Dive Report: Jeju Island, Korea – September 20-24, 2009

Presently, I am composing this report 38,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, near Alaska’s Aleutian Trench, as our Boeing 747 hurtles toward LAX, at a ground speed of 628 miles per hour, assisted along by a strong jet-stream tailwind.  Even so, we’re still 4 hours from touchdown. The outside temp is a frosty -63F.  Won’t be long when we can email from trans-pacific flights (already can on some domestic flights).  But, will have to set my feet on tierra firma to post this report.

Following a long biz trip in Beijing and Seoul, managed to squeeze in some diving off Korea’s largest, southernmost island province of Jeju.  Logged 10 dives (2 night dives), over four days, totaling 10hrs, 54mins.  Temps were warm at 77~79F, perfect for my 3mm suit.  When I last dived a few years ago in March, the temps were more like SoCal’s i.e. in the 50s.  Tide swings are among the widest in the world, which produces strong swirling currents around the small, volcanic, craggy islets from which we dived.  One tiny islet, Seki-Som, is conveniently rigged, underwater, with a web of stout ropes, which assists in navigating back to the exit points and serves as tethers for holding one’s position and even pulling oneself along, against stiff currents. Sorta tricky when lugging a cumbersome camera rig.

Was primarily on a sea-slug quest, but it was mighty emaciated pickens (did see some interesting frogfish, huge sand-dollars, blennies galore, abs and more).  Sighted only seven species, one of which has got to rank among the ugliest of this normally attractive family (imagine a large, dirty, white-colored, hirsute sea hare).  Dolabella auricularia, I believe. Again, I used BigBlue33, a dive operation owned and operated by Ralf, a German chap who originally went to teach German at a local university, fell in love with a pretty Korean gal and married her.  They are raising a daughter together.  ‘Tis a Spartan but competent operation, which charges about $58 for two boat dives (includes lunch).  Transport from the shop to the boat is via an erstwhile fine looking van.  Years of toil have taken their toll on the ole buggy; the back bumper has fallen off, exposing a salt-water corroded under belly, necessitating that the rear hatch be secured by a rope, lassoed inside around a rear-seat head rest.  Ralf skipped the last day of diving to go hunting for a new dive vehicle.  Doubt he’ll get much of a trade-in deal!

One interesting incident occurred during a night dive.  My underwater path crossed a boxy yellow vinyl container, about a foot square, fixed with a diagonal zipper across the top.  My buddy was ahead of me and not wanting to lose sight of him, I swam past it.  But, something compelled me to turn back and fetch it, then hustle to catch up to my partner. We halted and, with keen curiosity, pulled open the zipper.  Much to our mutual astonishment, we discovered two large cuttlefish inside.  We gently coaxed them out of their claustrophobic prison and they lingered a long moment, looking at us eye to eye, as if to say thanks for freeing them from certain death.  Then they slowly swam away into the watery darkness.  Later I learned the yellow container was a fisherman’s catch bag, which had apparently broken from its tether and dropped to the bottom of the sea.

Though off the regular scuba path, diving in Korea is worth the experience.  Even in the Philippines and Indonesia, I have not experienced such abundance of soft corals, which grow in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and sizes.  Some walls are a veritable soft coral forest.  Great wide-angle ops (traveling light, regrettably I toted only my macro lens) as the visibility was normally in the 30~40 foot range.

Date: 9-26-09

Location: Hill St., Ocean Beach, CA

Time: 8:30 am

Purpose: Marine Life Surveys for Reef Check California

Dive Type: Science Diving

Surface Conditions: calm

Current: none noticeable

Surge: moderate

Viz:: 4 meters, deteriorating  to 1.5 later in dive

Mix: 32%

Marine Life Observed: not much: Pterygophera, Southern Palm, Macrocystis and some Kelp Perch towards the end….

Highlights:

We motored out from Mission Bay Channel under foggy conditions until we reached the survey site: Hill St., where we dropped anchor.

I rolled in with Dirk, one of the top fish counters for RCCA and our mission was to knock out 6 fish counts in one fell swoop, which we did.

Unfortunately, the limited viz and rather bizarre dearth of fish, made the whole exercise a bit strange; however, Dirk, being The Man, was able to find some fish to count, so the mission was not a total loss.

I was slated to do an Urchin Count on the 2nd dive, but bailed, due to a soggy, wet foot and stomach issues.

Other than that, it was a superb day with Reef Check California!

[Now, the fun part begins: data entry for 10 surveys!]

Dive safe, everyone……..

Mikey

Guest Dive Report from Jackie P.

Marine Room
Time: 7:30p ~
Temp: 54
Viz: 15′ – 20′ clear
Surface: 1/2′ knee slappers
Buddy: Mike B.

