You missed it.

Matt. Joe, and I just finished a 3 day limited load trip on the Vision. Great conditions. We spent the first 2 days diving nothing but Richardson's and Wilson's rocks. World class dive locations that are seldom dove for even one dive because of their exposed location.

William; I know you should have gone.

I'll be gone until Memorial day.

Those locations bring back memories for me. We dove them on the Conception in the mid 80's. say 83-88. Great vis great spots only if the weather is sweet. I have some good photos of sheapshead there. Hope you got some great shots.. Next time you see Glen say hello from Mark Cortright-that will shock him ask him how is is dinnerware holding up??

Not to mention Boomerang, Daves Spot and what I called Burrough's spot...all open ocean pinnacles. It was the single best trip I have ever experienced in California due to the advanced sites we dove all day....the choice to go from Richardson's Rock to Wilson's for our third and fourth dive on the same day is simply unprecedented. Here is the crew.

Joe Belanger on the left, Matt in the middle and Dave B on the right (Wetpixel Moderator).

Here is Dave watching for Humpback whales.

And Dave resting between dives

....Matt working on his Ike setup

...Matt watching for Humpbacks

Then Joe and Matt ready to jump in and the anchor drags....we wait and wait and wait

Matt needs a haircut... Dave looks mostly dead

hahaha Mike Veitch posting from someone else's account...

We revived Dave with Matt's focus light batteries....clipped them to his nips and zapped him. It worked!

It really was an awesome trip...and the swell's already back up, so there's no possibility of getting back there for awhile I would think. Lots of excellent photographers on the boat, and it was good to put faces to Wetpixel members Joe and Dave.

I do look somewhat disheveled...and I had a haircut three weeks ago Mike

Dang! Double dang!! I was signed up for that trip and had to cancel at the last minute. Glad you guys had fun and I'm looking forward to the pics.

Damn Matt, you look even younger in that spiffy drysuit. Bet you like cold water diving a lot more now.

We did Wilson's last summer I think on The Peace trip?

Jack

Here are a few pictures from this trip. Matt is shy and won't post his prize winning images. He kicked butt.

Joe

Another one.

Another copuple

both the nudi shots are awesome ... especially the first with the blue background

I think the blue background is blue sponge?

I really need to try and get a few days off during the week to make one of those overnight trips. Everyone I know that has gone just raves about the experience. Right now it would be like pulling teeth to get time during the week. Usually, Truth only runs single days out of Sta. Barbara on the weekends? Anyway, it would be nice to put a face to some of you if I ever make it out there. Just dreaming aloud B)

Yes, that is blue sponge. One of our last dive sites had a bunch of blue sponge with nudibranchs all over the place. Also, Truth does run darn near all multi day trips on weekends, the exception in some cases being the Truth boat. You can check out their calendar for more info at www.truthaquatics.com.

I tried to find some amphipod species on the trip to shoot...they turned out to be everywhere...

~Matt Segal

Nice shot, Matt. Looking good!!

All kinds of stacking...length is roughly 5mm.

I'm feeling generous before my trip, Joe

~Matt Segal

Matt,

That's a bute. Now quit making me look like an amature

Just a small part of the gear on this trip. Looking at noted UW photographer Richard Sales. A D2X shooter of course.