Dive #256 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log

Janel warming up after our dive at The Arch
Photo by Rich Torkington off Ventura, CA 2007

The craggy shoreline of Anacapa Island
Photo by Rich Torkington off Ventura, CA 2007

Dive Journal: The Raptor serves up great eats, and Janel and I enjoy oranges, watermelon, and especially some big Thompson seedless grapes between dives. The next site is only 5 minutes away, and we cut our post-dive chatter short to get ready for it. With the shallow depth of last dive, practically no surface interval is required.

This site is further up the ocean-side of Anacapa, roughly in the middle of the island. We again see a patch of kelp and are told there is an underwater rock arch formation parallel to the island to explore. The dive site is small but we are told it is a pretty one that is infrequently visited, again due to the usual current and wind patterns.

Janel and I are in the water and finning for the kelp soon enough. We edge into the forest, and find the sea lions are continuing their playful approaches to us, appearing suddenly from the murky distances. We first enter into a dense part of the kelp, explore the fish schools and urchins for a while, then start along a ridge that defines the edge of the forest, where we can duck into and out of the trees. We are again enchanted by our surroundings and choose often to simply find a comfortable repose and meditate some minutes away.

The frequent visits by the sea lions grab our attention, and we see another batwing ray along the way. After about 40 minutes of exploration, it is starting to get a little bit cold. We spy some of the other divers headed back to the boat and decide to tag along.

Back on board, several of the other divers are discussing the dive and ask if we’d found the arch. I guess we never even tried to look for it! We are still grinning about the dive experience, however. The viewing was excellent and the diving very comfortable. I would return to the Raptor any day.