Erik Erikson has been diving along the Pacific coast for the past ten years. He has also ventured as far as Hawaii, Alaska, Costa Rica, Europe and the Carribean, but has concluded "There is nothing like the kelp forests of California". He currently lives and works on Catalina Island where he's found the best of California diving.Erik teaches scuba classes, from beginning open water to divemaster, nitrox, DAN 02, and other specialties, including photography. He hopes to add a page of new photos each month, plus lots more info about diving Catalina. And yes, the images and photos are for sale! If you're interested contact Erik at info@diveinfo.com (though please be patient for a reply, he's in Costa Rica until mid-Janurary of '97).
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Garibaldi |
| Latin Name: Hypsypops rubicundus | |
| Location: Casino Point Dive Park | |
| Photographic: 105mm lens for this facial shot. For more perspective, I recommend the 60mm Macro lens. These fish are aggressive and fearless! Easy to photograph.
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Bluebanded Goby |
| Latin Name: Lythrypnus dalli | |
| Location: Cherry Cove | |
| Photographic: 105mm lens works well. Like the Zebra Goby, they are difficult to photograph. Patience is required. Stay and wait for a minute. They will most always return to the same spot you first saw them.
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California Moray Eel |
| Location: Italian Gardens | |
| Latin Name: Gymnothorax mordax | |
| Photographic: 105mm Macro lens, single strobe. At first they appear shy, but will quickly warm-up if you have food. |
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Pacific Anchovie |
| Latin Name: Sardinops sagax | |
| Location: Lovers Cove | |
| Photographic: 60mm Macro lens, ambient lighting. I feel sorry for these fish, the near bottom of the food chain. They are almost always found in large schools in bays, harbors, and coves.
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Garibaldi, (juvenile) |
| Latin Name: Hypsypops rubicundus | |
| Location: Jewfish Point | |
| Photographic: 105mm lens, (shot with a single strobe - thank you). Garibaldi are the most obnoxious fish next to wrasse when you're photographing. What lurks in the background?
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Jack Mackerel |
| Latin Name: Trachurus symmetricus | |
| Location: Little Farnsworth | |
| Photographic: 24mm lens. Easy to photograph. I prefer 60mm lens, since they are very approachable. Like the Pacific Anchovie, they are found in schools, but more to the bottom.
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Kelpfish |
| Latin Name: Gibbonsia montereyensis | |
| Location: Casino Point Dive Park | |
| Photographic: 60mm Macro lens, lighting with a flashlight. Excellent camoflage protects these fish, moving only with the surge through the algae.
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Two-Spot Ocotpus |
| Latin Name: Octopus bimaculatus | |
| Location: Little Farnsworth | |
| Photographic: 60mm Macro lens, dual strobes. Octopi are one of my favorite creatures. Masters camoflage, they mimic kelp, rock formations, as well as changing their color.
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California Spiny Lobster |
| Latin Name: Panulirus interruptus | |
| Location: Rock Quarry | |
| Photographic: 60mm Macro lens, dual strobes. Tastes great, but less filling? Not with all that butter, garlic, and fettucini. That's a very legal one, and no I didn't eat her. How do you know it is a her? Large swimmerettes on the underside of the tail. Uncommon during the day, they usually forage at night.
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Bat Ray/Eagle Ray |
| Latin Name: Myliobatis californica | |
| Location: Desconso Beach | |
| Photographic: 24mm lens. When they're hungry, and you have fish, they don't seem to care how close you get. I've been as close as a foot away. Found on muddy and sandy bottoms, they sift through the sand for food.
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Kelp Bass |
| Latin Name: Paralabrax clathratus | |
| Location: Casino Point Dive Park | |
| Photographic: 24mm lens (I have learned to love this lens.) They say that these fish get to about 35 years in age. That doesn't surprize me, I've seen some big ones! Uncommonly friendly in the dive park.
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Black Sea Bass |
| Latin Name: Stereolepis gigas | |
| Location: Pebbly Beach | |
| Photographic: 24mm lens, ambient light, F4 @ 1/20". I saw six that dive. Ask James, he's got pictures too. I couldn't believe I was only 2-3 feet away. (that's 2-3 fsw for you hardcore divers). Rare, lives reportedly 75 to 100 years of age. Size to 500+ pounds.
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Zebra Goby |
| Location: Crane Point | |
| Latin Name: Lythrypnus zebra | |
| Photographic: 105mm Macro lens, single strobe; approach slowly. The 105mm really works well for gobies. Uncommon, they say, but take your time. They are found in cracks and crevices.
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Nudibranch(?) |
| Latin Name: Nudibrachii somethingus | |
| Location: Torqua Springs | |
| Photographic: 60mm Macro lens. Well, you can find out, and then let the rest of us know. But I do know that it acts, looks, and moves like a nudibranch.
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All these photos were taken with a Nikon 90s. Lenses used were a 24mm 2.8 Sigma, a 60mm 2.8 Macro Nikkor, and a 105mm 2.8 Macro Nikkor. Films used were Fugi Velvia 50 ISO, Kodak Ektacrome 100 ISO, and Agfa 100 ISO. All slides were converted to the Kodak Photo CD master disk by Miller Imaging in Santa Monica.Special thanks to: Catalina lslander Newpaper, Internet Guide to Catalina, Catalina Divers Supply, Sea Lab, Catalina Conservancy Divers, Miller Imaging in Santa Monica, and great developing by A&l Color Lab! Web site assistance from Chris Harrison and Sandy Harper!
Last updated: November 6, 1996
©1996 Erik Erikson
http://www.catalina.com/Erikson/index.html
