|
| SEA FAN GROTTO
|
|
Schools of black perch swim in the grotto.
Sea fan grotto is a popular dive site for a third dive at Catalina due to its protected spot. It is a good spot for students and more advanced divers alike, since you can dive in a shallow cove, or follow the boulders down to deeper depths.
The "grotto" is a small cavern in shallow water filled with gorgonians. Unfortunately many divers have been damaging the gorgonians, so please be careful, and make sure you have a dive light. your boat captain will show you where the grotto is. Many people dive this spot, however, without ever finding the grotto.
A healthy kelp forest growns in the shallow areas, filled with blacksmith, senoritas and garibaldi. Rare nudibranchs have been known to have been found on the ground between 30ft and 70ft deep, but you have to be very lucky to see them. Look for moray eels from 30ft-45ft of water, although they are not that common here.
Rocky structure cascades down to 75 or 80ft. Abalone, scythe butterfly fish, and black-eyed gobies are found here. The bottom is often thick with large kelp leaves, making it difficult to find marine life under the kelp. Torpedo rays and angel sharks have been seen in the sand here before, past 80ft depth.
If the boat anchors to the west of the grotto, its possible for advanced divers to swim over to the edge of blue cavern wall, where the visibility is excellent, and the wall drops down past 100ft. be careful of currents, and turn back if a current is taking you out toward blue cavern too quickly.
Location: Front side catalina near the isthmus, east of two harbors & the chamber, just east of blue cavern
Diving Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Marine Life: better in the shallow areas
Photography: Good for wide angle (kelp, schooling fish, gorgonians)
Depths: 10ft - 75ft
Small scorpionfish can be found at the deeper depths.
Look for giant kelpfish in the shallow areas.
