What's New
07.18.08 Nine dive site reviews have been added to the San Juan Island diving section. I'll work on formatting the western Strait of Juan de Fuca next.
07.17.08 An encounter at Three Three Point with a sixgill and and lumpsucker! However, I only got pics of the lumpucker. See the pics under the Photo Gallery.
07.11.08 Neah Bay trip! And WHAT a trip it was. Diving conditions were perfect. Check out the 23 new species in the Species Index and new Photo Gallery additions. I can't wait to go back in August.
06.30.08 A day trip to Sucia Island produced three dives, good time, sunny skies, and three new species.
06.23.08: New section added to the rockfish species page: Rockfish facts and terms. No more getting pectoral and pelvic fins mixed up!
06.20.08: New section added to the nudibranch species page: Nudibranch facts and terms. Now we all know what "cerata" are!
06.08.08: Up to 237 species in the Species Index - and counting!
06.05.08: Three Tree Point Strikes again! Check out the striking showy snailfish encountered during my weekly night dive. Pic is located in the Species Index.
06.01.08: Twenty-one dive site reviews have been added to the Puget Sound section. I'd appreciate any feedback you might have (good, bad, or indifferent) regarding these reviews.
07.17.08 An encounter at Three Three Point with a sixgill and and lumpsucker! However, I only got pics of the lumpucker. See the pics under the Photo Gallery.
07.11.08 Neah Bay trip! And WHAT a trip it was. Diving conditions were perfect. Check out the 23 new species in the Species Index and new Photo Gallery additions. I can't wait to go back in August.
06.30.08 A day trip to Sucia Island produced three dives, good time, sunny skies, and three new species.
06.23.08: New section added to the rockfish species page: Rockfish facts and terms. No more getting pectoral and pelvic fins mixed up!
06.20.08: New section added to the nudibranch species page: Nudibranch facts and terms. Now we all know what "cerata" are!
06.08.08: Up to 237 species in the Species Index - and counting!
06.05.08: Three Tree Point Strikes again! Check out the striking showy snailfish encountered during my weekly night dive. Pic is located in the Species Index.
06.01.08: Twenty-one dive site reviews have been added to the Puget Sound section. I'd appreciate any feedback you might have (good, bad, or indifferent) regarding these reviews.
10.05.08 Day trip to Rosario Strait. Basket stars, hot links, sealions, and an old cleat highlighted the day. Three new species entered into the Species Index and a full report under Dive Reports.
09.27.08 Another five new species added to the Species Index and some new Photo Gallery shots of octopus and a stubby squid. I added a Dive Report for this weekend's excursion to KVI Tower, as this was my last excursion in my 18' Avon RIB (sob!).
09.06.08 Five new species added to the Species Index and several new additions to the Photo Gallery from last weeks night dives and the weekend's South Sound excursion.
08.29.08 Ten new dive site reviews added for the Western Strait of Juan de Fuca - what I consider some of the best dives in the world! See the Local Sites section.
08.24.08 San Juan Island day trip!! And what a beautiful and long day it was. See the full report under Dive Reports and the 9 new entries to the Species Index.
08.11.08 Pics from this weekend's Neah Bay trip are posted. Diving conditions on Friday were so ideal I was able to dive the west side of Duncan Rock with no current. I was also able to get a pic of me standing on Duncan Rock! See the full report under Dive Reports (includes a pic of two elephant seals in a cave), Photo Gallery, and Species Index (17 new species).
08.02.08 Time for our annual Hood Canal summertime dive adventure! Hood Canal never seems to disappoint. Although the diving is very easy, the species in this area are spectacular. Check out the new Photo Gallery additions and 13 new species added to the Species Index.
08.01.08 New bluntnose sixgill shark video added under the Photo Gallery. The video is over 2 minutes long and highlights some of the six gills I encountered at Three Tree Point in 2004.
07.24.08 So you think you know your invertebrates? I added many new photos to Mystery Critters from my latest Neah Bay trip. See if you can figure out what they are - I couldn't. And please let me know if you do!
