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BAUE Trip Reports
2/12/2004 East Pinnacle aboard Unknown Boat by Nick Radov -- [View this report only]
2/12/2004 Great Pinnacle aboard Unknown Boat by Nick Radov -- [View this report only]
Bottom Team: Paul Braunbehrens, Nick Radov Visibility: 20' - 25' Time: 2:03 PM Temp: 53F Surge: 4' Max Depth: 93FSW Avg Depth: Bottom Time: Total Time: 0:36 Bottom Gases: 30/30 Deco Gases: Backgas Config: Double LP104 Deco Tanks: Deco Profile: The surface conditions were picking up a little near Pt. Lobos so we cruised over toward the north side of Carmel Bay. Visibility here was slightly worse and the current near the surface was quite a bit stronger; I had to work to swim against it. When we reached the bottom Paul tied his reel in to the anchor and we headed off generally north through the rocks. Didn't find too much of interest over there so we came back and hung around near the anchor checking out some nice patches of hydrocoral. We were a little worried about the current getting worse so we kept the bottom time short.
2/1/2004 Deep E3 aboard Phil Sammet's RIB by John Heimann -- [View this report only]
Bottom Team: Paul Braunbehrens, Nick Radov Visibility: 25' - 30' Time: 11:10 AM Temp: 51F Surge: 3' Max Depth: 121FSW Avg Depth: Bottom Time: 0:39 Total Time: 0:47 Bottom Gases: 30/30 Deco Gases: Backgas Config: Double LP104 Deco Tanks: Deco Profile: Paul finally found a day to dive again after several months out of the water and invited me out on his boat. After a couple tries we managed to anchor near the top of the pinnacle and headed down the line. There was a very slight current running and as we swam down we passed right through a school of blue rock fish hovering in the water. Then just as the structure came into sight we spotted a medium-size male sheepshead that stuck around us for much of the dive. After moving the anchor we dropped down the wall on the north side and headed clockwise around the pinnacle while gradually ascending. Saw all the usual stuff plus two pairs of Triopha catalinae and Diaulula sandiegensis. Once we got back near the peak the surge had picked up a little.
1/23/2004 Pt Lobos by Joe Talavera -- [View this report only]
Bottom Team: Clinton Bauder, John Heimann, Joe Talavera Visibility: 100' - 100' Time: 10:00 AM Temp: 50F - 53F Surge: Max Depth: 185FSW Avg Depth: 160FSW Bottom Time: 0:25 Total Time: Bottom Gases: 18/45 Deco Gases: EAN50,O2 Backgas Config: Double LP104 Deco Tanks: AL40,AL80 Deco Profile: After the big seas of saturday we were expecting nasty conditions today, but conditions were surprisingly flat on the surface. South winds brought cold clear water and fantastic vis (we could clearly see E3 pinnacle from deep E3). Clinton has put up some photos of the dive which show just how beautiful it was. You can view them here.
1/10/2004 Aumentos aboard Escapade by David Chamberlin -- [View this report only]
Bottom Team: Joe Talavera, Delia Milliron Visibility: 5' - 40' Time: 12:00 AM Temp: Surge: Scooter: Mako Burn Time: Max Depth: 150FSW Avg Depth: 140FSW Bottom Time: Total Time: Bottom Gases: 21/35 Deco Gases: EAN50 Backgas Config: Double LP104 Deco Tanks: AL40 Deco Profile: Delia and I snuck down to Lobos for a Friday dive. Conditions inside the cove weren't so hot; plenty of surge, with a blanket of low visibility right near the bottom. Once we made out way out of the sand channel and past hole in the wall, it cleared up nicely. We headed past Beto's reef and made our way to 3 Sisters. I enjoyed peering up towards the tops of the pinnacles, just enjoying the grandness of the landscape.
Deco followed to profile of the bottom quite nicely, and we found our way back to out staging buoy.
All in all, a nice way to spend a friday.
Joe
1/10/2004 MonoLobo aboard Escapade by David Chamberlin -- [View this report only]
Bottom Team: Clinton Bauder, David Chamberlin Visibility: 20' - 25' Time: 10:15 AM Temp: 54F Surge: 4' Max Depth: 72FSW Avg Depth: 54FSW Bottom Time: 0:55 Total Time: 1:01 Bottom Gases: EAN32,30/30 Deco Gases: Backgas Config: Double LP80 Deco Tanks: Deco Profile: After a good dive at Mono Lobo, we went over to check out Outer Butterfly. The swells were up there, so we decided to motor back to Monterey. We wanted to dive Ball Buster, but there was someone on it already, so we headed over to Aumentos.
The vis here wasn't quite as good as in Carmel and there were more particles suspended in the water. But you certainly can't sneeze at 20-25' vis.
We headed WSW and wandered around the rocks and pinnacles. We were greeted by both a male and a female Sheephead early on. The male was being a bit shy and quickly headed the other way. We caught up with the female again toward the end of the dive.
A sea lion joined us at the end of the dive. Played with me for just a bit, but then took off. We were hoping for another extended visit like last weekend, but that didn't happen.
On the way back I saw a ray buried under the sand. I flagged Clinton down, but by the time I turned back around it was gone. I didn't get a good enough look to know exactly what kind. I'm guessing a bat ray.
