Location: South end San Clemente Island, California Channel Islands, U.S.A
Comments: Dive Day 1 of our inaugural maiden voyage scuba diving the California Channel Islands! We left Ensenada, Mexico yesterday evening and had an easy run up to San Diego to clear in with U.S. Customs and Immigration before continuing on to San Clemente Island.
Everything is going really well except that I have picked up a wretched cold and diving is out of the question for me. I canโt believe that I am missing our first ever splashes in the Channel Islands. Our guests dove โOctopus Gardensโ and โFishhookโ at the south end of San Clemente and the diving conditions were reported as very good. โFishhookโ was especially good, with reportedly interesting terrain, numerous sightings of bat rays, eels and more lobster (โbugsโ) than anyone could count.
I had been especially worried about in-water visibility after hearing reports of 10-15ft visibility in upwellings and plankton blooms in 53หF water further north but we had mostly 50ft visibility and very comfortable 61หF water temps. My drysuit is waiting for me! To be honest, I have to say that the crew and I are all thoroughly โMexicanizedโ and weโre bundled up in sweaters with the chilly California air temps in the low 70โs. Safe diving!
โCaptain Mike
Weather: High overcast, air temps low 70โs, winds 15 to 20 knots from the northwest, 2-3 foot seas.
Water: Water temperature 61ยฐF, average visibility 50 feet.