09.27.08 Another five new species added to the Species Index and some new Photo Gallery shots of octopus and a stubby squid. I added a Dive Report for this weekend's excursion to KVI Tower, as this was my last excursion in my 18' Avon RIB (sob!).
09.06.08 Five new species added to the Species Index and several new additions to the Photo Gallery from last weeks night dives and the weekend's South Sound excursion.
08.29.08 Ten new dive site reviews added for the Western Strait of Juan de Fuca - what I consider some of the best dives in the world! See the Local Sites section.
08.24.08 San Juan Island day trip!! And what a beautiful and long day it was. See the full report under Dive Reports and the 9 new entries to the Species Index.
08.11.08 Pics from this weekend's Neah Bay trip are posted. Diving conditions on Friday were so ideal I was able to dive the west side of Duncan Rock with no current. I was also able to get a pic of me standing on Duncan Rock! See the full report under Dive Reports (includes a pic of two elephant seals in a cave), Photo Gallery, and Species Index (17 new species).
08.02.08 Time for our annual Hood Canal summertime dive adventure! Hood Canal never seems to disappoint. Although the diving is very easy, the species in this area are spectacular. Check out the new Photo Gallery additions and 13 new species added to the Species Index.
08.01.08 New bluntnose sixgill shark video added under the Photo Gallery. The video is over 2 minutes long and highlights some of the six gills I encountered at Three Tree Point in 2004.
07.24.08 So you think you know your invertebrates? I added many new photos to Mystery Critters from my latest Neah Bay trip. See if you can figure out what they are - I couldn't. And please let me know if you do!
07.20.08 Two dives at KVI Tower Reef this weekend (my 57th and 58th at this site). Fabulous vis (35 feet), no current (despite the huge exchange), and lots of active marine life, including 2 wolfeels. I noted a school of four small yellowtail rockfish for the first time at this site. This is the farthest south I have noted yellowtail rockfish. It would be great to give yellowtail and
10.11.08 A Puget Sound king crab in Puget Sound? Has the world gone bazzerk (other than Wall Street)? Check it out under the Photo Gallery. I found a juvenile Puget Sound king crab in 26 feet of water at Edmonds Underwater Park - a rare sighting indeed. Two additional new species added to the Species Index.
black rockfish a chance to re-establish themselves in central Puget Sound. I have emailed WDFW to see what can be done.
12.2.08 Report from the Seattle Aquarium regarding their on-going bluntnose sixgill shark research project posted under the Photo Gallery/Sixgills. Thanks to Jeff Christiansen for this report!
11.02.08 Three new species and eight new gallery photos added from several dives at Three Tree Point and Edmonds. I hope to have the new boat ready soon and start hitting some different sites in November.
11.02.08 Three new species and eight new gallery photos added from several dives at Three Tree Point and Edmonds. I hope to have the new boat ready soon and start hitting some different sites in November.
12.28.08 Four photos added to the Photo Gallery from some recent night dives, including a photo of the elusive showy snailfish. I have only noted this fish twice while diving - both encounters this year during night dives at Three Tree Point.
01.06.09 Introducing the new dive boat, the "Toolbox", a 20' WeldCraft Maverick. May she provide as many grand diving adventrues as did my prior boat, and deliver us "tools" home safely.
04.05.09 Ski season is wrapping up, so my focus is finally back on scuba! I updated the photo gallery with some images from winter diving and a recent trip to Rosario Strait. These are my first images with my new camera - a Canon 450D.
04.18.09 Wow! We had a fantastic day of exploratory dives around Tumbo Channel in the Canadian Gulf Islands. The site we thought was going to be incredible turned out to be a snoozer, but we stumbled into one of the best walls we have seen in the Pacific Northwest! See the complete report under Dive Reports.
04.23.09 Macro shots of 10 different seastar added - an interesting assortment of colorful protrusions, spines, and pinchers when magnified with a 50mm macro lens. See Species Index/Seastars and follow the link at the top of the page.
05.01.09 I finally "got the lead out" and completed a report on Puget Sound toxins - a subject that has haunted me for years. If you fish in Puget Sound, you should read this. You can view the report under "Commentaries", or click on the "are Puget Sound Fish Safe To Eat?" link to the left.
