Otherworldly

Once in awhile I'm treated to diving a site I have yet to experience. On a recent charter with Bluewater Photo, we dove Eagle Rock at the west end of Catalina Island. The site is based around a large rock structure that reaches high into the air, and plunges to a depth of 120fsw (feet sea water). 

Circumnavigating Eagle Rock is really easy, which allowed me to focus on the photographic potential of this new site. Typically, when diving a new site in southern California, I am much more concentrated in familiarizing myself with the site and the navigation. Without a visual reference like this amazing rock structure, diving a new site demands a lot more focus on navigation, currents, et cetra.

That's me climbing back onto the Pacific Star after an amazing dive at Eagle Rock. Photo courtesy of David McGuire from Shark Stewards.

Halfway into the dive, I found my first subject of interest. Now, I have seen plenty of sponges before, but this rather large gray moon sponge caught my attention. Shooting up at this sponge from a depth of 80fsw, I couldn't help but think that I was visiting another world. Its holes and craters seemed to fit right in with the dramatic structure of the site. These sessile animals (yes, sponges are animals) survive by filtering their food from the surrounding environment.

A large gray moon sponge stands proudly on the reef at the base of Eagle Rock.

As I cruise clock-wise around this gorgeous structure, I'm treated to an amazing natural A-frame swim-through against the main reef. The straight lines and hard angles challenge my understanding that this site is not man-made. The only element that would make an image of this cool structure successful is a dive model. Suddenly, I feel a tap on my shoulder and realize it's my friend Dana. She points to the swim-through and indicates that she wants to model for me. Awesome! Being a photographer too, Dana saw the potential for this shot. We were definitely on the same page.

Dana seizes the moment and poses perfectly in this seemingly man-made arch.

After photographing some mussels in the shallows, I met up with my buddy Todd and we started kicking back to the boat. This is when we were treated to a rare moon jelly near the surface. Todd pulled over some kelp floating nearby, which added to the depth of the photo below.

My buddy Todd Winner looks longingly at a moon jelly. It's so great to spot a fun subject on the way back to the boat!

Having such great subjects as the gray moon sponge, moon jelly, and man-made-looking underwater structure made this dive memorable. You just never know what you're going to encounter when you dip below the surface. 

Todd and I shooting the moon jelly at the surface on our way back to the boat. Photo courtesy of David McGuire.

Comedic author Dave Barry once said, "There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent." Well said, Dave.

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