If I had to pick a favorite slug, this would be pretty high on the list. Brenna found this along the Breakwater.
Dr. Gordon Hendler at the Natural History Museum in LA suggests this is Amphiura arcystata, based on similar specimens he has examined (pers. comm.). Thanks to Gordon and Mark Verdecia for helping with the ID!
As we were about to make our entry, someone came up and asked Brenna, "What's it like out there?" "Have you been to the aquarium?" she asked. "It's like that." (No, not like that). I might ammend it with "but much murkier." Sea nettles were out in force today, and it really was a bit like diving in one of the Monterey Bay Aquarium exhibits... except stingier.
Managed to steer clear of the fishermen 45 feet above long enough to grow to this ripe old size. Ironically, I got tangled in someone's fishing line for the first time this dive.
Not the best pic, but I realized I've never recorded observing it, even though I'm sure I've seen it on previous dives.
A Rainbow Nudibranch (Dendronotus iris) just misses its favorite meal: the tube anemone (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus).
Jeez, fish. Looks like the pic in the book, lacks the yellow eye of the yelloweye, and the face stripes of the canary.
First time seeing this fine slug. Found it in the sand while swimming back to the pipe, sitting on a moon snail egg collar. I love the white speckling on the notum, just like A. lutea!
Finally made it out there. Pretty awesome, though of course, vis and scale didn't combine for an awesome photo.
Probably the coolest crab on Earth.
