Dive Reports
Emerald Diving
Explore the coastal and inland waters of
Washington and BC
Explore the coastal and inland waters of
Washington and BC
Emerald Diving
Explore the coastal and inland waters of
Washington and BC
Explore the coastal and inland waters of
Washington and BC
Emerald Diving
Explore the coastal and inland waters of
Washington and BC
Explore the coastal and inland waters of
Washington and BC
Hood Canal - Flagpole Point
2.11.12
2.11.12
A giant Pacific octopus on the hunt amidst a backdrop of cloud sponges and colorful striped seaperch and pile perch.
A lingcod diligently protects a clutch of eggs (white mass above dorsal) by a cloud sponge at the base of the first wall.
Sometimes you just gotta make things happen. Every card in the deck was stacked against this trip from the beginning. Jon and I planned a trip to Flagpole Point on Hood Canal about a week prior. On the morning of the trip, my stomach felt off - which is normal for me now as my health has deteriorated a bit over the last 3 months. When I got out of bed and looked out the window, I noticed the tree branches swaying in the wind - another bad sign. I then called my dive buddy Jon to see if he was still game for diving today. His wife answered the phone and said Jon was out for the day. They had a rough night with their infant daughter and he got little sleep. Strike three.
So I sat there in my garage at 7:30 in the morning. The boat was loaded the night prior. I was psychologically ready to go on this trip and my daughter and wife were already gone for the day to a dancing event. My options were to mope around the house all day and do chores or take a chance and go for it. I hooked up my 16’ Hewescraft to my truck and hit the road for the two hour drive to Hood Canal.
So I sat there in my garage at 7:30 in the morning. The boat was loaded the night prior. I was psychologically ready to go on this trip and my daughter and wife were already gone for the day to a dancing event. My options were to mope around the house all day and do chores or take a chance and go for it. I hooked up my 16’ Hewescraft to my truck and hit the road for the two hour drive to Hood Canal.
As I was solo today, I could not use the “closer” boat ramp at Misery Point since it had no docks. Launching a boat with no docks when you are by yourself can be a trying event - especially if there is wind. Instead, I drove around the south end of the canal to the Triton Cover State Park boat ramp. The drive is indeed further away, but the ramp is only about 4 miles north of the dive site.
As I drove along the highway at the south end of the canal, I noted the water was glassy smooth - no wind at all. Wow! Maybe I was going to luck out. I turned north at the canal’s elbow and drove through Hoodsport . There still was not a ripple on the canal. Score!
By the time I got to Triton Cove, the situation had changed dramatically. The wind was blowing a steady 10-15 MPH out of the south, and the canal was strewn with white caps. I was also shocked to find the boat launch fee was a hefty $17. Although I consider the fee highway robbery, the money was going to a great cause - our state parks. However, adding injury to insult was the fact the boat ramp docks were pulled out of the water.
At this point I almost just turned around and drove the two hours back to Seattle. However, the adventurer in me took hold. I donned my drysuit, launched the boat, motored the boat out to a piling and tied up, then jumped in the water and swam back to the ramp to park the truck. With the truck parked, I then jumped back in the water and swam out to the boat. At least I was suited up for the dive already.
As I drove along the highway at the south end of the canal, I noted the water was glassy smooth - no wind at all. Wow! Maybe I was going to luck out. I turned north at the canal’s elbow and drove through Hoodsport . There still was not a ripple on the canal. Score!
By the time I got to Triton Cove, the situation had changed dramatically. The wind was blowing a steady 10-15 MPH out of the south, and the canal was strewn with white caps. I was also shocked to find the boat launch fee was a hefty $17. Although I consider the fee highway robbery, the money was going to a great cause - our state parks. However, adding injury to insult was the fact the boat ramp docks were pulled out of the water.
At this point I almost just turned around and drove the two hours back to Seattle. However, the adventurer in me took hold. I donned my drysuit, launched the boat, motored the boat out to a piling and tied up, then jumped in the water and swam back to the ramp to park the truck. With the truck parked, I then jumped back in the water and swam out to the boat. At least I was suited up for the dive already.
