cold water diving anyone? (pics)

[mayjong]

hey all-
haven't seen much cold water stuff here. thought i'd post a couple of pics, let me know what you think!
Monterey CA-

[demonclownfish]

what is that pink one?

[Hannawa]

Very nice, I plan on moving to the San Diego area in a year and a halfish. Lookin forward to playin in the kelp forests!

[mayjong]

pink is a hydrocoral (sps) one of the few SPS we have here...

[Lordhelmet]

hope to be diving that in a few months.

[Trumpetytrump]

Found out there are some dive spots off Whidbey Island in Washington. Can't wait to go back and do some diving. not sure what all is up there, but your pics have me super pumped to see.

[mayjong]

whidbey is EPIC!
however- listen well,
you really need to hook up with someone local there who has experience. alot of the diving is based on tides, they can be BAD... there are plenty folks who willl show you the ropes!

[Trumpetytrump]

Is there some good stuff to see?

[Trumpetytrump]

I did some reading while I was out there. My wifes family lives there and this would give me a great getaway next time we go out there. It sounded like the tides have to watched very closely out there.

[scubarob]

very very nice photos.... not for me, but nice.

[mayjong]

tons of life at whidbey- lot's of pacific octopus, too! you'll love it!
here's a couple more- one is a yellow SPS

[scuba guy ron]

It's been a dream of mine for some time to dive those waters. too bad every diver I know are here in florida and wouldnt ever consider those chilli waters.

[Namnuta]

Looks amazing.

[mayjong]

awww
come on down, it's not so bad. once your hands, feet and face go numb!

[Drewbaby]

What was the water temperature where you were diving

[mayjong]

probably around 52F
it's been as cold as 48F, and as warm as 58F.

[hul kogan]

Very cool. I hope to dive the West Coast some day. Have you ever dove the kelp forests?

[davocean]

^^ The kelp forests around here are basically what we look for in diving around here, structure=kelp=life, and very beautiful, I've swam through caves made by their roots in Catalina.

Awesome shots Mayjong, impressive, looks like you got some clear water.
I dove up that way once, Point Lobos, beautiful area.
My 7mm keeps me plenty warm.
You guys have the man in the grey suit a bit more than we do.

[sweetleaf]

Those are some cool shots, I'm currently enrolled in some diving classes and will be taking my first open water plunge in the puget this fall. Is the biodiversity fairly similiar to that of northern cali?

[mayjong]

dav- indeed we do... there was a multiple confirmed sighting by divers in the area where "most" certifications are done just this last year...what a RUSH that must be!

sweet- yeah, you'll see much of the same, and more , "up north"