Another great dive, another great day. Gotta love winter!
12/20/2003 E3 aboard Escapade by Clinton Bauder -- [View this report only]
Bottom Team: Clinton Bauder, David Chamberlin Visibility: 30' - 40' Time: 8:00 AM Temp: 55F Surge: 4' Max Depth: 77FSW Avg Depth: 53FSW Bottom Time: 0:40 Total Time: 0:46 Bottom Gases: EAN32,30/30 Deco Gases: Backgas Config: Double LP80 Deco Tanks: Deco Profile: We were on the Escapade today. We got loaded and underway in short order and were almost out of the bay by 7:15. The sky was clear and beautiful with a deep red and orange sunrise. Wonderful way to start the day despite the early hour. :-)
The winds and swells were both WSW so Mono Lobo seemed a good choice. With the reasonable winds and swells, we were on site and anchored by 7:40 - gotta love the speed of the Escapade!
Just as we were gearing up a whale surfaced no more than 50' away. Looking overboard the water looked to be very blue and clear. Definitely a good start to the day.
We had a "loose group of four". Clinton, Pete, Nick and myself were going to dive as a group, but the true teams were Clinton and myself and Pete and Nick.
We dropped down at 8am. There were particles and life suspended in the water reducing vis slightly but it was still a healthy 40' in most places. We cruised through the kelp and large boulders and pinnacles. The geography of this area is always inspiring. Apparently a harbor seal was hiding out behind me, but I had no idea and unfortunately Clinton didn't get his camera set up in time to get footage. He went over to Nick for a little then disappeared. He rejoined us toward the end of the dive.
There were some large groups of rockfish hanging out. For a little while I hung out in the middle of the school trying to pretend I was a fish. I don't think they were buying it, but they let me hang out with them anyway. Probably out of pity.
Clinton found a nice octopus hanging out in a crack. He's still trying to decide which species, but it was a cool octo regardless of species. :-)
A nice, relaxing enjoyable dive. Can't argue with that!
To view some still frames from the video taken on this dive click here.
12/13/2003 Pinos Buoy Jackpot aboard Escapade by Clinton Bauder -- [View this report only]
Bottom Team: John Heimann, Clinton Bauder Visibility: 30' - 50' Time: 2:00 PM Temp: 54F Surge: Max Depth: 187FSW Avg Depth: 165FSW Bottom Time: 0:27 Total Time: 1:30 Bottom Gases: 18/45 Deco Gases: EAN50,O2 Backgas Config: Double LP104 Deco Tanks: AL40,AL80 Deco Profile: Diving with John, Susan and Beto on the Escapade today. The wind and swell, was largely from the West. As a result Monterey looked like a lake with hardly any water motion. The water was clear blue and it was partly cloudy. Ideal conditions for a dive in the bay. Naturally we went South to Carmel instead!
The boat ride down was quite rough and John, who wasn't feeling well to begin with, didn't look so hot when we pulled into the E3 area. He revived a bit in the calmer waters (Point Lobos offered some protection) and rallied for a dive. We decided on Deep E3 and after dealing with some technical issues with Susan's drysuit we headed down the line into the nice blue water.
After a few minutes at the bottom of the pinnacle John and I moved up into shallower water to film some blue rockfish. Susan and Beto stayed deeper. John and I spent the rest of the dive near the top of the ridge where the life is prettiest. When the time came to head up we decided to do the full deco for 200 feet as we'd orginally planned. This kept it conservative for John (given that he wasn't feeling well) and also kept us together with Susan and Beto who met us back at the top of the pinnacle. This way we had more divers and resources in case anything went wrong. Happily this was not the case and the deco was uneventful. In fact the deco was quite nice. The water was warm, there were lots of jellies to look at and we even got a brief visit from a small Mola Mola.
On the way home our decision to go to Carmel was rewarded by an incredible rainbow stretching from Pescadero Point all the way to Cypress Point. Good stuff all around.
Images from the dive and of the rainbow can be seen here.
Bottom Team: Alberto Nava, John Heimann, Clinton Bauder Visibility: 10' - 50' Time: 2:30 PM Temp: 52F Surge: Max Depth: 187FSW Avg Depth: 180FSW Bottom Time: 0:27 Total Time: 1:20 Bottom Gases: 18/45 Deco Gases: EAN50,O2 Backgas Config: Double LP104,HP120 Deco Tanks: AL40,AL80 Deco Profile: The day's forecast called for mild south winds and a big NW swell. John, Beto and I were on the Escapade for an afternoon deep dive in the bay and it looked better than it really was. I think this was due to the lack of wind chop. As a result we got a bit greedy and decided to dive at Point Pinos instead of further inside like at the Mile Buoy. The visibility near the surface was excellent; at least 40 feet or more. As we got near the bottom, though, we found that it was pretty stirred up and the vis dropped to about 10 feet.
Despite the lousy vis this is a very pretty reef and we had fun swimming around checking out the dense, colorful encrusting life. Near the end of the dive Beto found a wolf eel that I thought might come out and play with us, but instead it stayed inside its den. Oh well. The deco might have been the best part of the dive as several sea lions met us at about 70 feet and played with us continually for the rest of the dive.