My Hewescraft banged into the wind waves for four miles to the dive site. I found the mooring buoy marking the site vacant, which was the first sign of good luck on this trip. But when I thought about it, who else would be crazy enough to come out here on a windy, cold February day like this? I did not see one other boat on the water the entire day. Yes, I am nuts.
I tied to the buoy, geared up, and jumped in the water. The wind generated surface current was so strong that I could not swim with my camera to the mooring line. I used the protruding chine on the boat hull to pull myself to the mooring line and descended. The current abated as soon as I reached 5 feet of depth. The mooring line lead to a rocky knuckle in about 60 feet of water above the first wall. The second I reached the rocky knuckle, I could feel the unsettling sensation of a steady stream of water entering my left drysuit wrist seal. After I barked a few expletives into my regulator, I started up the line. I did a quick safety stop and got back in the boat and verified that the seal had pulled away from the suit. Fortunately, I had brought my old DUI backup suit today - it has about 800 dives on it and I refer to it as a “mostly dry” suit as the main zipper is nearing replacement time yet again.
I rung out my left undergarmet sleeve and put on the back-up suit. I then jumped back in the water, descended 5 feet under the surface current, and swam to the mooring line. I'd had now been in the water four times and not had a real dive yet! When I got to the mooring line, I instrinctively grabbed it. My dry glove managed to find the only stray wire strand poking out of the cable connecting the buoy to the anchor chain. As soon as the strand poked through, I could feel the cold water make its way throughout the glove. For a split second I thought of getting back out of the water and getting my backup gloves. Instead, I decided that a wet and cold hand was hardly worth getting back out of the water for. This was the right decision as I later found that my left backup glove which I have not used in over two years ALSO had a hole in it.
With half my descent completed, I struck my primary HID 18W light. Nothing. It tested OK not 15 minutes prior in the boat. I grabbed my amazing LED backup light that is only 5” long, but puts out as much light as a 10W HID. This little light has saved a number of dives for me. As vis was over 35’ on this day and the sun was shining during this dive, it turns out I really didn’t need it.
I tied to the buoy, geared up, and jumped in the water. The wind generated surface current was so strong that I could not swim with my camera to the mooring line. I used the protruding chine on the boat hull to pull myself to the mooring line and descended. The current abated as soon as I reached 5 feet of depth. The mooring line lead to a rocky knuckle in about 60 feet of water above the first wall. The second I reached the rocky knuckle, I could feel the unsettling sensation of a steady stream of water entering my left drysuit wrist seal. After I barked a few expletives into my regulator, I started up the line. I did a quick safety stop and got back in the boat and verified that the seal had pulled away from the suit. Fortunately, I had brought my old DUI backup suit today - it has about 800 dives on it and I refer to it as a “mostly dry” suit as the main zipper is nearing replacement time yet again.
I rung out my left undergarmet sleeve and put on the back-up suit. I then jumped back in the water, descended 5 feet under the surface current, and swam to the mooring line. I'd had now been in the water four times and not had a real dive yet! When I got to the mooring line, I instrinctively grabbed it. My dry glove managed to find the only stray wire strand poking out of the cable connecting the buoy to the anchor chain. As soon as the strand poked through, I could feel the cold water make its way throughout the glove. For a split second I thought of getting back out of the water and getting my backup gloves. Instead, I decided that a wet and cold hand was hardly worth getting back out of the water for. This was the right decision as I later found that my left backup glove which I have not used in over two years ALSO had a hole in it.
With half my descent completed, I struck my primary HID 18W light. Nothing. It tested OK not 15 minutes prior in the boat. I grabbed my amazing LED backup light that is only 5” long, but puts out as much light as a 10W HID. This little light has saved a number of dives for me. As vis was over 35’ on this day and the sun was shining during this dive, it turns out I really didn’t need it.
