Another Treasure At Christmas Tree Cove

Skin Dive#:022
Fri July 11, 08
Christmas Tree Cove
Purpose: good conditions
Tide: High @ 5:30 pm
Entry: cobblestones @ 6:30 pm
Distance: reefs on left
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, socks, gloves, fins
Temp: Air 72 F/Water 66 F
Enviroment: sunny, 0 -1 ft breaks
Visibilty: 20+ ft
Conditions Synopsis: good
Sights: leopard shark, topsmelt, grunion, opaleye, surf perch, garibaldi, giant black sea bass, sheephead, senorita, octopus, calico bass, sargo, rockfish of some sort - dark
Exit: same @ 7:30 pm

Time to date: 16 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 1 hr
Total time: 17 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: I arrived with my girlfriend at Christmas Tree Cove with anticipation to skin dive in flat and clam conditions. Once looking over the cliff I was rewarded with the sight of still waters and a clear view of the rocks in the shallow waters. This would be good conditions. Once down I geared up and didn't even have to watch the set because they were nonexistent. Once in I popped out to exclaim that I see a hundred fish already. I was happy. I swam out further and then casually put on my fins. The opaleyes appeared humongeous to me. I didn't remember them being so large. I pushed further out. The kelp was seaming thickish compared to previous dives. It was all around. It wasn't packed, but noticeble. I swam to the left. The surf perch grazed and tried to get out of my way. I felt great, the vis was ideal and my body felt wonderful from bicyling 10 miles prior in the day. I noticed the water was still full of micro organisms. From the bottom of the water looking up, the organsisms appeared like a blanket of chicken feathers against a transparent ceiling. I tried not to think of the micro organisms that were surely in my mouth. The kelp was nice to see. I made my way to the reefs up the left side and the fish were very thick in size. They must have been eating plenty lately. I saw Mr. Octopus traveling in quick leaps. I noticed a teeny tiny shark looking fish only two inshes long on the bottom. I swam down but had a hard time fiding him again. My weights worked great. I was lightning quick. I played around in the rock formations and then headed back to the mouth of the cove. On my way I saw a thick kelpy area. I approached it have a peak. I saw a large fish with a catfish like mouth and very heavy looking black body. He layed quiet in the breezy kelp stalks. I pushed further and he lazily moved away out of sight. I followed him for thirty feet then lost him. He was a Giant Black Sea Bass. Not too giant tho, but defientely large in comparison to the usual crowd. I got near the cobblestones and snuck into some kelp. I saw through a window some very large surf perch eating. I inshed closer and they still didn't see me unitl we were nose to nose and then they scattered. The began circlign my kelp hold. One was extremely fat and quick. He frantically came around in a circle. He had a scar like stripe running long ways on his side. One big surf perch would of fed a small dinner party. I swam out to the middle of the cove to look in sand. On the way I saw large kelp bass that was about the size of the Giant Black Sea Bass. A weighty fellow. I got out to get a drink. I went up the middle again and to the left side. I saw a dark sheephead. It too had the same sad fat lips of the sea bass. It moved slow and I watched it from above. A school of larger skinny silver fish came by. I'm pretty sure they were grunion, they were nondescript and all the same tone. On the way back in a squinted at an object fifteen feet down. A knife! It was in a little bit of dirt but I could make out what it was. Shiny little part with matte black and a cord. I calmed my self breathed peacefully, floated flat, popped my ears and shot down. I had to actually kick hard to get down that far. I felt pressure on my ears. I grabbed it, looked up and kicked some more. Treasure was mine! I swam in and admired my find. It had guts on the blade and wasn't even a tad bit rusty. A hunter must have lost it if not a few days ago, earlier today.