Mobula heaven
October/09/2007
We
took some friends from Canada out snorkeling on a
day where the sea,
current and swells were the roughest I have experienced on Coronado. It was a
typical day underwater, sea lions were frisky and interactive - two swam right
up to my chest in a game of brinkmanship and happily, they veered off at the
last second.
We drift dived - such fun - however the payback was formidable as we had to
swim against the current to return. The usual assortment of characters was
there and we logged a 53-minute dive at a total depth of 78-feet.
The sea was so rough that we dropped off the snorkelers on the lee side of
Coronado Beach were they portaged over the desert on a 10-minute trek to reach
the other side. Gray was feeling the effects of the salt water on his face and
elected to sit the dive out. Ben, Rafa and myself went off to find a pinnacle
100 metres offshore. Diving into the water, we descended to 43-feet and
quickly came across a couple of mobula rays bobbing and weaving through the
current catching krill for lunch. When we dropped to the 60-foot range, we
entered a blizzard of sardines, literally millions of them, schooling through
the current, changing direction as a uniform choreography. A dozen mobula
showed up as a battalion, large groupers, panamic graybys, bass, herds of
goatfish and surprisingly an enormous balloonfish at least three feet in
length. Normally a nocturnal animal, the shy balloonfish with eyes as big as
saucers obviously couldn’t pass up the free lunch. The visibility was cloudy
and clear depending on the volume of tiny shrimp, krill and sardines that
overcast the view. More mobulas one came up about 15-feet from, completely
oblivious to me and focused on its culinary dance. Beautiful form and grace,
these rays, smaller cousins of the manta are utterly hypnotic and I eyeballed
it as it moved beyond my reach. We reached a total depth of 71-feet before
climbing back through the reef range. I came across a group of goatfish and
surgeons floated in neutral buoyancy. They let me join them for a drift and I
slowed my breathing so the bubbles wouldn’t disturb them. Moving upward toward
the light, lots of little canyons of fish, rainbow wraisse, barberfish,
parrotfish, chromis and goats. I love the little Cortez brown damselfish that
advance and retreat as I approach. Rafa found a couple of giant blue
damselfish guarding their eggs deposited on flat slate-like formations. As
Rafa approached to look closer, the damsel parent would open its mouth and
move into his lens, trying to impede his way. Very brave and courageous
totally undaunted to the large invader. Moving up to safety stop, we fell upon
an octopus who despite our best coaxing efforts, would not come out and join
us.
As usual, looking up, I see that Daniel has brought the boat aside our bubbles
and we all floated up to the ladder.
current and swells were the roughest I have experienced on Coronado. It was a
typical day underwater, sea lions were frisky and interactive - two swam right
up to my chest in a game of brinkmanship and happily, they veered off at the
last second.
We drift dived - such fun - however the payback was formidable as we had to
swim against the current to return. The usual assortment of characters was
there and we logged a 53-minute dive at a total depth of 78-feet.
The sea was so rough that we dropped off the snorkelers on the lee side of
Coronado Beach were they portaged over the desert on a 10-minute trek to reach
the other side. Gray was feeling the effects of the salt water on his face and
elected to sit the dive out. Ben, Rafa and myself went off to find a pinnacle
100 metres offshore. Diving into the water, we descended to 43-feet and
quickly came across a couple of mobula rays bobbing and weaving through the
current catching krill for lunch. When we dropped to the 60-foot range, we
entered a blizzard of sardines, literally millions of them, schooling through
the current, changing direction as a uniform choreography. A dozen mobula
showed up as a battalion, large groupers, panamic graybys, bass, herds of
goatfish and surprisingly an enormous balloonfish at least three feet in
length. Normally a nocturnal animal, the shy balloonfish with eyes as big as
saucers obviously couldn’t pass up the free lunch. The visibility was cloudy
and clear depending on the volume of tiny shrimp, krill and sardines that
overcast the view. More mobulas one came up about 15-feet from, completely
oblivious to me and focused on its culinary dance. Beautiful form and grace,
these rays, smaller cousins of the manta are utterly hypnotic and I eyeballed
it as it moved beyond my reach. We reached a total depth of 71-feet before
climbing back through the reef range. I came across a group of goatfish and
surgeons floated in neutral buoyancy. They let me join them for a drift and I
slowed my breathing so the bubbles wouldn’t disturb them. Moving upward toward
the light, lots of little canyons of fish, rainbow wraisse, barberfish,
parrotfish, chromis and goats. I love the little Cortez brown damselfish that
advance and retreat as I approach. Rafa found a couple of giant blue
damselfish guarding their eggs deposited on flat slate-like formations. As
Rafa approached to look closer, the damsel parent would open its mouth and
move into his lens, trying to impede his way. Very brave and courageous
totally undaunted to the large invader. Moving up to safety stop, we fell upon
an octopus who despite our best coaxing efforts, would not come out and join
us.
As usual, looking up, I see that Daniel has brought the boat aside our bubbles
and we all floated up to the ladder.