Rockfish perched on cloud sponges - black rockfish (above) and vermilion rockfish (right)
I descended the line to the rocky knuckle above the main wall. I was greeted by at least 50 copper, black, and quillback rockfish hovering above boulders carpeted with creamy zoanthids. I headed south off the knuckle to the wall and looked for wolfeels and octopus along the way but did not spy any. The cloud sponges start at the base of the wall. Dozens of small copper rockfish and a few black rockfish were resting on or hovering about the sponges - very picturesque. I have never seen so many rockfish interacting with the sponges - I usually feel lucky if I can get a pic of one or two with a sponge. Even a striking red vermilion rockfish made a cameo with one of the yellow sponges.
As I worked my way north along the main wall, the sponge field intensified. I sighted dozens of new “sponge buds” , and those sponges that have been here a while seem to be growing well. I made a quick trip to the deep wall and found a wolfeel hiding amongst some of the rocky rubble along with a large schools of pile perch and colorful striped seaperch.
As I closed in on my no deco time limit at 110 feet, I made my way back to the shallower wall to continue my dive. I stayed on the north side for the shallower wall and sited two rather large cloud sponges - one of which had a black rockfish resting tranquilly atop. As I closed in for a pic, I could see a familiar eye rise from behind the cloud sponge. The eye was followed by a red and white mottled shroud and a number of lengthy arms. It was a giant Pacific octopus out on the hunt. The magnificent creature was about 4’ long and was poking around the cloud sponges looking for crabs and other tasty morsels. It looked like it recently had a rather dramatic encounter as one of its arms was freshly torn off. I stayed with the 7 armed cephalopod until I bumped up against my no deco limit at 70 feet, then headed back to the rocky knuckle and anchor line - spying two more giant Pacific octopus in dens along the way. By this time the school of perch had worked its way to the mooring line as well, so I basked in the company of hundreds of perch and dozens of rockfish at the anchor line until my computer insisted that I start my ascent.
I did a second dive at the same site. Although the sun was not out on this dive, it was still very nice. I found my octopus again, but this time it was hunkered down between some rocks and not at all active. I also ventured out further on the flat at the north end of the reef a bit further to take in some of the striking white sea whips. Incredible.
Wow. What a beautiful day of diving - and so worth the effort of getting out here and dealing with all the hassles. With a couple of outstanding dives in the log book, I made the two hour trek home in a tranquil and relaxed mood. Nature continues to be the ultimate therapist, artist, and entertainer.
As I worked my way north along the main wall, the sponge field intensified. I sighted dozens of new “sponge buds” , and those sponges that have been here a while seem to be growing well. I made a quick trip to the deep wall and found a wolfeel hiding amongst some of the rocky rubble along with a large schools of pile perch and colorful striped seaperch.
As I closed in on my no deco time limit at 110 feet, I made my way back to the shallower wall to continue my dive. I stayed on the north side for the shallower wall and sited two rather large cloud sponges - one of which had a black rockfish resting tranquilly atop. As I closed in for a pic, I could see a familiar eye rise from behind the cloud sponge. The eye was followed by a red and white mottled shroud and a number of lengthy arms. It was a giant Pacific octopus out on the hunt. The magnificent creature was about 4’ long and was poking around the cloud sponges looking for crabs and other tasty morsels. It looked like it recently had a rather dramatic encounter as one of its arms was freshly torn off. I stayed with the 7 armed cephalopod until I bumped up against my no deco limit at 70 feet, then headed back to the rocky knuckle and anchor line - spying two more giant Pacific octopus in dens along the way. By this time the school of perch had worked its way to the mooring line as well, so I basked in the company of hundreds of perch and dozens of rockfish at the anchor line until my computer insisted that I start my ascent.
I did a second dive at the same site. Although the sun was not out on this dive, it was still very nice. I found my octopus again, but this time it was hunkered down between some rocks and not at all active. I also ventured out further on the flat at the north end of the reef a bit further to take in some of the striking white sea whips. Incredible.
Wow. What a beautiful day of diving - and so worth the effort of getting out here and dealing with all the hassles. With a couple of outstanding dives in the log book, I made the two hour trek home in a tranquil and relaxed mood. Nature continues to be the ultimate therapist, artist, and entertainer.
Copper rockfish seemed to swarm around several of the majestic cloud sponges at the base of the wall
I found several wolfeels on this trip, but they were all fairly timid and picture shy. It was the octopus that stole the show on this day.