05.07.09 I wrapped up personal research paper regarding the state of our local Orca populations. You can view the report under "Commentaries", or click on the "Who Is Killing Our Orcas?" link to the left. Enough writing - time to go diving.
05.09.09 A new species was added to the Species Index and some nice shots were added to the Photo Gallery from our Hood Canal trip this weekend. We incurred the wrath of hundreds of shrimp boats and a lion's mane jelly to get these shots, so enjoy.
05.19.09 Ten new photos posted in the Photo Gallery from our weekend excursion to the NW San Juan Islands and a Three Tree Point night dive. Check out the Pacific spiny lumpsucker photo - it is the smallest lumpsucker I have ever found.
06.15.09 It's almost been a month since any updates, but I have a great excuse! I spent 10 days in June on a dive excursion circumnavigating Vancouver Island aboard the Nautilus Explorer. The trip yielded 25 new entries for the Species Index, but I should have cataloged 100. Forty new images were added to the Photo Gallery as well. A complete trip report is available under Dive Reports. Enjoy!
06.29.09 A quick day trip to the San Juan Island usually yields some excellent diving, especially when Tumbo Island is on the agenda. This trip was no exception. We didn't get to dive the site we originally targeted, but we did get in some good diving nonetheless. See the full report under Dive Reports and the new pictures under Photo Gallery.
07.17.09 The first of two Neah Bay trips this years resulted in some excellent diving, unique mammal encounters, and delicious BBQ. Hi-lights from the trip include grey whales, tufted puffins, giant Pacific octopus,sea lions, and even an elephant seal. See the complete report under Dive reports
08.29.09 Photos for the second Neah Bay trip this year are posted under the Photo Gallery. Sorry - no trip report for this one. Fog limited our diving opportunities, and work is finally interfering with my diving and website updates!
10.25.09 New shots added to the photo gallery, most of which were taken at Three Tree Point. Also added one new species - check out the Giant Sea Spider under "Other Invertebrates" in the Species Inex.
11.15.09 New images added to the Photo Gallery from recent Three Tree Point dives. Stubby squid, Pacific spiny lumpsuckers, and bay pipefish are all featured characters of Three Tree Point this November. I gotta get the boat back out one of the weekends!
11.30.09 The trip report added for last weekend's south Lopez Island dive escaped. We picked the RIGHT day to go diving as it was more like a June day! Crabs rules the day as we saw plenty of Puget Sound king crabs and scale crabs. See Dive Reports for further details.
12.11.09 A few new pics added to the photo gallery of a quick dive to China Wall on the west side of Blakely Harbor. Cold weather and wind prevented a second dive, but a great photoshoot with a decorated warboonet made this dive trip worthwhile.
01.13.10 I finished a very short video from two dives - one at Edmonds Underwater Park, and the other at Long Island in the San Juans - using the new H2OV video camera. The video is in 720 X 540 format, and is rather bandwidth intensive. Please enjoy the splendor that is our Emerald Sea!
01.19.10 Some new pics added to th Photo Gallery from two sites that always seem to produce wonderful photography - KVI Tower and Three Tree Point. These two sites are right across Puget Sound from one another. The black rockfish popluations at KVI continue to grow - very encouraging! I even spied some small yellowtail rockfish at this site again.
04.10.10 Well its about time I got out and did some serious diving! A five day trip to Port Hardy, courtesy of God's Pocket Resort, was simply AMAZING. It had been five years since I visited this resort and there have been a number of changes - all for the better. God's Pocket Resort has the Pacific Northwest cold-water diving vacation totally dialed in. See the full report under Recent Dives. This trip also produced about 20 new species for the Species Index and over 50 images for the Photo Gallery. Video to follow shortly. Enjoy!
05.21.10 I finally got the H2OV video completed from my Port hardy trip!! All the underwater footage in this video was taken with the ContourHD camera and H2OV housing. Vis ranged from 70 feet at some of the sites in Browning Pass to about 25 feet (diving with sea lions). Links for the video are accessible below or from the H2OV camera page.