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View Full Version : underwater aliens & budding quests of a rookie


surf_dude
06-23-2010, 12:57 AM
First off... i never realized how much of a sissy i am until i was diving around. So i just started diving & this past weekend.... went to 1000 steps for my first dive (hey, i like the beach so i though it'll be fun to dive there)... as it turns out the visibility was pretty bad... i couldnt even see the tip of my spear gun... i'd dive down & my gun would hit (thats how i know i was at the bottom).. didnt see a damn fish...

anywho then the following day I went to Leo Carrillo, visibility much better (8-10ft) but it was surprisingly cold 59-61, didnt see much of anything so i practice shooting at kelp leaves... as i was reloading i saw a nice rock fish swim by as i was trying to reload my gun (figures). My roomie (beginner too) saw something BIG under water & scared him

Anywho then the following day after that I went to El Matador, visibility was prolly around 4-8ish but i didnt see anything worth shooting at (a couple palm sized fishes swimming in pairs)... but as i was swimming around in the kelp bed i came across something that totally freaked me out.... i think it was a crab i'm not sure... it resembled one of those aliens from the movie ALIENS that wraps round your face & puts an egg in your chest cavity.... the sucker was wrapped around a kelp stalk... i saw two of em... they looked like giant ticks, pale fat & round (about the size of a volley ball or bigger).... wtf are those?!?!? i almost swam right in to them!?!? can you eat those? if so how do you catch em.... i almost shot one w/my gun but decided against doing so; not because of any outstanding character trait, but out of fear of having to remove a pissed off extra-terrestrial marine creature from the tip of my spear... do those "things" bite? are they good eating?

anywho i might be heading out tomorrow to either Laguna or Leo.... havent decided.... one day i'll catch a fish... subsequently, one day i'll my dignity will be restored

thanks!

J0sh

ralphthehalibut
06-23-2010, 01:03 AM
Be very careful. Those things are actually what the face suckers in Alien were based on.

Everdai
06-23-2010, 01:06 AM
Was it one of these? (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/rss/podcasts/weirdfins/pillbugs.htm)

Bob Ballew
06-23-2010, 02:03 AM
always protect your crotch around spider crabs...very itchy.....and, they like to crawl down little tunnels....

Nelson Kwok
06-23-2010, 11:53 AM
Awesome and entertaining report! The sea life I run into while diving continues to amaze me.

ApneaAddict
06-23-2010, 12:04 PM
Awesome and entertaining report! The sea life I run into while diving continues to amaze me.

x 2

I think this is my favorite "noob" report in a long time (now that you're not a noob anymore, Nelson ;)).

Nate Baker
06-23-2010, 12:07 PM
Was it one of these? Maybe with longer legs?

LunkerBuster
06-23-2010, 12:16 PM
I agree Carter, it is nice to someone cutting their teeth to learn their way in the ocean.


great report and keep at it...the ocean rewards those who take the time to forge a relationship with her