T'was the Monday before Christmas 2020, Magicseaweed had a zero foot surf in its forecast and Facebook dive reports were taunting everyone with promises of outstanding 15-30ft visibility (yes, once again, here everything measured in foot is good enough). The skies were clear and the stay-at-home order was in effect with an exception for physical exercise but of course no group activity. If I needed more excuses to go solo diving, that was definitely a good start. That weekend I had hiked the short trail from PCH to Aliso Peak and the views up there had been awesome. But the one thing that got my attention is how clear the water seemed to be and how flat it was. It was indeed high time to go diving! 

I showed up at around 8:30am on Crescent Circle and got one of the best spots to park, right by the stairs. As I was walking down to the beach to check the conditions I spotted a sea lion a few feet from the shore, in the "surf" zone. Surf was indeed running at a treacherous 0.5ft with rogue destructors at maybe 1ft. Lake Laguna at its best. 

It was low tide and one could spot the kelp patch around Seal Rock. I decided to dive the kelp forest and Seal Rock but I have not given up yet on trying to find Deadman's Reef by myself yet. I even start building a GPS I could bring at the surface in one of my old camera cases to get me in close proximity to the famed reef as my underwater navigation skills are like... What skills? 

I went down at the first reef and headed WSW toward Seal Rock and hit the kelp forest right away. It is very nice and healthy, with a lot of sheepheads cruising around. They decided to follow me the whole dive. Not very big, just a dozen of them cruising around, chilling, waiting for me to dig up something to eat I guess. 

I found an odd clearing in the middle of the kelp patch.  It was shaped like a perfect circle, maybe 60ft in diameter and the overall scene did look eerie. I saw one  kelp steadfast leftover in the middle. I wonder what caused that barren; I'm sure underwater tinfoil hat people would say it's definitely an ancient alien landing zone. Why not? 

I did not see a lot of fish action apart from the group of sheephead following me around. Water was cold (14°C/57F), fish have probably decided to spend the Holidays South. I heard Mexico is open for business... 

A couple of snorkelers were swimming in the kelp patch, chasing a small harbor seal. It probably got spooked a bit and came down to check me out. I managed to grab a cool video of the guy, looking my way from time to time. Of course the only two stills I managed to shoot had its head behind a piece of kelp... Oh well, more memorable photographs to file under "fish & mammal butts". 

Overall a very nice dive, good visibility in the patch, probably between 20 and 30ft, degrading past Seal Rock to a murky 10ft. Not the best we've had in Decembers past, but probably one of the great ones for 2020.