I decided to try my luck and headed to South Monastery to see if I could find the mosshead warbonnet (Chirolophis nugator) from a week and a half ago. I decided to forego the swim and took my kayak instead, intent on spending as much time on the reef as possible with no surface swimming. After two dives, and almost three hours of bottom time, I came up empty. I just could not locate my "landmarks" underwater.. However, the dives were spectacular with a myriad of small fish including six or more crevice kelpfish (Gibbonsia montereyensis), coralline (Artedius corallinus) and snubnose (Orthonopias triacis) sculpins . I spotted at least five Cancer crabs, two were mating. The usual rockfish, greenlings and cabezon all made appearances as well. The last shots of the day involved locating the rhinophores of the formerly named Hopkins Rose nudibranch (Okenia rosacea). The common name of this slug should be changed to something like Big League Chew as it resembles a particular bubble gum marketed to children that mimics chewing tobacco.

Although there was some surge at times, the water was an Oceanic toasty 56-57°. My 2mm gloves kept my hands warm all day. The visibility ranged from 30-40' and the sun shone all day. The darkness created by the thick canopy was penetrated by shafts of white light, illuminating the reef like a 10 watt HID.