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 »

Blood stars spawning at Keystone. Now if only the other star species would take the clue ...
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oldsalt
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by oldsalt »

Jan: 4:16 a.m.? Were you starting the day early or ending late?
-Curt :questionmarks:
Happy to be alive.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

oldsalt wrote:Jan: 4:16 a.m.? Were you starting the day early or ending late?
-Curt :questionmarks:
Early bird gets the worm,
or the cucumber :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

No wonder we see less sea stars in our waters. Even the anemones seem to be involved in the sea star reduction :(
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tidepool Geek »

Hi Jan,

Last Tuesday a friend witnessed (in one hour) three instances of young Ochre Stars being eaten by Seagulls. On the bright side, at least there were stars to eat (Ochres have been making a comeback in Port Angeles recently).

Optimistically yours,
Alex
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Some bad news from Langley, eleven Ochre stars and two Mottled showing signs of the Sea Star Wasting.
On the other side of Whidbey at Keystone, ten healthy Sunflower and numerous Mottled, also looking healthy.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Weekend at Keystone, beginning of April ...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Since drones are in the news a lot lately, here is one from Whidbey Island waters.
Looking for marine life at my favorite dive site and found somebody's expensive toy instead. Unfortunately, like most of electronics, once they hit salt water, they become just another piece of trash. I was hoping to get the video of the drone actually crashing and maybe even few seconds of underwater footage. But when I downloaded the files from the camera's disc, the last frame was still from the altitude above the Deception Pass waters and no indication of trouble. If the owner is interested in the wreck, it will be on display in the Whidbey Island Dive Center in Oak Harbor. The date of the flight according to the EXIF data was April 5,2016 at noon.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Happy ending, sort of.
The power of social media. Within few hours since this posting, the owner of the drone contacted me and I was happy to hand him his drone few minutes ago. He drove all the way from Oak Harbor to get it. I am glad he can at least get his video back.... :)
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Gdog
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Gdog »

Dang. Nice work Jan!
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

The currents last two dives at the pass were no following the script.
Little late in turning around, I thought. But eventually the did and
I not only found a drone, but enjoyed the colorful marine life the
pass is famous for.
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ScubaJess
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by ScubaJess »

Looks beautiful!!! Great job!
Live Long And Prosper!!!

Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

The weather last week was so beautiful, I just had to dive every day and so I fell behind in processing
the pixels which I collected during these dives. I admit, for me, it is more fun to take pictures than
deal with them back home ...
So here we go, some from Keystone and some from Skyline :
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tangfish »

Gorgeous colors Jan, and I just caught up on the "Rise of the Drones". Well, even though he might only be able to salvage a few spares, you made one drone pilot pretty happy with your recovery!
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thanks Calvin, glad you like the pics. As for the drone, the owner will try to resurrect it,
if not, he can get some insurance money for it :)
And few more from the Skyline dives ...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

I hope the reddish stuff starting to grow on the wharf pilings isn't some killer algae.
It wasn't there in the last two years since I started to dive in Penn Cove :(
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

From the Whidbey Record front page: "Most of Possession Point State Park will be reclassified
as “surplus” and become eligible for transfer to another public entity or even sold to a private
party, under a long-range plan being proposed by Washington State Parks. "
It stirred lot of excitement among us divers and after receiving some e-mails today, I understand,
that it is not the case. At least not yet.
Here are few pictures from my recent dive there... It is not colorful like Deception Pass, but it is interesting, nevertheless.
It would be shame to lose it...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Saturday was a busy day at Deception Pass. Weather beautiful, so was the dive :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Scubie Doo »

Beautiful Jan. Glad you made it out there. How was the current?
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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It was little late turning, but not bad.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

I returnd to Deception Pass for two more dives, this time spent almost half of the dive snorkeling
in the shallows trying to get picture of the fast moving sardines. The turbulent water was full of
silt, plus small fishing boats were catching the small silver fishies right in the same waters. The
much smaller smelt kept closer to the cliff.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Scubie Doo »

Neat Jan, I love it.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Four days of Deception Pass on recent tide/current cycle.
Lots of catching up, the photo folder from the dives still waiting to be sorted through :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by fmerkel »

4 days! You dive Deception Pass as often as some people dive, and somehow take pretty pictures to bring back.
I've done 3 this year and was feeling smug about that. So much for vanity, eh? :smt064
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

But unlike you, I don't have to drive through the nightmare called I-5 to get to the site. Considering that the access is closed until March, and it is only the beginning of May, three dives at the Pass is nothing to be ashamed of. I salute you and your dive buddies for that !
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