Date: 11/28/08

Location: El Rey, Kelp Cutter, Wreck Alley, Mission Beach

Time: 11:30 am

Dive Length: 35 mins

Max Depth: 85 ft

Viz: 15-20 ft. depending on location on wreck

Mix: 30%

Marine Life: Red Algae, Green Algae, Laminaria, Strawberry Anemones, Grey Moon Sponge, Blackeyed Gobies, Blacksmith, Black Surfperch, Sand Bass, Spanish Shawls, Red and Brown Gorgonians….

Remarks:

With Barb locked into the Dr. Bill Syndrome of ‘Can’t-Dive-Gotta-Edit-Video,’ I gratefully accepted an invitation
to go diving with Jackie, Kathy, Marianne and Merrianne on The Bernice in Wreck Alley today.

At my suggestion, it was decided to we would check out the Kelp Cutter, the El Rey.

It was overcast and cloudy when they backed the boat into the water off the trailer, but the sun was peeking through the clouds as we motored out of the channel and into the open ocean.

With Jackie and Kathy on air and ‘near-air’ [24%], respectively, it was decided that that they would buddy up together, leaving Marianne to watch the boat and Merrianne D. and me as buddies.

Jackie and Kathy rolled in first, followed forthwith by me and Merrianne.

As is common in San Diego, viz is better in the top 20 ft. than on the bottom, so it clouded up a bit as we approached
the El Rey, but nonetheless remained a respectable 15-20 ft. on the wreck itself, depending on where you were.

The deck of the El Rey is covered with a kaleidoscopic blanket of Red and Brown Algae, Red and Gold Gorgonians waving gently in the current, with the Kelp Harvester section covered in pink and white Strawberry Anemones, making it glow brightly as you approach from above.

Closer examination reveals large, speckled sections of Grey Moon Sponge here and there on various parts of the superstructure.

Merrianne and I descended down from the Harvester section and made our way across the deck and explored the various nooks and crannies and cutouts we came across.

First Merrianne descended down into one of the holds in the deck, while I hovered above, then, after she popped out, I made my way over to of the adjacent holds and dropped down inside.

Inside the holds of the El Rey are not nearly as interesting or inviting as those of the Yukon or Ruby E.

As I dropped down into mine, I could see large piles of sand, piled nearly to the top of the hold itself, inviting a self-created ‘silt-out’ for the unwary diver, with the occasional Red Gorgonian and lobster waving his anntenae.
Needless to say, I didn’t stay long.

From here, Merrianne and I simply made our way around the little ship along the sand, 4 or 5 times, checking out the
Sand Bass hiding underneath it and the Rock Scallops attached to the superstructure, followed by 3-4 passes over the deck.

Before I knew it, I was 5 mins from deco on 30% and it was time to start heading up.

I signaled to Merrianne and she agreed immediately and we made our slowly up the ascent line, pausing for a deep stop, followed by our safety stop and then headed under the boat, to pop up under then engine.

It was a nice, relaxing dive for all involved and due to Jackie feeling a bit hyperthermic in her wet suit, we all decided to just call it a day and head back in.

Tomorrow: conditions permitting of course, it’s out to the Coronados Islands in a private boat to get video footage of Purple Hydrocoral.

Dive safe, everyone……..