!
They are adorable. But if you think they are innocent you should ask blaiz about our encounter with the killer Ratfish..of doom! and some other guy here that went to a MMM and a ratfish attacked him (or fled in fear into his chest).
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

So what if the day begins with rain. :)
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Dusty2
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

And the anemonies love them! :burntchef:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Some of the usually timid Buffalo sculpins get feisty at times and "attack"
Got bumped few times lately . Maybe when hit by the air bubbles (diver below ! )
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Wow, that's a cool catch, Jan! I don't think I've ever seen a buffalo sculpin do more than scoot a few feet away, and never up in the water column. I'm not sure I thought they could really swim :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Saw this crab yesterday at Deception Pass.
It looked somewhat familiar :)
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Tom Nic
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tom Nic »

That's hilarious.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Too funny!

I love those little guys, who spread their claws in absolute defiance . . . of something about a thousand times their size!
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

What a better way to enjoy the few days of summer this weekend then dive my favorite site :)
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Jan, that last photo is simply a summation of the best of PNW diving . . . fabulous color, amazing density of life. You do such an extraordinary job of capturing the magic!

I would really, really like to come up and dive the pass with you one of these days!
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Little more Deception color :
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Blaiz »

hmmm so THATS why paul was so excited that he didn't have to dive with me this weekend :penelope:
The student was ready.


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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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and wrap up for this tidal cycle at Deception Pass
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Other than the egg mass, Jan, how do you tell the divae from the concinna? Your pictures look just like mine, to me.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

LCF wrote:Other than the egg mass, Jan, how do you tell the divae from the concinna? Your pictures look just like mine, to me.
I took the easy way out, I asked the expert :

"Because of the really long straight smooth rhinophores - I'd go with C. divae.  Dave Behrens "
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Interesting! I went back and looked at all my photos, and by those criteria, I saw a divae, too.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Langley Tire Reef revisited:
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Oh, gorgeous shot of the greenling in mating colors! I still remember the first time I saw one, at the Maury Island Barges. I knew it had to be a greenling by the shape, but the color was so strange. I do think they are one of our prettiest fish, with their dark maroon and sparkles.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
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