ThThTh 12/17 - With mystery cepholopod hatchling sighting!

[YellowEye]

Howdy Folks!
We had another great ThThTh dive tonight!

Scubie Doo, GDog, ScubaJess and I made it for the dive!

ScubaJess and I got to see a very unexpected critter on our way up -- some sort of baby squid or octopus! It was smaller than a GPO hatchling, and orange. I thought it may be a baby red octo - Jess thought maybe it was a baby market squid. Either way -- very unexpected, and very cool. I didn't get a super good shot but got some pics to prove we weren't completely narc'd!

Mystery Hatchling

Sailfin Sculpins!

In all my shots, the tentacles were a bit floppy!

What do you guys think it is??

We saw them at 38 feet, straight out from the south side of the first condo outside the boat ramp! There were quite a few of them. Another nearby landmark was a log sitting pointing 45 degrees upslope at about 31. We found them directly below that. Maybe someone else can go out and see them too

Here were a few of the other sightings!

Another view of the mystery hatchling

Pacific Stomach Wings!

This bay pipe fish was vertically-oriented, about 5-8 feet off the bottom!

Squid Eye

Have a great weekend!

[ScubaJess]

Those turned out great YellowEye!
It was so amazing to see those hatchlings!
Also the pipefish was so funny just hanging out like that
Another epic ThThTh!

[Linedog]

Awesome photos like always, the unidentifiable critter, well Star Wars did open this week, just saying.

[Jan K]

YellowEye, you should change your sign to EagleEye ! Awesome, as usual, but getting the hatchlings is especially awesome

[Gdog]

Nice work Eric! I haven't even had a chance to look thru my shots.

[Tom Nic]

Awesome shots!

[derekcs]

Star Wars was good in case you were wondering. Cursing myself for missing the baby squid. I'm guessing squid based on the shape of the mantle. The baby GPOs were definitely more rounded in shape.

[ScubaJess]

I think they were baby Stubbies or Market squid. They were really fun to watch.

[Gdog]

Didnt really get much this dive, even though it was a very nice relaxing dive. Here are a couple shots I liked...

This guy wouldnt pose well, kept darting around.

Jesse spotted this huge white Snailfish perched on a rock with a sea cucumber above him and orange anenome below him. Really liked the constrasting colors.

[YellowEye]

Nice ones George. I do like those pathes of around the otherwise plain snail fish!

[Hoodsport_Diver]

Great shots, Yellow Eye & Gdog!

I'm totally jealous. I've been down in California all week visiting my Mom without a chance to get wet.

I look forward to diving with the ThThTh crew again sometime soon.

[ScubaJess]

We miss you Alex! Hope to see you soon!

[Scubie Doo]

Nice work y'all. Great diving with you. Had a blast.

[Scubie Doo]

Eric, I really think those are GPO hatchlings. I went through my photos of the hatchlings and they have the same characteristics. Regardless, that is an awesome find. Here are a few of my pics. Sorry if they are duplicates of yours and George's, they were really the only ones that came out.









Quick question on the last photo. Are these crab normally the color of rust or do they adapt the rust color from their environment? and what kind of crab is it?

[YellowEye]

Cool pics Jesse! Nice background on the bay pipefish.

Andy Lamb thinks those hatchlings are stubby squid babies. They really were quite a bit smaller and had different movements than GPO babies.

Your crab looks like a helmet crab. They're usually yellowish orangish.

[Scubie Doo]

Cool pics Jesse! Nice background on the bay pipefish.

Andy Lamb thinks those hatchlings are stubby squid babies. They really were quite a bit smaller and had different movements than GPO babies.

Your crab looks like a helmet crab. They're usually yellowish orangish.

Stubby squid hatchlings make sense at Redondo. If that is what they are, congrats on the find. Way to use your super duper eagle eyes.

[Gdog]

Awesome Market Squid shot Jesse!

[Scubie Doo]

Awesome Market Squid shot Jesse!

I owe that one to my awesome dive buddy, who 1) pointed it out and 2) guided him toward me. What a great dive buddy