La Jolla Cove - December 17th, 2022 

Conditions were amazing! 20-25 feet visibility with many sea lions... 

Underwater Discoveries

Giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) getting cleaned by a Señoritas (Oxyjulis californica) close to giant kelp. Señoritas are a "cleaner fish" they eat parasites and copepods off of fishes skin. Kelpfish like to stay near kelp, eelgrass, and sometimes tidepools. Giant kelpfish species name is “rostratus” means “long-nosed” in Latin and it also has a fork shaped tail. They can also quickly change color for courtship or marking their territory. 

California Sheepshead (Semicossyphus pulcher) Male first than female 

Calico bass or Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus)

California State fish - Garabaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus)

A type of bullhead shark - Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci)

Lobster Trap

Kelp Holdfast

Noris's Topsnail (Norrisia norrisi)

Crevice Kelpfish (Gibbonsia montereyensis)? - Unsure of species or genus