We decided to dive Marine Room for a change.
The plan was to do the big circle, so we kicked N/W, dropped in 35′, headed W and into the abyss. Some of the usual little critters were out. The viz was great, and it was nice to glide over steep sandy edge, and be able to turn around and see were we came from, and were we where heading.
The slope was dotted with a few Brown Shrimp, Octos, and Lobsters. I hovered around 120′, Mike a bit deeper. We meandered along, then glided over, and into the 2 gullies that are carved into the wall, where there are some patches of that white bacteria, and a small clump of Strawberry Anemones. One of the walls has some very distinct striations. We checked out a few detritus patches, then headed upslope. A Red Gorgonian sat all by itself in the middle of nowhere, like it was just planted. There are pockets of thermoclines scattered about. Not a whole lot of life out, but some critter highlights include a Kelpfish, Ocean Whitefish, Pile Perch, lots of Lobsters, Cusk Eels, baby Lion Nudis, and those little worms in the water column.
Shallower, there is quite a bit of Kelp and other plant life (need to get id’s one of these days).
A few gear issues developed on Mike’s end, which luckily waited for the shallows – good karma as he did trash pick-up as usual in the canyon.
Another great dive.

jackie

SAN FRANCISCO, California — New species are not just discovered in exotic locales—even places as urban as California still yield discoveries of new plants and animals. Academy scientists recently named a new species of chimaera, an ancient and bizarre group of fishes distantly related to sharks, from the coast of Southern California and Baja California, Mexico. The new species, the Eastern Pacific black ghostshark (Hydrolagus melanophasma), was described in the September issue of the international journal Zootaxa by a research team including Academy Research Associates David Ebert and Douglas J. Long. Additional co-authors included Kelsey James, a graduate student at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and Dominique Didier from Millersville University in Pennsylvania. This is the first new species of cartilaginous fish to be described from California waters since 1947.

Click on link below for photo:
http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=79216010358

Credit: montaukpointsharkfishing.com

In the weeks before the Oak Bluffs (Mass.) Monster Shark Tournament kicks off each summer, the home of tournament organizer Steven James becomes crowded with T-shirts, other clothing, and promotional items emblazoned with the crest of the Boston Big Game Fishing Club and a rendering of a shark. The imagery illustrates a promise: For two days, the fishermen can brave the seas off Martha’s Vineyard (where the movie “Jaws” was filmed) and chase sharks.

It’s a notion that appeals to hundreds of recreational fishermen – who spend heavily on entry fees, gear, and boat fuel for a chance to catch the biggest shark in weekend contests – and crowds of spectators, who gather dockside to watch boats returning with champion fish.

But the events have also compelled animal-rights activists, led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), to campaign against shark tournaments. The groups say that the tournaments are cruel and are an additional threat in an era of worldwide shark population decline. “These events convey to the public the message that the value of these sharks is in their death,” says John Grandy, a senior vice president of HSUS.

See below for more:

http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/09/22/shark-fishing-contests-raise-controversy/

Hi Everybody,

Thank you again for coming out to Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday!  We had 141 divers, snorkelers and surface support volunteers working together to eliminate 571 lbs of harmful debris from San Diego Bay!  Here’s what we removed along the 0.89 miles of shoreline:

Total Trash Collected: 512 lbs

Total Recyclables Collected:  59 lbs

Bags (paper): 1

Bags (plastic): 357

Balloons: 13

Beverage Bottles (plastic): 104

Beverage Bottles (glass): 30

Beverage Cans: 82

Caps/Lids: 293

Clothing/Shoes: 53

Cups/Plates/Forks/Knives/Spoons: 196

Food Wrappers/Containers: 241

Pull Tabs: 8

6-Pack Rings: 3

Shotgun Shells: 1

Straws/Stirrers: 196

Toys: 74

Bait Containers/Packaging: 9

Bleach/Cleaner Bottles: 1

Buoys/Floats: 4

Crab/Lobster/Fish Traps: 1

Fishing Line: 19

Fishing Lures/Light Sticks: 16

Fishing Nets: 3

Light Bulbs/Tubes: 4

Oil/Lube Bottles: 8

Plastic Sheeting/Tarps: 16

Rope: 56

Strapping Bands: 28

Cigarettes/Filters: 265

Lighters: 39

Cigar Tips: 13

Tobacco packaging/Wrappers: 14

Appliances: 3

Batteries: 5

Building Materials: 12

Car/Car Parts: 5

55-Gallon Drums: 2

Condoms: 3

Diapers: 6

Syringes: 6

Tampons/Applications: 4

Miscellaneous Hygiene Products: 14

Styrofoam Pieces: 136

Ear Plugs: 10

These objects, foreign to our oceans, will no longer threaten the lives of precious marine animals…because of your efforts!  Click here to check out some of the photos taken by Event Master Photography that illustrate all your hard work.  There are some great ones of smiling faces (even though they’re holding  trash and probably don’t smell too great)!  Also, please look for our October eNewsletter for stats from around the county!  If you’d like to see what else we’re up to this month, please feel free to check out our Online Calendar of Events and join us again.

Thank you for caring for our oceans and taking action to protect it!  Let’s make every day Coastal Cleanup Day!!!

~ What was once considered inexhaustible and resilient is, in fact, finite and fragile.

Cheryl Barnes

Program & Outreach Director

San Diego Oceans Foundation

cheryl@sdoceans.org