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  • San Benitos Island – A perfect mix of tropical and temperate diving?? The seal grabbed my fin in it’s mouth!!!

    Post by: Nautilus Staff
    2013-11-13

    On my break today I slipped into my wetsuit and clambered aboard the dive skiff along with Hostess Carmen. First Mate Shaun expertly drove us out to a kelp patch located along side San Martin, a small island a few hours off the coast of the Baja California. Only fishermen live on this small island and just when they are fishing. The only permanent residents are a plethora of sea birds and lots of harbor seals. Carmen and I back flipped into the water and we were off. I joined a group of guests, Daniel, Marcel and Erich from Switzerland as they were cruising in and out of the giant kelp fronds. Kelp happens to be one of my favorite things to see while diving, I know its not as rare as mantas or as exciting as Great White Sharks but there is something so beautiful about it as it filters the sun from the surface that I can‚t seem to get sick of it. I was following slowly behind these guests, exploring nooks and crevices when I happened to catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and came face to face…

    2013-11-13
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  • I love diving with California sea lions at San Benitos. They are a different kind of fun that diving with white sharks.

    Post by: Nautilus Staff
    2013-11-04

    First dive with sea lions great, the harbor seal was good. – Yves Nice kelp forest, beautiful sea lions. – Kim Los bosques de kelp muy bonitos y los peces muy amistosos, quede entretenido con las focas y leones marinos – Mauricio Lovely combination of seal lions, garibaldis and guitar ray. – Achim Smiling all day because of the sea lions and kelp. – William Great seal lions interaction and amazing dive with jj. – Cheri Great tour on the kelp with jj and beautiful sea lions. – Anne Had beautiful dives, more than words to express. – Jeanne I love sea lions, they are a different kind of fun than the great white sharks. – Ben Very good, I like kelp diving and am very happy. – Daniela Dove at San Benitos today (Sept 22). Seals galore. Very playful and inquisitive.  Many pose for the camera or otherwise show off. Another great day on board the Nautilus Explorer ˆ great food, great crew and great diving. – Steve, Phila., PA

    2013-11-04
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  • We would swim out into a clearing and the sun would beam through the fronds casting a golden glow over the sea floor. The Garibaldi would give us haughty looks.

    Post by: Nautilus Staff
    2013-10-29

    Hostess Carmen and I got our dive gear ready and in a flash were headed out on one of the skiffs with 1st Mate Shaun at the helm. We dropped down in a kelp forest just off Isla Cedros and after a few minutes of adjusting weights we were off! I can’t remember a time when I had had more fun with a dive buddy! We glided about underwater and played in and amongst the kelp fronds. I felt at times as if I was in an enchanted forest, we would swim into a dense patch and the sunlight would be blocked out above making the sea bed below dark and mysterious. Then we would swim out into a clearing and the sun would beam through the fronds casting a golden glow over the sea floor. Carmen and I made a game of swimming along then abruptly turning around to confront the Garibaldi, California sheep head and the numerous kelp bass. The Garibaldi would give us haughty looks, the sheep heads would largely ignore us and the kelp bass would pointedly pretend they had not been following us, peering at us indignantly from the corners of their eyes. At one…

    2013-10-29
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  • Day 2 at San Clemente Island

    Post by: Nautilus Staff
    2008-05-13

    Another great day of diving in the southern Channel Islands. Here is what I recorded in my personal dive log: Aquarium Reef – temp 56, vis 30 feet, breezy, 3 foot swell – lots of purple corralline algae and small amounts of purple hard coral. (Dive with Ian) Aquarium Reef – temp 56, vis 20 feet, breezy, 3 foot swell, Garibaldi NW Harbor – temp 55, vis 20 feet, light breeze, 1-2 foot swell – kelp forest, sea lions, nudibranchs. NW Harbor (twilight) – temp 55 vis 20 feet, calm, calm – blue shark, much more skittish than those we are used to in the Revillagigedo.

    2008-05-13
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