The recent conditions have been a photographer's paradise, heck any diver, even those 'warm water only' types would appreciate the conditions lately. Stellar visibility combined with calm seas in Carmel Bay continues despite a reported bloom in Monterey today.

I shot the fisheye lens today which can be quite a shock after shooting super macro the last several dives. "What's that thing in the corner of my image? Oh, it's my strobe...oops." Visibility was anywhere from 50-60' and the temperature was about 51°. Ok, so maybe those warm water only divers wouldn't have appreciated that last part. Sunshine abounded, the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) was thick, and it sure was a leafy dive. Finding patches of reef without an understory of algae proved challenging, thus the sole California hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus) shot. If you look real close at the last shot, you'll see my red kayak resting on the surface.

A side note, the Butterfly House is for sale...for a cool 20 million. Anyone have some spare change? I took advantage of the vacancy to check out the view from the bay windows and stiched three panoramics together for a full 180° view in the surface interval entry for today.